This comparative research examined the effects of student involvement and college environment on students’ learning and living experience delivered by two aspiring world-class universities in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Few studies have shown how the levels of student involvement and college environment can benefit students at world-class institution. Earlier research done by Pascarella (1985) suggested that college environment impact students’ learning and living experience. Research in the field has also shown that through adequate campus facilities and campus resources, college student interaction and involvement can be promoted. Adapting a quantitative research approach, this comparative case-study utilizes the “Student Involvement Survey” from Ohio State University(OSU) and the “Student Satisfaction Study” from Birmingham City University(BCU) to examine students’ learning and living experience at aspiring world-class institutions. The study was conducted at two major research institutions from the Universitas 21 network: The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University(SJTU). The finding indicated that: a) student involvement (academic and social) affect students’ learning and living experience, b) college environment (academic, campus, and interpersonal) affect students’ learning and living experience, and c) students’ learning and living experience impact the making of world-class universities in China. The study extends from earlier research on student involvement and college environment from the U.S. and the U.K. into China’s modern higher education. The results of this research suggest that student involvement and college environment plays a salient effect on Chinese students’ learning and living experience and its overall developmental plan for world-class universities in China. In the end, the researcher provides senior administrators, policy makers and student affairs practitioners a few recommendations to further create an educationally powerful environment and experience for all students at aspiring world-class institution in China. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Instructional congruence (IC) is a conceptual framework which emphasizes that the linguistic and cultural problems of ethnic minority students are to be addressed in order to enhance their learning. IC has been developed and implemented during the most recent two decades, and adopted and recognized for its improvement on student motivation and academic performance in many countries. In Hong Kong, there are designated schools which specifically cater to ethnic minority students. In this study, three science teachers in a designated school have been evaluated on their awareness of IC in teaching ethnic minority students. However, none of the three teachers have received any professional training on teaching ethnic minority students. Through classroom observations and interviews with teacher-respondents, the results show that they have scant knowledge on catering to the different linguistics and culturally diversified problems of ethnic minority students. Although one of the teachers has some knowledge which allowed the consideration of student literacy development and application of cultural relevance in the instructional curriculum, his practices are not systematic and effective, which means that they fall far from the proposed IC practices. Educators and policymakers are strongly recommended to promote and adopt the IC framework in Hong Kong. If the implementation of IC in Hong Kong as a means to address the needs of ethnic minority students is familiarized and acknowledged, IC would very likely improve their academic achievements and provide them with equal opportunities in education. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Linguistics / Master / Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Linguistics / Master / Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education