Teaching and Learning Arrangements
Teaching and Learning Arrangements
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Work Arrangements
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Infection Control Measures on Campus
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Campus Facilities & Catering Services Updates
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HKU Takes on COVID-19
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Government Travel Advisory Updates
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Health Tips for All
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UHS Website on COVID-19
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All Messages from the Senior Management Team
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Cancelled / Postponed Events
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Confirmed and Related Cases on Campus
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Arrangement for Exchange Students
With the COVID-19 situation worsening globally, the University is deeply concerned about the health and safety of its students on academic exchange at partner universities all over the world. We note that the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine has already called on students taking overseas programmes to return to Hong Kong. We have therefore developed a set of five options for students currently on academic exchange to complete their Semester 2 studies.
1. Return home and complete the exchange semester virtually at the partner institution
Just as HKU has done, many of our exchange partners are moving to teach out the remainder of the semester online. Students therefore have the option of returning home and completing their exchange semester virtually through the online courses offered by their host institution. For local students, this will mean returning to Hong Kong. For non-local students, it will typically mean returning to their home city.
2. Return home and complete the exchange semester at HKU
In some cases, partner institutions may not offer online teaching for all of the courses taken by our exchange students. In such cases, we will try to devise a way for students to complete their courses at HKU. This could involve our professors working with returning exchange students to create appropriate assessment tasks (such as a long essay or an extended project) to enable them to complete courses for which they enrolled overseas. It could comprise returning exchange students taking regular HKU courses in intensive mode. It could encompass a directed research project. More straightforwardly, the University could simply determine the correct amount of academic credit to be awarded to returning students on the basis of their overseas studies (for instance, 24 credits for a student who completed 80% of a semester abroad). In short, each student in this situation will be advised on an individual basis.
3. Return home and late drop courses
All students currently enrolled in courses at HKU have the option of late dropping some or all of their courses by April 30. We are now extending this option to all exchange students. Late dropped credits can be taken at HKU at a later date, typically in 2020-21, and no composition fee will be charged for those credits.
4. Return home and devise a mixture of options 1, 2 and 3
Returning exchange students may wish to combine options 1, 2 and 3 in ways that work best for them. We are happy to advise students on a case-by-case basis to enable this to happen.
5. Stay overseas and complete the exchange semester on campus at the partner institution
Students have the choice of completing their exchange semester on campus at their host institution. Students selecting this option should seek detailed advice from the partner institution about arrangements for the rest of the semester – academic, accommodation, safety and security. They should be aware that international travel may become increasingly limited as governments act to protect their citizens from the spreading virus.
All students returning to Hong Kong will be required to observe the Government’s compulsory quarantine requirement (https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html). Even students who do not need to undertake compulsory quarantine will be asked not to visit the University campus for 14 days after their return to Hong Kong. These students will be strongly encouraged to stay at home for 14 days, practise social distancing and take all necessary measures to reduce risk to themselves and others. Any student experiencing coronavirus symptoms should seek medical advice as quickly as possible.
To indicate which option you wish to choose, please write with your full student details to goabroad@hku.hk by Wednesday, March 18.