The General Education Programme at CW Chu College consists of a credit-bearing component and a non-formal component that carries no credit units (required Extended Orientation for Year 1 students and communal dining including High Table Dinners; and voluntary social service).

The credit-bearing component includes an induction course for Year 1 students, and a capstone course that is open to students from Years 2 to 4 (year of formal course registration). The latter, after a major review, has been piloted since 2022–23 in a revised form.

Induction Course

GECW1010 University and Society is a key component of the first-year experience introducing students to university learning. The course is taught in English (with some flexibility in tutorials) so that students from different academic origins can share the same educational experience.

Capstone Course

The capstone course is now offered in two options: GECW4021 College Project and GECW4022 College Project (Service). The latter will satisfy the University-level Service Learning requirement applicable to students entering in 2024 and thereafter. Students officially register for the course in the second, third or fourth year of attendance. Students are expected to learn and participate actively, especially through group work, presentations, tutorial discussions and the writing of a project report.

GECW4021 allows students in small groups to select a topic ideally of interdisciplinary nature, conduct field, survey or literature research, synthesise their academic skills beyond the limits of the major programme, engage with a real-life issue of relevance to society, analyse the factors, constraints and options, and present their findings in a cogent, reasoned and persuasive manner.

GECW4022 allows students in small groups to carry out voluntary service activities based on an approved project proposal. In line with the Vision Statement of the College to be ‘involved’, students will be encouraged to participate in social and community services that reflect their interests and engage their passions; they may also make use of their own skills and aptitudes in the service of others. Through such service opportunities, students will learn and grow, and develop responsibility and leadership. The course will satisfy University requirements on Service Learning.

Another 0-credit course (GECW4030 Service) targeting service opportunities of a smaller scale is scheduled to be made available for students choosing GECW4021 for the capstone experience, when the University requirements on Service Learning becomes effective starting with the intake of 2024.