| |www.centennialcollege.hku.hk tel 852 3762 6200hkcentennialcollege

Nov 2016

02

Getting Ready To Join A Big 4 FirmThe semester started with the first of a series of monthly professional accounting seminars on campus, which is a unique feature of the BPAcc programme. As most BPAcc graduates are eager to work for the “Big Four” accounting firms (i.e. Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC) as their first full-time employment, partners are invited from two to three of the Big 4 accounting firms as guest speakers of the professional accounting seminars in each academic year.

On 28 September Centennial College was honoured to have Mr Ernest Lee as the guest speaker for the first professional accounting seminar. Mr Lee conducted a 90-minute interactive seminar titled “Getting ready for joining a Big 4 firm”. He spoke about the service profile of EY, the kind of candidate EY is looking for and how students should prepare themselves. Mr Lee shared his experiences as a partner of a Big 4 firm and ended the seminar with a question-answer session.

Introducing the new Deans and the Director

Dr Felix Lam is Dean of Social Sciences at Centennial College.

He possesses substantial teaching experience at the sub-degree,

the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr Lam had previously

worked on credit risk modeling in the banking industry in the UK. Such experiences further

strengthened his expertise as his work frequently involved the

testing and application of statistical theories in the

actual operation of the banking business.

Dr Fiona Lock is the Director of Core Curriculum and the Coordinator of

General Education and Generic Studies. Fiona is an ecologist by training.

She is currently working on a Research Grants Council (Faculty

Development Scheme) funded project and two Centennial

College Grant funded projects in the area of avian ecology.

Dr Helen Toraskar is Dean of Students and she has considerable teaching experience in English language teaching and learning both in Hong Kong and in North America. Her academic interests include EFL teaching expertise , EFL/ESL teaching and learning and ESL academic writing.

Dr Michael Wong is Dean of Arts and the Major Coordinator of the BA Programme in Language and Communication at Centennial College. He has extensive teaching experience at the tertiary level and has published a number of articles in international refereed journals, as well as local and overseas newspapers relating to second language teaching and post-secondary education in Hong Kong.

03

NOV 2016

Engagement Programmes For Prospective Students

A tea gathering session was organised in Admiralty Centre on 6 July after Professor Edward Chen, the Council Chairman, delivered a talk on liberal arts education. Prospective students were given a chance to meet with some current students and alumni. Our current student representatives created a lively atmosphere by sharing their experiences at the College with prospective students. Alumni representatives reflected on their experiences at the College and how those experiences have helped them pursue further studies. PowerPoint slides and leaflets helped prospective students develop a visual and more comprehensive understanding of student life at the College.

Leadership Training CampStudents who enrolled in the course Leadership Theories and Practice joined a two-day leadership training camp at The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Jockey Club Sai Kung Outdoor Training Center. Students engaged in a number of team-building and challenging outdoor activities, such as a city hunt, climbing-the-high-wall and trebuchet-making using bamboo sticks.

Students applied the leadership theories of conflict management and motivation to solidify their understanding of good leadership. They were encouraged to reflect on what they have experienced and learnt including the important role of an enthusiastic and energetic leader and effective followers.

Centennial Experience Day Summer Fun Day

A Summer Fun Day was organised on 29 July by the Office of Student Success in a multi-functional amusement zone located in Causeway Bay. Prospective students who had applied to join the College, current students and Centennial College teachers enjoyed the entertainment facilities. Fun was on everyone’s mind while engaging in the various choices of entertainment, such as playing table tennis, billiards, board games, car-racing games and flying darts. Prospective students were busy bonding and networking with our current students and teachers. The event ended with delicious, savoury pizza and snacks.

Hong Kong Induction Tour

Orientation Camp

04

NOV 2016

The International Office, supported by OSS, organised a 3-day city excursion in September for inbound exchange students from the USA and Japan, including new international students from South Korea, Egypt and India. Students visited historic landmarks across Hong Kong such as the Peak, Tai O Old Village and Ocean Park. The participants experienced the culture, lifestyle and traditions belonging to Hong Kong and took away with them many memorable experiences. We welcome our new students to Centennial College and wish them success in their academic endeavours!

An Orientation Camp with a ‘Harry Potter’ theme was held in September for new and continuing students (i.e., non-local, mainland, Hong Kong and exchange students) as well as alumni. The aim was to provide new students an opportunity to network and form friendships with other students as they engaged in fun activities. A total of forty-nine students and alumni (including all participants & organisers) attended the event in Sai Kung. The event was organised by the Students’ Union and supported by the Office of Student Success. One of our new students, Tony Guo, described his camp experiences as follows:

"It was quite an experience for me and many other students. The most exciting activity during these three days was the mission ‘Find the Sirius’. Clues and information were provided and group members worked as a team to find out which of the participants among them was the Sirius. All in all, I want to say thank you to our Students’ Union and all these student helpers because they have planned all of these fun missions and games for us. We had a joyful and unforgettable memory at the beginning of the year with them.”

Hong Kong Induction Programme

The Office of Student Success (OSS) organised a luncheon at Centennial College in August to introduce new students to their respective Academic Advisers. Student organisation booths were set up such as the ICAC Ambassador Programme, TEDx Centennial College, Independent Clubs, Students’ Union and its Societies and Clubs. A welcoming luncheon was organised at the University of Hong Kong on 1 September for five new international students who were unable to attend the August OSS luncheon for new students. The students toured HKU facilities such as the Flora Ho Sports Centre, the Main Library and the Chi Wah Learning Commons.

05

NOV 2016

Study Tour Highlights

South Korean Discovery TourThis four-day South Korean tour offered the eighteen students joyful learning experiences about Korea’s heritage, traditions and culture. Students were exposed to a diverse range of cultural heritage assets such as the royal palace of Gyeongbokgung and the traditional Korean village architecture. Excursions to the museums and galleries allowed students to appreciate contemporary art. Students also had fun trying their hand at making Kimchi, the traditional fermented Korean side-dish. A visit to the Korean Broadcasting System gave students first-hand knowledge of how this media organisation has maintained its position as Korea’s most influential and trusted news provider.

American Cultural Tour 2016 :Cambridge and Boston

Thirteen of our students travelled to Massachusetts in 2016 and began their 15-day study tour in Endicott College, an exchange partner of Centennial College. Students cultivated long-term friendships with the local students through (i) pursuing studies in a wide range of liberal arts subjects on American history, culture, government, politics, society and economics; (ii) enjoying dorm life in Endicott College; and (iii) participating in tour activities in the cities of Boston and Cambridge respectively. Students also had a chance to visit Ivy-League institutions such as Harvard and MIT. Some activities in this tour contained a sustainability undertone: the whale watching tour in Gloucester and the visit to the Harvard Museum of Natural History jointly added a new level of exposure for students.

Sri Lankan Cultural Experiential Tour

The Sri Lankan Cultural tour offered students a unique educational opportunity to learn about the history, religion and development of Sri Lanka. The eighteen students (nine were recipients of Reaching Out Awards) who joined this intensive eight-day tour gained a deeper understanding of the Sri Lankan religion through visits to various Buddhist temples. They also explored the ancient city of Sigiriya, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This tour also provided an opportunity for students to improve their English by interacting with local students and giving English lessons to primary school students attending a primary school in the city of Kendy.

06

NOV 2016

Our Graduates'

Success Stories

Graduate 2016 (Language and Communication Major)Accounting Executive for an advertising production company

During my four years in Centennial College, not only have I met a lot of good friends, but I had also discovered my interest in the marketing field.

I had never thought that I would be interested in the field of marketing, until I started taking marketing courses at Centennial College. When I think about it, taking those kinds of courses was a precious opportunity for me to learn about the real world of marketing.

Kristeen Anne RomeroGraduate 2016 (Language and Communication Major)Digital Marketing Manager for a marketing agency

Looking back at the education I received in Centennial College, I see that I am able to utilise many of the skills I learned and practised during my time there. The countless group projects and various business management subjects have prepared me to work well and communicate effectively within a small organisation. Additionally, the subjects related to language, marketing and culture have given me a broader perspective of the world that allows me to contribute a unique viewpoint in discussions with my colleagues.

All in all, I am very thankful that I chose to study in Centennial College. The school's broad curriculum has really helped me become an exceptional employee within the digital marketing field.

Ka Fu Lam Steffi

Hok Lok Yi

Nickie Chan

Graduate 2016 (Professional Accounting Major)Assurance Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers

I am now working for one of the Big 4 accounting firms. I took the Accounting Internship Course when I was in Year 3 and met my supervisor in the internship job. She helped me a lot in my job hunting process after graduation.

Year 4 student (Professional Accounting Major)Intern at KPMG

Learning is a process that will never end. Working in KPMG is completely challenging and it helps me to learn more than ever. The more I work there, the more I believe I am born towork in accounting. IN KPMG, I TRUST!

07

NOV 2016

To raise our students’ awareness about the importance

of integrity, the Office of Student Success invited the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to share integrity messages with students who enrolled in a Personal Ethics Seminar held on 18 October, 2016. This seminar not only provided information on anti-corruption, but it also discussed integrity in the contexts of both university education and the workplace. Furthermore, the Seminar explored the topic of probity through self-reflection exercises and case studies. Students explored effective ways to reach sound ethical decisions in dilemmas of personal integrity and ethical issues.

ICAC Ambassador Programme 2016-17

The 6th Classified Post Career Forum, supported by Centennial

College, was held in October at InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong. More than 4,000 quality jobs were offered by forty-plus employers. The Career Forum is a highly-regarded signature event of the Classified Post and offers a variety of programmes such as topical seminars by industry leaders and one-on-one CV consultations.

The Shadow a CEO Programme ran parallel to the Classified Post Career Forum and offers university students the opportunity to shadow top-level executives from renowned companies for three days. The participating companies include Schneider Electric (Hong Kong) Limited; NDN Group (HK) Ltd; SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited and Hong Kong Airlines. A total of fifty-five university students who participated in the previous five Shadow a CEO Programmes won the opportunity to shadow twenty-one top-level executives with several students receiving job offers after the programme.

The Office of Student Success organised a career training

workshop to help prepare students for assessment exercises and aptitude tests in the graduate recruitment process commonly used by large firms. The workshop titled “Cracking Aptitude Tests (Verbal, Numerical, Logical Reasoning)” was held on 13 October. The aim of this workshop was to familiarise students with the format, design and content of verbal, numerical and logical reasoning. In-class mini test papers were used to help students identify their strengths and focus on areas which needed improved.

Career Development

Centennial College Careers Success website is

launched at https://careers.centenialcollege.hku.hk

Personal Ethics Seminar And Internship

Classified Post Career Forum

Career Training Workshop

08

NOV 2016

Editorial Board

Upcoming Events

For details, please visit www.centennialcollege.hku.hk

• Alma mater Homecoming Centennial College will host the first-ever Homecoming event to welcome back the alumni to their alma mater on 26 November 2016.

• Discussion Panel of HKDSE Chinese Subject will be held on 26 November 2016.

• Management and Innovation Forum 2016 will be held on 13 December 2016

• Centennial College Christmas Party (Organised by OSS) will be held on 23 December 2016

• OSS Events: The Office of Student Success (OSS) has a number of stimulating and fun events. Please scan the QR Code below for the upcoming events or visit the OSS website at https://success.centennialcollege.hku.hk/news.php

The College would like to thank Mr Bill Moriarty for his leadership and contribution

to Centennial Connections during his time as editor-in-chief from 2015-2016. We

welcome on board Dr Helen Toraskar as the new editor-in-chief this academic year

with Dr Anna Lee and Dr Shelley Lu serving as editors.

1+1 Voluntary Service Scheme

The Office of Student Success (OSS) teamed up with the SAHK On Ting Hostel to provide a series of voluntary services from February to July of 2016. Nine of our students were jointly engaged in serving the neurologically impaired. Centennial College students planned to have three separate local activities during the scheme to understand the service needs of the participants. From 7-10 June, our students travelled to Taipei with the members of the voluntary service scheme.

After the Taipei trip, our students created a photo album as a souvenir for every neurologically impaired participant. On 3 July, Centennial students organised a reunion in the SAHK On Ting hostel. Our students were presented with a thank you card during the July reunion which reflected the participants’ appreciation of the effort given by our College and the students.