About GDS

Programme Overview

The Bachelor of Liberal Arts (Hons) in Global Development and Sustainability trains global skills through a multi-campus experience and a multi-disciplinary curriculum. Students learn to apply creative and critical thinking to global development and sustainability challenges through analysing cultural, economic, political, historical, environmental and social systems. By interacting within a small diverse cohort and by studying abroad in two or more continents, students learn to effectively communicate across varied cultural backgrounds and professional areas. Advanced coursework and a senior capstone, guided by academic advisers and professional mentors, enable students to address central human problems while critically considering future consequences, both locally and globally.

ONE Degree with Multi-campus and Multi-country Learning Experience in at least TWO different continents
Interdisciplinary studies with specific professional study areas
Required courses taught by Chair Professors and faculty members with Teaching Excellence Awards across all Faculties
Worldwide network of prestigious partner universities and visiting partners such as Fudan University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, National Taiwan University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Waseda University and Yonsei University
Mentorship by distinguished and committed Hong Kong and global leaders such as The Honourable Bernard Charnwut Chan GBS JP, Dr. Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen JP and Professor Frederick Ma Si-hang GBS JP

Programme Aims

The Global Development and Sustainability Programme (GDS) aims to:

Assist students in developing their intellectual and personal abilities by immersing them in a rich array of cross-disciplinary perspectives and deep reading and critical reflection of knowledge;
Expose them to a wide range of peoples and perspectives to enable them to view the world from various competing perspectives by enhancing their cross-cultural knowledge and how to deal with respect and sensitivity towards other cultures and societies;
Provide opportunities for students to work in a team and collaboratively to effectively address the many challenges with reason, evidence and civility; and
Given Hong Kong's unique position as the gateway between East and West, assist students in better understanding and appreciating the importance of international cooperation, global stability and mutual respect between nations and citizens.

Through the GDS, students will acquire a broad spectrum of inter-disciplinary knowledge with global and regional perspectives. Together with the multi-campus experience gained through exchange programmes across continents, students of the GDS will have a strong international outlook coupled with excellent intellectual, problem-solving, communication and critical thinking skills.

Globalisation offers unprecedented opportunities as well as complex challenges. As one of the world's most global cities, Hong Kong is uniquely situated to reap its rewards as well as addresses the many challenges unleashed by the forces of globalisation. An important part of Lingnan's education mission is to prepare our students for this global age by providing them with the knowledge, skills and networks to enable them to successfully reap the rewards and address the complex challenges of our time with passion and commitment to social justice.

Building on its rich tradition as a pioneer of liberal arts education in Asia, Lingnan University offers an innovative Global Development and Sustainability Programme (GDS) for inquisitive, ambitious and talented students from around the world who will have the extraordinary opportunity to study subjects they are passionate about under the guidance of distinguished and dedicated faculty and mentors. Complemented with Lingnan's flourishing interdisciplinary programmes, the GDS will take students on an exciting educational journey, including study in 2 (up to 3) continents (Africa, Americas, Asia, Australasia or Europe) which will be a source of personal discovery and intellectual cultivation and fulfillment, while simultaneously creating pathways for rewarding and fulfilling careers and a productive and ethical life in service to the common good.

The GDS is the first such specialised programme offered in Hong Kong. This full-time four-year undergraduate programme will provide students with an academically challenging, yet flexible curriculum, specifically designed to expand their intellectual horizons and refine their interpersonal and social skills to enable them to realise their ambitions and dreams. In all, GDS is explicitly designed to educate and prepare Global Leaders of tomorrow – individuals who are well-educated, cosmopolitan in outlook, confident and capable of tackling the many challenges facing Hong Kong and the world with innovative solutions that are reasoned, practical and guided by the principles of moral and ethical leadership and for the service of common good.

MESSAGE FROM PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Professor Shalendra Sharma

Associate Vice-President (Academic Quality Assurance and Internationalisation) and

Programme Director of Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Global Development and Sustainability

ADVISORY BOARD AND COMMITTEES

Advisory Board

To deliver a quality programme that enables students to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge in the subject area and maintain a high academic standard, an Advisory Board will be established to provide valuable advice to the programme. The Advisory Board will serve as the interface between government/industry/commerce/the community at large and the host departments of the programme.

Power and Responsibilities

The Advisory Board will meet once per year to help plan and review the following aspects of work, including future developments:

1. The level and length of courses/programmes concerned in relation to regional needs.

2. The relevance of the courses/programmes to the changing needs and nature of the programme graduates' potential employment.

3. The prospects of regional employment for the graduates of the programme.

4. The adequacy of equipment and other resources of the academic units to fulfil regional needs.

5. The development of teaching and other activities carried out jointly by the academic units and the appropriate community sectors.

6. The investigation, consultancy and other services given by the academic units.

7. Monitor the assistance that the community can give to further the objectives of the University in the subject concerned by way of practical training facilities, the provision of part-time teaching staff and equipment and the award of scholarships and student-fellowships.

Memberships

Chairman
Mr. WONG, Chi Kwong Patrick	Chairman Lingnan Education Organisation
Members
Mr. CHAN, Andy	Managing Director Skydeal Group Limited
Mr. CHEUNG, Jamie	Managing Director Somerley Group Limited
Ms. CHIU, Jenny	Executive Director & Senior Director – Human Resources New World Development Company Limited
Prof. FRANCESCH-HUIDOBRO, Maria	Adjunct Professor Department of Geography University of Hong Kong
Ms. LAU, Mary	Executive Director Hong Kong Orbis
Dr. LEI, Zhibin James	Program Director Crypto FinTech Lab, Math Department Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Ms. WONG Wing Chen, Janet	Former Commissioner for Innovation and Technology

Board of Examiners (BoE)

Terms of Reference

The BoE makes decisions on examinations, continuous assessments and student recommendations for graduation. It has the following duties:

1. To maintain the academic standards of the programme at a level appropriate to the type of award.

2. To approve examination question papers after considering the views and recommendations of External Academic Advisers, where appropriate.

3. To maintain general supervision of the system of continuous assessment, where it applies.

4. To maintain the proper conduct of examinations.

5. To determine students’ examination results.

6. To assess the progress of students and to report its decisions, including its recommendations for Honours Degree classification, to the Undergraduate Examination Boards.

7. To consider appeals referred to it by the Registrar.

Memberships

Chairperson	Programme Director
Members	(1) All staff concerned with the setting and marking of any part of the Examinations; (2) one representative from the adviser group; and (3) External Academic Advisers, if any.
Secretary	To be appointed by the Chairperson.

Programme and Curriculum Committee (PCC)

Terms of Reference

The PCC serves to monitor and assure the satisfactory operation of the programme. The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:

1. To take charge of the degree programme, including the design, implementation and review of the curricula, the achievement of the intended student learning outcomes and others.

2. To liaise with teaching staff regarding programme matters, such as course offerings, advising process for each academic year.

3. To liaise with the Registrar on all academic matters, including the review of academic regulations and examination matters.

4. To liaise with the Director of Office of Global Education on exchange matters.

5. To review the degree programme’s admissions policy.

6. To deal with all other matters related to the degree programme.

Memberships

Chairperson	Programme Director
Members	(1) All academic staff of the GDS required courses; (2) one representative from the other academic units of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies; (3) all Concentration Academic Advisers; (4) one representative from the Office of Service Learning; and (5) one student representative from each intake of the programme.
Secretary	To be appointed by the Chairperson.

Staff–Student Consultation Committee (SSCC)

Terms of Reference

The SSCC has the following duties:

1. To promote understanding between students and teaching staff.

2. To consider feedback from students regarding teaching, learning and course evaluation and issues of importance for enhancing teaching and learning quality.

3. To consider any other matters of concern to students.

4. To review and monitor the learning and teaching quality assurance mechanisms and processes within the programme.

5. To provide feedback to students on changes made to courses and teaching in response to the Course Teaching and Learning Evaluation (CTLE) exercise.

6. To formulate strategies to help students learn more effectively.

Memberships

Chairperson	Programme Director/A staff member appointed by the Programme Director.
Members	(1) At least two teaching staff representatives and (2) at least three student representatives.
Secretary	To be appointed by the Chairperson.

People

GDS is supported by a dynamic and outstanding team of faculty members and professional staff in different disciplines. Students can seek advice from the following colleagues: