UGED2298

Environmental protection is a duty of each and every one of us, achieving a better world demands collaborative action. Our General Education course, “Rethinking environmental protection in the Greater Bay Area” (UGEB 2298) offered jointly by The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, this summer, offers an opportunity for students to study with like-minded peers and expand their understanding of environmental protection.

Students joining this course will embark on a six-day study trip to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, packed with lectures, site visits and field trips. The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the general principles of environmental science and first-hand experience. Students are invited to re-examine the current strategies for environmental protection by exploring the prevailing environmental problems, general practices of the society, and current interregional collaborations on environmental issues in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The course provides a platform for students to engage in human experience, exchange and propose innovative ideas for the implementation of current environmental policies and interregional collaborations in the GBA and in the post-trip seminar. It helps students acquire and develop knowledge, attitudes and skills essential for independent learning.

Course Description

Environmental protection is an important part of modern civilization for the fact that human life and the sustainable development of society are based on natural resources from the environment. While there are common principles and practices for protecting the environment, local contexts might add to the intricacy between humans and their environment, and thus create multiple perspectives for intellectual pursuits.

Cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), including Hong Kong and Shenzhen, share and enjoy a lot of marine resources in the Pearl River Delta, and have been impacted by pollution arising from rapid economic transformations and industrial developments in the last few decades. For such a global issue, concerted efforts have been made in scientific studies, implementation of international policies and strengthening of local governance to restore the damaged environment and properly manage our natural resources. Progress has been made but environmental issues remain a huge challenge to mankind.

In this course, students are invited to re-examine the current strategies for environmental protection by exploring the prevailing environmental problems, current practices, and interregional collaborations on environmental issues in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). They will take part in a six-day study trip to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, packed with lectures, site visits and field trips. While general principles in environmental science will be outlined, this course will focus on water resources, management of pollution in the coastal area and regional collaborations in the two regions. Students will reflect on and evaluate the implementation of current environmental policies and interregional collaborations in the GBA, in terms of the possibilities those policies and collaborations have brought, their significance and the issues arising from them. The course serves as a platform across human experience and knowledge for students from the two regions to exchange ideas, propose new ideas and embark on the journey to a better world as local inhabitants and global citizens.

Medium of Instruction

English

Course Schedule

14 June 2023 – 16 June 2023:
Site visits and field trips to T·Park and Pak Nai （白泥）, supplemented with lectures and discussions, in Hong Kong
19 June 2023 – 21 June 2023:
Site visits and field trips to Water Supplies Department, Xiangmi Park（香蜜公园） and Coral Protection Organisation, supplemented with lectures and discussions, in Shenzhen
28 June 2023:
Online seminar: Regional collaboration for a sustainable future

Assessment Scheme

Quizzes (10%) + Essay (35%) + Presentation (30%) + Fieldwork or field study (25%)

Application and Selection

Students should complete the online application form on or before 21 May 2023, and upload a personal statement and a copy of an updated academic transcript issued by CUHK. The personal statement will be an important reference for selecting students for the course. Students may explain the motivation for taking the course, personal expectations, prior knowledge (if any) of environmental protection, and prior experience (if any) in field study. It should be in no longer than 500 words in English.

Course Restrictions

1. Not for Environmental Science (ENSC); or Earth and Environmental Sciences (EESC) Majors.
2. Co-requisite: Any course with “UGFH” or “UGFN” as prefix (only applicable to students admitted to the 4-year curriculum)

Notes

Organising the jointly offered course involves a lot of planning and coordination in advance. The course will therefore not follow the regular schedule of course enrollment at CUHK. Once the interview result is announced, shortlisted students will be required to indicate acceptance of the offer. The Office of University General Education will then proceed with the course enrollment on CUSIS. Once enrolled, students are not allowed to drop the course except under special circumstances. Students are also obligated to make sure their travel document(s) is(are) valid in the course period.