The Value of the Humanities in Higher Education: Perspectives from Hong Kong

By Evelyn Tsz Yan Chan

Sampling Interview format Data analysis
Results: graduate interviews 1. Individual benefits 1. Skills and abilities 1. Good language and communication skills 2. Critical and independent thinking 3. Multiperspectival thinking 4. Adaptability and flexibility 5. Advanced research and textual analysis skills 6. Enhanced sensibility 7. Capacity for life-long learning 2. The formation of personality, values, and vision 1. Enhanced self-knowledge 2. Creativity 3. Meaning in life 4. Moral integrity 5. Open-mindedness 6. Intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm 7. Emotional and spiritual fortification 8. Empathy and care for fellow humans 9. A sense of mission to spread humanities knowledge
2. Characteristics of career development narratives 1. A great variety of career paths among graduates 2. Initial disorientation followed by gradual career establishment 3. Interest and meaning as career priorities 4. Distinct competitiveness brought about by individual benefits 5. Further studies for specific career needs 6. Challenges to career development 1. Education as the dominant industry 2. The volatility of a creative career 3. Barriers to entry into specialized humanities jobs 4. Lack of specific training for the general job market 5. Difficulty convincing others of the use of humanities education 6. Clash between the humanities and commercial values
3. Characteristics of humanities pedagogy 1. Teachers as role models and mentors 2. Individualized learning methods: tutorial discussions and dissertations 3. Insightful major texts
4. Characteristics of humanities education narratives 1. Upon entering university: passion for the subject 2. During university study: formative education 563. Upon graduation and after: the lasting influence of wisdom derived from education 4. The intangibility of the values of humanities education
5. The essential contributions of humanities education to Hong Kong society 1. The maintenance of language standards 2. Contributions to quality education 3. Emotional and spiritual nourishment 4. Synergy with business values that underpin economy and society 5. Preserving and transmitting Hong Kong culture 6. The arts as social and community service 7. Promoting cultural sensitivity, awareness, and diversity 8. Tempering excessive materialism and instrumentalism 9. Promoting civic values and engagement 10. The challenging socio-economic climate in Hong Kong limiting potential contributions
Further discussion Recommendations on pedagogical interventions based on the graduate interviewsHong Kong's economic conditions
Part II: graduate employment survey data Methodology Results: graduate survey data Further discussion
Part III: Conversations with senior humanities scholars The

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9811571864
• ISBN13: 9789811571862
• Release Date: August 2020
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 105 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.1" x 9.2"