The three-year new senior high school was implemented in 2009, the middle school was shortened to six years, the university was increased to four years, and some disciplines such as medicine were increased from five to six years before graduation.
In view of this, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong launched the "Enrichment Academic Year" in the 2016/17 academic year. Medical students need to spend the entire academic year in the third year to complete exchanges and practice in different forms.
The first batch of medical students who accepted Zengyin’s academic year graduated this year, and 61 of the 230 students obtained another degree in Zengren’s academic year; some graduates chose to practice in Yunnan at that time and felt that they had benefited a lot. “As a doctor, you should not I know Kay Sangye myself, but blame a patient for not understanding it.”
The graduates interviewed indicated that they have no intention of immigrating for the time being, emphasizing that the purpose of studying medicine is to serve Hong Kong people. They also explained that the content of medical professors varies according to the region. For example, the prevalence of hepatitis B in the Mainland and Hong Kong will affect the clinical judgment of doctors. "That's why I think this degree of study is actually the most suitable for returning doctors in Hong Kong first."
Enriched academic year promoter Liu Zexing: Students can gain experience outside of medicine
Professor Liu Zexing, who will be serving as the dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong on a temporary basis from August, used to be the associate dean (teaching).
He said that since the 2016/17 academic year, the Enrichment academic year has been operating well so far. He believes that the school year is placed between the two-year basic course and the three-year clinical course, which can help students' future development.
He pointed out that during the enrichment academic year, students can deepen their understanding of pathology or medical development, and they can also go abroad to experience local customs, broaden their horizons, and gain life experience outside of medicine.
A quarter of 230 graduates earn another degree with an enriched year
Liu continued to point out that the Enrichment academic year has a high degree of freedom. Students can be divided into two semesters, free to study two non-medical courses, or go to other institutions for internships, or they can choose to study for a master’s or bachelor’s degree for the entire academic year.
According to the latest information from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, among the approximately 230 graduates this year, 61 received another degree (additional degree) in the Enriched academic year, a rate of 26.5%.
However, if students have not yet graduated in the Enriched academic year, why can they obtain a degree with a higher academic level?
Liu explained that before students take the course, the school will check whether their ability is suitable. At the same time, foreign universities also recognize the quality of the courses of HKU. Therefore, these students can obtain their degrees in only one year.
"The first program (HKU) has not yet graduated, so he will be awarded a degree from a higher program!"
When Professor Liu Zexing was the Associate Dean (Teaching) of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, he introduced the "Enhancing Academic Year" to replace the original third year.
(Photo by Li Zetong)
Graduates went to Yunnan during Zeng Yun’s academic year to study and learn to be patient with patients
Among this year’s graduates, Xue Xuqi facilitated Zeng Yun’s first semester of the academic year to study economics as an exchange student at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. In the next semester, he will collect data and research in local hospitals and middle schools in Yunnan, with the purpose of improving the local medical level.
When asked why she chose to study economics, she explained that it was a pity that she did not choose economics as an elective subject in secondary school.
Xue believes that Yunnan’s experience has benefited her a lot. Since local patients may not speak Mandarin, interpreters are needed to assist in communication, which requires more effort. For example, asking patients to sign a consent form for blood draws takes six minutes locally, but in Hong Kong only Done in a minute.
She said that practicing medicine in Hong Kong only needs to know the patient's home environment and situation according to the place of residence, and communication is relatively simple.
Xue Yi said that the local patients were relatively poor. At that time, she thought she had explained it clearly, but the patient did not know the professional terminology. Therefore, she later learned to change the communication method from the patient's point of view and increase her patience. "As a doctor, you should not I know what it is, and I blame a patient for not understanding it, and I have no patience.”
In recent years, the United Kingdom, Canada and other places have introduced immigration programs to Hong Kong people, which has made many young people consider immigrating overseas.
Dai Xiaoyi, who obtained a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, admitted that although her friends all talk about immigration, she has no relevant ideas, emphasizing that she chooses medicine only to serve Hong Kong people.
All of them hope to stay in Hong Kong, study here, and contribute to returning Hong Kong citizens.
Dai Xiaoyi, a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong
Yin Haoxiang, who also holds a Master of Medical Research (MRes) from the University of Hong Kong, explained that medicine is more special than other disciplines, and the content of the teaching varies according to the region. Taking epidemiology as an example, due to the high number of hepatitis B patients in the Mainland and Hong Kong, Mother-to-child transmission is the main cause. If a patient seeks medical treatment for liver problems, local doctors will first think of hepatitis B, but foreign doctors may not.
"That's why I think this degree of study is actually the most suitable for returning doctors in Hong Kong first."
Countries such as China, Britain and the United States are also facing the problem of shortage of doctors
As for the issue of the shortage of doctors in Hong Kong, the graduates also have unique insights.
Lin Yinghao, who was an intern in the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, explained based on his experience at the time that the shortage of medical staff is not unique to Hong Kong, and China, the United Kingdom and the United States also face related problems.
He believes that the Hong Kong government can learn from foreign countries, such as making improvements at the policy level, but stressed that it needs to be solved through cooperation from various aspects.
HKU Faculty of Medicine's "Enhancing Year" students jumped out of study mode and stepped out of the starting point of their careers from poor counties To make the world better