1 Preparing Students for Successful Transition in the New Academic Structure C. S. Tong Hong Kong Baptist University.

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Preparing Students for Successful Transition in the New Academic Structure

C. S. TongHong Kong Baptist University

Some World TrendsThe world is undergoing fundamental economic,

technological, social and cultural changes: Knowledge based economy: emerging industries

founded on knowledge, technology and innovation

Lean management structures, streamlined networks and flexible staffing Life-long learning Mobility Globalization

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The New Secondary CurriculumEducation Commission Sept 2000: the overall aims of

education in Hong Kong for the 21st Century --

To enable every person to attain all-round development in the domains of ethics, intellect, physique, social skills and aesthetics according to his/her own attributes so that he/she is capable of life-long learning, critical and exploratory thinking, innovating and adapting to change; filled with self-confidence and a team spirit; willing to put forward continuing effort for the prosperity, progress, freedom and democracy of their society, and contribute to the future well-being of the nation and the world at large.

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Principles of Reform

Student-focused “No-loser” Quality Life-wide learning Society-wide mobilisation

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Focuses of Reform

Reforming the admission systems and public examinations so as to break down barriers and create room for all

Reforming the curricula and improving teaching methods

Improving the assessment mechanism to supplement learning and teaching

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Recommendation for University Universities should reform their first degree

programmes so as to strike a right balance between the breadth and the depth of such programmes.

Universities should avoid excessive reliance on the results of public examinations and should give due consideration to the overall performance of students in order to encourage all-round development in schools.

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Liberal Studies/General Education

Importance of LS in the HKDSE and GE at universities in the face of the world trends in the workplace

Broad-based admission (eg Admission by Faculty) at universities More difficult to differentiate and select the right

students for the programmes Need to adopt new teaching pedagogies and

assessments (OBTL)7

OLE/SLP

Less emphasis on HKDSE scores Universities to pick students with the potential and

profile that befits its role and mission Each university to be judged by its success in training

students with its declared graduate attributes

Potential problem Double cohort in 2012 and big increase in applicant

pool size

School-University-Government collaboration

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Simulation Study on Admission

Summary of the Improvement made by Steps

Ranking the Students by 4 Steps

Selection of the Important Independent Variables

Confirmation of Dependent Variable Used

Grouping of Independent Variables

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Division of Independent Variables

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4

CdcMax20Score;

CdcChiScore;

CdcEngScore;

CdcMax30Score.

School Reference Report Ability Score (13 variables)

Self Recommendation Scheme Score

Applicant’s Choice of the Program

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Dependent Variable

GpaCum.2GpaCum.2

GpaCum.2 describes the second term cumulative GPA, which is the first year cumulative GPA. Feasible Range: [0,4]

Based on different coefficients, the combination of independent variables can describe [-∞, +∞].

The inconsistence of the dependent variable and independent variables may result in an unexpected result. This conclusion can be get from the following table.

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R2 .157**

Adjusted R2 .153**

N 2825

Note:

R2 : an estimate of the proportion of variance accounted for by regression

Adjusted R2 : a better estimate of the population value of R2

N: total number of all the students from 2006 to 2008

The result is based on all the student from 2006 to 2007.

Here, backward regression is used to analyze the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variables. The option tells how significant it must be to avoid removal in backwards selection. At each step, the variable with the largest probability-of-F value is removed, provided that the value is larger than POUT(the default value is 0.10).

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Group the Selected Variables

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EntranceExamination Score

CdcMax20Score, CdcChiScore, CdcEngScore

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Applicant’s Choice of the Program

Offer Priority

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Other Ability Score Considered

Industriousness, Responsibility, Communicate, Overall, etc

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4 Steps in Ranking

Performance Indicator

Ability Score

Offer Priority

CdcMax20Score, CdcEngScore, CdcChiScore

Step 4

Step 3

Step 2

Step 1

Note: Offer Priority has two sets. Set 1: Priority 25. Set 2: Banding 5

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2 Models for handling language scores in Step 1

Step 1-a CdcMax20

Step 1-b CdcEngScore

Step 1-c CdcChiScore

Step 1-a CdcMax20

Step 1-b Max (Eng, Chi)

Step 1-c Sum (Eng, Chi)

Step 1Step 1

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1st Model For each faculty, the following is the percentage of applicants that can

be distinguished with respect to each step (for 2006~2008).

Faculty of Arts

Note: Step 1= Step 1- c

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Conclusions Academic Scores unlikely to be sufficient

for ranking students for admissionHKCEE not available in 2012

Expect 2-3 times more applicants

More levels for HKDSE42 vs CDC30

Non-Academic Abilities useful but still not sufficient in ranking students for admission

Need to make use of OLE/SLP/Interview

Conclusions

Statistical research find little correlation between entrance academic scores with university performance Increasingly looking at non-academic

achievements as more reliable predictor Team work, communication skills, happy

learning environment may produce win-win situations

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Sharing of Experience

How to achieve success in an interview: Passion Genuine Aware of Current Events Good Communication Skills/EQ

…all attributes honed in OLE/SBA etc

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Conclusions Overall, students may have less diversified

background knowledge (only two or three electives)

Schools should treat OLE as broadening for its own sake, as opposed to gaining bonus marks for university admission

Schools to enhance career/further studies counselling with a view to finding the best match for the student (not based on perceived pecking order)

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Thank you!