One may feel a bit nervous and very much excited starting a new chapter in life, such as commencing university study. Understanding this mixed feeling of freshers, CityU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) set up a real-time online College orientation in the afternoon of 25 August 2021 to welcome freshers to the big family.
Photo 1: Dean of CLASS Professor Richard M WALKER welcomed freshers to start a journey of discovery, transformation and growth in the CLASS family.
The ceremony was kicked off by a welcoming speech by Dean of CLASS Professor Richard M WALKER. Professor Walker introduced the College, emphasising the interdisciplinary education effort and global awareness that it endeavours to foster among its students. Using the battle against COVID-19 as an example, he explained that humanities and social sciences matter as these disciplines help us understand people, relationships and our societies, allowing us to make better decisions. “I am confident to say the study of humanities and social sciences is exciting because our curiosity with humanity will never cease,” he assured the freshers, and wished them a successful journey ahead.
Photo 2: Freshers were given a glimpse of the wide variety of opportunities they can explore at CLASS.
At the College orientation, freshers were offered practical tips to the problems they may encounter. Freshers have learnt the best time for them to take the required courses, and various learning paths such as taking a minor or a second major, pursuing a joint bachelor’s degree programme, or considering the newly launched “Undergraduate plus Taught Postgraduate Degree Programme”. As well, they were introduced to the opportunities outside academic life, including the vast array of internationalisation activities the College offered and activities organised by the CLASS Student Chapter. Finally, they were reminded to take the academic honesty quiz before November and visit the College website for the checklist of the tasks they need to do at the beginning of their first academic year. Those who have missed the College orientation can view the video here.
Following the College’s orientation, the seven departments under CLASS held departmental orientations to provide freshers with important information of their admitted programmes and an opportunity for freshers to meet with the faculty members and fellow classmates. The University also organised a welcoming ceremony on 24 August, during which President of CityU Professor Way KUO and Vice President (Student Affairs) Professor Raymond CHAN extended a warm welcome to freshers of all colleges and schools.
