Seeing the limitations of many large research-intensive and technology-led universities, this talk will share with participants on our experience in developing and running a smaller liberal-art-oriented institution adopting the unique ‘Liberal + Professional’ education model. It is based on the belief that the purpose of undergraduate education is not solely to help students acquire better job prospects and economic purposes, but also to cultivate their personal values and transferrable core humanistic competencies, thus preparing them to tackle future work and life challenges with confidence and fulfilment. This allows students to have another option of undergraduate education to choose from.

In this education model, ‘Liberal’ refers to a broad-based and cross-disciplinary approach to connect knowledge domains, facilitate thinking, and solve problems, with strong emphasis on humanities and social sciences. Students regardless of their majors are nurtured to appreciate the importance, power and uses (both economic and intrinsic) of humanities and arts.

‘Professional’ means that many major programmes are of a professional nature, with the aim of equipping students with the in-depth competencies required to enter into chosen professions. Nevertheless, business, management and IT are treated as liberal arts subjects centred on ‘human values”.

The aim is to nurture young talents with critical thinking, innovative minds, human caring attitudes, moral values and social responsibility. Graduates’ self-assessment and independent employers’ surveys inform that this education model has been effective in achieving our education missions. Some challenges and suggestions to enhance the role of arts and humanities will also be discussed.