Abstract:
Our students need to be challenged in order for them to grow and to develop the necessary skills and mindset to be competitive in their career. The indicators of success are often focused on graduate recruitment, but it may be worthwhile to also consider their success in subsequent promotions and job changes. The expectation gap between the employers and the graduates they hire are well documented, and one of the main area of deficiencies appears to be the mindset of recent graduates.
The Constructivist approach requires the teacher to create an environment for students to tackle new problems by building upon their existing knowledge and experience with self-acquired knowledge and understanding. This approach requires the students to take the primary responsibility for their own learning, and not rely on other people to provide the “answers” to them. By learning to resolve problems on their own, they gain a necessary skillset that is greatly valued in the workplace.
Problem-based learning attempts to simulate the real-life situation in which our graduates are faced with problems that are not restricted to one topic or one discipline. These problems often present themselves unexpectedly, and our students are required to deal with them “on-the-spot”. There is no rehearsal, and there is no sitting in on another meeting to “learn the magic formula” on how to deal with these situations. Those graduates who can “think on their feet” and be able to deal with these situations in a competent and professional manner are those who are likely to succeed in the workplace.
By combining the mindset of these two approaches and applying them to all aspects of teaching, not just to a particular exercise, it is hoped that the students can better prepare themselves for the challenges ahead, and can also differentiate themselves in the eyes of their existing and prospective employers.
Speaker:
Mr. Ian Lee, Professional Consultant, Faculty of Law, CUHK
Ian is a Professional Consultant at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He teaches Commercial Law and Company Law to undergraduate (LLB) students, Business Law and International Taxation to postgraduate students (JD and LLM), and Understanding Financial Statements and Solicitors’ Accounts to Postgraduate Certificate of Laws (PCLL) students. He provided training on Solicitors’ Accounts to candidates attempting the Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination (OLQE), as well as on Hong Kong Corporate Law to candidates attempting the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries (HKICS) International Qualifying Scheme (IQS) Examination. His article on changes to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws in Hong Kong was accepted for publication in the Journal of Money Laundering Control.