Media

HKU's Bridge to Parents

20 Nov 2001

 

A web-board for parents to communicate with student services personnel at the University is now available at www.hku.hk/cepc.

The idea was generated at the Parents Talk on Understanding University Life, an initiative of the University's Personal Development and Counselling Centre, which was well attended by over 700 parents who were concerned about how to communicate with their sons and daughters and the employment prospects for new graduates. Parents are welcomed to post questions and exchange views on the web-board, particularly those relating to employment prospects. Careers advisers will be on-hand to contribute to the discussion.

 The name “supportu” was a deliberate choice of the University's new Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. John Powell, to underscore the importance that the University attaches to supporting students.

At this site, visitors will get a feel of the tempo and variety of activities on the University's campus.

Student support services on offer at HKU such as visa application for international students, hall residence application, stress management, cultural enhancement, workplace skills, and the many different dimensions of student support at HKU are comprehensively listed on the site.

Parents who wish to collaborate with the University to prepare their children for the challenges in the job market are welcomed to view the 11 steps to career success at www.hku.hk/cepc. The Careers Education and Placement Centre aims to help students launch a great career and welcome parents' participation.

“We are re-conceptualising student support for Hong Kong's top university,” said Dr Powell. “This means that student support begins in the home, with families and schools, and continues through life. We are aiming to be in the top 25 universities of the world, producing leaders for society, and this requires new and constructive alliances / relationships with many kinds of support - including families, alumni, etc.” To this end, a survey on parents will be conducted in the coming months to explore the concerns of parents and ways in which parents can support their sons and daughters in their university years.

Special features of the composite web-sites of “supportu”

Office of Student Affairs 
 Interactive forum for students
 Updated information on financial assistance, student residence, amenities, services to international students and those with a disability, etc.
 Online survey and polling of student views

Personal Development and Counselling Centre
 Self-help corner – current topic “Friendship”
 Interactive “Flash” features

Careers Education and Placement Centre - www.hku.hk/cepc
 Forum for Parents
 Career history of HKU alumni
 11 steps to career success
 Where did the graduates go?
 Job listings and resume database (restricted to HKU students and graduates only)

Note: The sites are accessible to visually challenged individuals.