Promoting Legal Awareness of Aspiring and Senior Educators: From Classroom, Workplace to Future

In the seminar, the journey of implementing a Teaching Development Grant (TDG) titled as “Promoting Legal Awareness for Enhancement of Work Ethics and Teamwork Required in Co-op education” will be shared.

Background
This TDG commenced on 2025-1-1 and ended on 2025-8-31. The purpose of this TDG was to enhance to legal awareness, work ethics, teamwork and employability of aspiring educators by developing 11 Real-World Scenarios and a Legal Awareness Test of 22 multiple-choices for voluntary participation of a total of approximately 110 students from BBED 1102 & BBED 5025.
Due to very positive responses from UG students, this TDG was also extended to voluntary participation of 30 students in Master of Education majoring in Educational Administration and Management (EAM) specialism.
In short, a total of approximately 140 HKU students were benefited. Focus groups and surveys had been conducted to better understand the impact of the TDG. One Student-Led Legal Awareness Forum had been successfully implemented with well-received responses. Network of Legal Awareness Ambassadors had been established.

Impacts of this TDG
To UG students
Overall, students reflected that the TDG had significantly enhanced their legal awareness and work ethics at their professional work. They had better understanding of the professional conduct expected on teachers from Education Bureau. They had better appreciation of multi-cultural environment, work ethics and team work. In addition, they reported that they out-performed their peer in job interviews as new teachers.

To MEd EAM students
Specifically, students reflected that the TDG had significantly enhanced their legal sensitivity as school policymakers in the school settings. They had better legal sensitivity in handling students matter, especially from legal and crisis management perspective. This also uplifted their work ethics at organizational policy levels so that unnecessary conflict with students, parents and community at large can be avoided.

Impacts to Overseas and Sister Institution
This TDG had also received great commendation in overseas institutions such as University of Oxford & Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). It also inspired relevant EDUHK colleague to develop their Faculty TDG for teacher professionalism in their teacher training program.

Impacts To Government
Capitalizing on the success mentioned, relevant professional sharing has been made to the high-level policy makers in the HKSAR Government, including the Chief Executive (CE), Chief Executive Policy Unit, Education Bureau, Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Equal Opportunities Commission etc.