Situated at a major cultural crossroads, the Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong (LPCUWC) is the ideal location for those students who wish to learn more about China and its importance to the world. Whether in terms of the academic and broader educational curriculum offered at the College, the opportunities for travel and personal exploration or the social interaction between Asian and non-Asian students, LPCUWC encourages students to develop a greater understanding of China and consider embarking upon the first step of a Sino-focused career.
The Academic Curriculum
It is the College policy to encourage all departments to utilise Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia in general as its exemplars. In Economics and Geography, for instance, Hong Kong and mainland China examples are regularly used to illustrate the practical applications of theory, whilst Extended Essays in these subjects may focus on research into local issues, places and trends. Similarly, Environmental Systems utilises the region’s beaches and mangrove marshes for its practical research, whilst artists are encouraged to take advantage of the local art galleries to enhance their understanding of the methodology and philosophy of Chinese Art. Where possible, Chinese Literature in translation is offered to students in their I.B. Languages courses.
An even greater level of understanding is sought in History and particularly in the provision of courses in Chinese Language and Chinese Studies.
History
The I.B. Modern International History Course allows the school to pursue a regional specialism. LPCUWC, naturally, has chosen to focus on South East and East Asia. In practical terms this means that as much as 40% of the two year programme is spent on a study of modern mainland China from the mid-nineteenth century to the death of Mao Zedong. Moreover, students undertaking the internal course work component and Extended Essays in History tend to opt for Chinese research topics, partly because of the developing resources in the College library and partly because of ease of access to the local University of Science and Technology, which boasts a very fine collection of Chinese materials.
Chinese Studies
LPCUWC is the only I.B. school in the world to offer this course. The subject is taken at Standard Level and is a ‘school based’ syllabus which attempts to help students develop a broad ‘renaissance-man’ type of education. The course is of particular interest to those who wish to take advantage of our location and is of value to Chinese students, as well as more obviously to non-Chinese students, as it explores areas which may not have been previously covered in local schools. Being a ‘school based’ syllabus means that the course is devised by LPCUWC staff, and this gives the teacher and students, in any given year, the flexibility to explore in greater depth those parts of the curriculum that are of common interest. Amongst other things, Chinese Studies seeks to provide an understanding of Chinese culture through an exploration of art, geography and philosophy. Additionally there is time to investigate the role and status of ethnic minorities, mainland China’s historical contacts with the outside world and mainland China’s contributions to the world’s technological development. Some issues concerning contemporary mainland China such as the political structure, the structural reforms, the new market based economy and Chinese population policies, also form part of the course.
Chinese Language
Li Po Chun United World College is one of the few schools in the world that offers four I.B. courses in Chinese (A1/ A2 / B / ab initio). Chinese A1, offered at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL), is a literature based course for native speakers. In fact about 45% of the students take this course. Chinese A2, is a literature and language course; Mandarin B is for those who already have 3 to 6 years of learning experience in Chinese, whilst the very popular ab initio course, is specifically tailored for complete beginners. All of the Chinese courses at LPCUWC are taught by native speakers who have received high level of education in Chinese Language and Literature. Moreover, the presence of scholarship students from mainland China enhances the cultural input to campus life.
Groups of students studying ab initio Mandarin or Chinese Studies have the opportunity to spend a weekend in neighbouring Shenzhen where they can practise their emerging linguistic skills in the markets and tourist attractions. These include historical and cultural theme parks.
Survival Cantonese
Though Mandarin is the formal Chinese course in the College, Cantonese is the major dialect spoken in Hong Kong and neighbouring Guangdong. It is naturally very helpful for our overseas students to learn something of the local lingua franca. Local Hong Kong students offer a basic ‘survival Cantonese’ programme in the first semester. Many of our overseas students continue to learn Cantonese during their two year stay at the College and it is not unknown for a student to stay on in Hong Kong after graduation to take Cantonese courses at the local Universities.
Spirit of Quan Cai
Pronounced ‘quan cai’, this is the Chinese concept of the development of all of one’s faculties and it is the term that we have chosen to describe the wide range of activities, outside of formal academic education, in which we expect students at the College to become fully involved. Here again, as symbolised by the choice of title, many of the activities offered have a very Chinese element to them, not least of which is the fact that so much of the community service takes place with Chinese people. On campus, Chinese culture is represented in many ways. The Chinese Music and Dance group makes major contributions to the Chinese Cultural Evenings. Students can also learn Chinese cooking or calligraphy, and Chinese Kung Fu, such as Tai Chi.
The proximity of urban Hong Kong and its many fine schools also provides opportunities for students to participate in a number of festivals and competitions. Our students have the chance to meet and interact with other Hong Kong students in a variety of sports and cultural activities, including football, athletics, badminton, basketball, volleyball, swimming, debating, musical performance, dance, speech and drama. The College is establishing a particular record of success in the area of Chinese Speech and Drama – a tribute to both the quality of the students and the standard of instruction they receive.
Visitors and Exchanges
Over the years, the College has arranged for students to spend time experiencing life in Chinese schools during their holidays or Project Week. It can be an eye-opening experience to encounter the discipline and commitment, which is still routine even in the most progressive schools. The College reciprocates by offering hospitality and a “Hong Kong experience” to return parties of staff and students from mainland China.
With increasing interest in the International Baccalaureate among secondary schools in major cities of mainland China, LPCUWC has established links with some of them. Students and staff exchange their experiences in both learning and teaching of the IB programme. Besides, the College also hosts regular groups of educators interested in our programme.
In our annual Project Week, there are numerous opportunities for students to plan excursions of their own choice either individually, or in small groups, to various destinations including mainland China. In the past this has involved missions ranging from scaling peaks in the Yellow Mountain National Park, through investigating the culinary style of Yangshuo, to a pilgrimage to the region in which Mao Zedong grew up. What all the students learn is how to travel and live in a society which is very different to their own and where communication is not always easy. Students staying in Hong Kong may take the opportunity to learn about Buddhism in a local monastery on Lantau, Hong Kong’s large neighbouring island. Even less formally, the routes that students follow on their way home at the end of the academic year may meander through mainland China, and include a train journey North through Ulan Bator to join up with the Trans-Siberian railway.
China Week and other Excursions into Mainland China
An important part of the Li Po Chun United World College calendar is China Week.
All students join a teacher-led expedition into mainland China in their first semester at the College. The most established is the visit to the Yao tribe, a minority ethnic group living in the mountainous region of Linnan in northern Guangdong Province. The service project was initiated in 1997 through the Po Yin Association for the Development of Education with an aim to establish long term relationship with students from a local primary school. Since then, staff and students from Li Po Chun United World College have regularly visited the Yao children and run activities for a week in the school. In addition to this, they are also involved in fundraising for the provision of educational resources to these children. With a focus on service, two more projects were initiated in 2003. Building on the experience of the Yao tribe, another trip to the She tribe of Ningde in Fujian Province was established in 2004. Our other destination involves working with needy people in Lijiang and trekking in Tiger Leaping Gorge (Yunnan Province). All these projects have a significant impact on the personal development of the students.
This page was last updated on February 24, 2010.
