Learning and personal growth: A cultural perspective

“Learning and personal growth: A cultural perspective”By Dr. Betty C. Eng Professor and Ng Sik Hung Worldwide, educators have recognized the need to provide support and resources to students entering university in their first year. Previous research has indicated that the best predictor of undergraduate students’ final GPA was not their test results, but their performance in their first-year of study at the University.* Special summer orientations, adjunct classes, personal counseling and academic tutoring are a few examples of support provided first year students in order to facilitate the transition from secondary or high school to university life. In this paper, we present findings of a research project that examines the development and offering of a course, “Learning and Personal Growth”, at a Hong Kong university. While localized for the Hong Kong context, the research project provides insights on developing a curriculum model and pedagogy framework that are relevant for educators globally.