What is so attractive about Engaged Learning?

The conference is “Engaged Learning and ICTD (Information and Communication Technology for Development) in the University Curriculum. It was organised by the University of Selangor, in collaboration with the Asian Institute for Development Communication (AIDCOM), Cornell University and the United Nations Asian Pacific Training Center for Information and Commmunication for Development (UN-APCICT) 

My talk was assigned  the title “What is Unique and Attractive about Engaged Learning”.  Te sub-title that I gave it, “The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Experience”, said it all.  My talk was the last one of the day, and we were running an hour late.  Yet my talk was very well received.  There was no time for questions and answers.  Yet many came up to me later to commend us, ask questions, and to look for advice.   They were impressed that we dared to, and were able to make service-learning credit bearing and compulsory.  That we are doing it in such a large scale, offering 38 subjects with 1,900 students in this academic year.  That we are sending hundreds of students overseas, to 5 different countries.  That we are sending students to Rwanda, which sounds exotic and even dangerous.  That we are so systematic and serious in teaching and assessment. …

It has to be said that it was not really planned this way.  I did not dare to think that it was possible, and certainly not in such a short time.  It was obviously God working.  And I am thankful.