How Does Globalization Shape the Interdisciplinary Curriculum Development in Hong Kong’s Education Reform?

Abstract

There has been a worldwide interdisciplinary curriculum development. By examining several official interdisciplinary curriculum in Hong Kong, this paper argues that curriculum integration which incorporates learning about globalization and global citizenship has gradually developed since the late 1990s. By using cross-sectional focus group interviews with experienced teachers and a sample of students, the author identified benefits such as enhancing students’ interdisciplinary knowledge and applying critical thinking. But limitations can be found in having a weak disciplinary knowledge and difficult to develop transferrable skills, which necessitates teacher training. This paper also discusses the recent Liberal Studies controversy and youth protests. KEYWORDSInterdisciplinary curriculum, competencies-based, knowledge transferable skills, Liberal Studies, globalization, Hong Kong