Internationalisation of higher education in Hong Kong through the use of English inside and outside the classroom

Abstract

English is a language for global communication, and an essential instrument for students to acquire academic skills and achieve life-long learning. In the recent education reform, Hong Kong has witnessed the necessity to promote itself as an international and vibrant higher education sector. The increasing number of non-local students on campus has made English a lingua franca, not only for academic and knowledge exchange in-class but also for everyday communication. As one of the most international universities in the world, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has taken the initiative to promote English enhancement. In the reformed undergraduate curriculum, students are required to take a General Academic English course and an English-in-the-Discipline course in their first and senior years respectively. Along with the out-of-class and experiential learning activities such as residential education, HKU students are given ample opportunities to use English inside and outside the classroom. This paper reports on the implementation of English enhancement initiatives and discusses its role in fostering internationalisation of higher education in Hong Kong with HKU as a case example. It provides insights for senior administrators and teacher educators to open opportunities for discussion on the roles of English in the globalised learning contexts.