Greetings to Students

Dear students,

Greetings, and welcome to the Common Core!

The Common Core engages all undergraduate students of HKU in tackling some of the most significant challenges of our fast-changing societies through learning and connecting across disciplines, while developing core competencies in communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity.

There are great opportunities and challenges ahead—many of which may still be unforeseen. An interdisciplinary perspective is critical: from transformational technologies to new global tensions, from climate change to increasing inequality, from the polarisation of digital media to the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Perhaps the only certainty is that fast-paced change will continue during your time at university and across your future lives. Flourishing in changing circumstances, and leading solutions to unforeseen challenges, will require interdisciplinary vision alongside the important specialisations you are developing in your Majors.

University Aim 2, “Tackling novel situations and ill-defined problems” (https://tl.hku.hk/tl/#aimsug) is particularly apt for the Common Core. Through your Common Core studies, you will engage with all of the aims of our university: academic and professional excellence, self-reflection, global citizenship, communication and collaboration, and leadership and advocacy for the improvement of the human condition.

This September 2026 is especially exciting as we continue to expand and strengthen the Common Core curriculum, including our fifth Area of Inquiry in Artificial Intelligence, launched in 2025. Together with our four original Areas of Inquiry, this provides a wealth of choice across approximately 200 courses in the curriculum. Beyond these courses, there is much more to explore: transdisciplinary minors, future-readiness workshops, international exchanges, undergraduate research opportunities, and significant engagement with society partners both locally and internationally. We warmly welcome your creative ideas for further innovation within the Common Core.

Explore widely to find your passions and interests. Let us work together to develop opportunities to learn, connect, grow, and make a positive difference to the world around us.

Wishing you an enriching and inspiring time in your studies within the Common Core!

Julian

Julian A. Tanner, PhD
Professor and Director
The Common Core

August 2026