Programme video

Programme Aims

This Programme is the first add-on specialist degree on special needs and inclusive education in Hong Kong. The Programme, in line with the government's policy on integration, aims to provide specialist training for serving teachers or professionals to work effectively with learners with special needs in mainstream schools or special education settings. It also aims to enhance the competencies of teachers so that they are able to collaborate with and/or develop their own effective teams within the realm of the whole school approach.

Programme Features

Professional Upgrading

• The programme raises students' professional standards in special needs and inclusive education.

Choices of Electives

• Students may undertake elective courses according to their professional needs and interest, and base on what they have learned in these courses and their professional needs and interest to complete their final year project.

Interactive Learning Mode

• Students will be encouraged to reflect and build on their practical experience in catering for learning diversity through communication and coordination with other students in a stimulating teaching and learning environment.

Education Studies

This domain aims to broaden students’ educational value, interests and skills in removing barriers to learning and educating the whole person. It helps students develop new problem-solving strategies that are responsive to different learning needs of different classroom learners through a self-critical process. The courses are:

• Curriculum and Assessment for Inclusive Education
• School Guidance and Counselling
• Whole School Approaches to Inclusive Practices
• School-Family-Community Partnership
• Approaches to Teaching and Learning#
• Classroom Management Strategies for Effective Instruction#

# Students without initial teacher training are required to take these two additional courses.

Final Year Project

Research Methods

The course prepares students to develop a proposal for conducting a research-based project (Honours Project) or an inquiry-based project (Capstone Project) in their chosen areas. It introduces basic knowledge and principles of research, ethical issues in the research process and methodology for conducting research in education and related disciplines.

Honours Project / Capstone Project

Final Year Project allows students to pursue a relevant study of classroom practice in their own setting. Topics for the project will emerge from students' studies in Education Studies and Major courses based on personal and professional interests. Students can opt for Honours Project or Capstone Project in their Final Year Project study. Honours Project aims to equip students with knowledge and hand-on experience to carry out scientific research in a specific area, which could be beneficial to students who plan for doing research postgraduate study in future. Capstone Project focuses on knowledge transfer in work-related context and enhancing students’ competency in the job market through inquiry-based learning. Students will be supported by programme lecturers with expertise in their project topics chosen.

Field Experience

Field Experience plays a crucial role in the programme, consisting of 2 components: Teaching Practice and Field Experience Portfolios. Students will be provided with opportunities to apply and put theories learnt in the programme into practice, and share and report on small groups collaborative teaching activities.

General Education

In order to broaden student’s perspectives in personal and professional development, a selection of general education courses related to well-being, positive thinking, stress management and healthy living are offered. Students are required to take one general education course (3 cps).

English Enhancement

The compulsory 3-cps English Enhancement Course aims to help students acquire linguistics skills in both academic and social contexts. It prepares students to write coherent and organized academic texts by developing essential skills in critical thinking, reading and writing. In addition, the course will enhance student’s ability to make appropriate correspondence in the workplace.

Medium of Instruction

The programme is mainly conducted in Cantonese. For some courses, English or Putonghua is adopted as the medium of instruction when expertise in the domain is a prime consideration.

Field Experience (FE) Requirements

Teaching Periods

For students having a full-time teaching post in schools ^{Note 1}:
To have a minimum of 4 relevant periods  ^{Note 2} per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle during the course of study in the programme.

For students without a relevant full-time teaching post in schools:
To make own arrangement to undertake 8 to 12 consecutive weeks of full-time block practice in schools ^{Note 1} during the FE supervision period ^{Note 3} in each FE, and teach 4 to 6 relevant periods ^{Note 2} per week / per 5- to 7-day cycle with not less than 48 periods ^{Note 2} in total in each FE throughout the block practice period.

Lesson, Class Setting and Class Size

All students should teach lesson(s) ^{Note 4} which is/are able to demonstrate their abilities in teaching and catering for students with special needs or learning diversity in regular class settings. Each class should have at least 10 pupils ^{Note 5}. Teaching practice in Physical Education lessons are not allowed unless the students are qualified to teach the subject by having the qualifications (Qualified Teacher Status). Proof should be provided. All students should note that any remedial class, IRTP class and after school class ARE NOT accepted as eligible FE/BP lessons in your FE because these withdrawal classes are not within the regular timetable or based on the syllabus of the curriculum legitimized from CDI of EDB.

Note 1: Students are required to conduct their FE in schools i.e. kindergarten / primary / secondary / international schools in inclusive setting OR special schools.
Note 2: Each period normally refers to a 30-40 minutes duration. Period shorter than 30 minutes must be approved by Field Experience Coordinator (FEC) in Department of Special Education and Counselling (SEC) and the Director of School Partnership and Field Experience Office (SPFEO).
Note 3: FE Supervision period is normally from November to early May of the academic year.
Note 4: Field Experience Coordinator may require students to provide further details about the lessons they teach, e.g. curriculum, to consider whether they meet this FE requirement.
Note 5: For special schools, the minimum number of pupils in a class is 8 according to the actual class size

Professional Qualifications / Career Prospects

The programme enhances graduates’ competence in career prospects by offering professional trainings in special needs and inclusive education. Graduates could benefit from the programme by having an academic upgrade and a professional teacher qualification in special schools.

An Academic Upgrade

Graduates who work with learners with special needs in different school settings e.g. Kindergartens / Primary / Secondary / Special Schools at sub-degree levels can gain a Bachelor degree in Special Needs for upgrading their academic background after completion of the programme. This bachelor degree with honours provides an opportunity for graduates to continue their professional development through postgraduate studies in various specialties. It also opens up a variety of careers that help people or children with special educational needs by equipping its graduates with the professional knowledge and skills related to special needs and inclusive education.

A Professional Upgrade

Upon fulfilling the graduation requirements from the programme, graduates who initially do NOT have teacher training qualifications are eligible to apply as a Registered Teacher from the Education Bureau (EDB). Please refer to the relevant EDB websites for more details about teacher registration-related matters (click HERE) and teacher qualification assessment (click HERE).

Graduates who have initial teacher training qualifications (e.g. QTS / QKT / KTS), can choose to work in their original school settings or in special schools for supporting pupils with special education needs. It is important to note that this programme does NOT lead to teacher qualifications in early childhood education settings or a certificate in Special Child Care Work.

Entrance Requirements

The programme is open to serving teachers holding a Certificate in Education or a Certificate of the Teachers of Children with Special Educational Needs (TCSEN) or equivalent. Applicants without the above qualifications but possess other post-secondary qualifications at QF level 4 or above (such as Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma) and with experience in teaching or working with learners with learning difficulties or special needs can also apply.

Admission Interviews

Applicants may be required to attend admission interviews to demonstrate their suitability for the programme.

Admission Enquiries

(852) 2948 6886
admission@eduhk.hk

Programme Enquiries

Mr. Thomas Tang
(852) 2948 8387
wctang@eduhk.hk

Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in this website is correct. Changes to any aspects of the programmes may be made from time to time due to unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control and the University reserves the right to make amendments to any information contained in this website without prior notice. The University accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from any use or misuse of or reliance on any information contained in this website.

Any aspect of the course and course offerings (including, without limitation, the content of the course and the manner in which the course is taught) may be subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of the University. Without limiting the right of the University to amend the course and its course offerings, it is envisaged that changes may be required due to factors such as staffing, enrolment levels, logistical arrangements, curriculum changes, and other factors caused by unforeseeable circumstances. Tuition fees, once paid, are non-refundable.

EdUHK is one of the teacher education providers in Hong Kong. Graduates of the University’s teacher education programmes are eligible to apply to become fully qualified and registered teachers. As regards teacher registration, graduates should approach the Teacher Registration Team of the Education Bureau (EDB) to submit applications directly. All applications will be assessed by the EDB which will consider, among other things, whether an applicant has been convicted of any criminal offence (including sex-related offences) in Hong Kong or elsewhere, or is involved in any ongoing criminal proceedings or investigations. For details, please browse the EDB’s website.

In the event of inconsistency between information in English and Chinese version or where an interpretation of the programme content is required, the decision of the University shall be final.