HKUMed teachers encouraged incoming undergraduate students to make the most of their university experience as they welcomed the new faces at the Faculty Academic Induction Day.
Professor CS Lau, Dean of Medicine, ushered the new students into the HKUMed family and invited them to get involved in shaping their education.
He told students that the University of Hong Kong’s Medical Faculty listens when they find their courses tough and is constantly reviewing and revamping the curriculum to give them the space to think and to learn.
“We want to tell you that we will try our very best to make sure that the tough will become enjoyable,” he said. “We are one big family so do let us know what you would like us to do and we will try our very best to look after you.”
HKUMed’s new undergraduate intake for 2024 stands at 650 students, of which 300 will be entering the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.
Professor Gilberto Leung, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), reminded students that their time at university is a formative period for discovery and reinvention.
“Sometimes during your undergraduate years, you might experience setbacks,” he said. “You might not be top of the class. You might even have some strong feedback from teachers. But do not let those mistakes deter you.”
Programme directors from HKUMed’s seven undergraduate programmes briefly introduced their courses and encouraged students to have a well-rounded university experience.
The students were also reminded that the Faculty values their wellbeing and to seek out help when they need it.
Vincent Huang, an incoming student in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Distinguished MedScholar) programme, said he was looking forward to meeting his new classmates and teachers.
“I’m excited but also a bit nervous at the same time because HKUMed has been my dream university, especially the MBBS DMS programme,” he said. “I’m excited to meet a lot of new friends and practise my Cantonese as well. But I’m nervous about the volume of content I will have to face.”
Fellow medical student, Emma Paryani, said she was excited to hear from the Dean of Medicine and meet her peers at the induction.
“I’m really looking forward to doing the dissections and more so the clinical aspects of MBBS,” she said. “I’m also looking forward to studying with like-minded individuals and learning from each other as everyone here is academically very strong.”
