The capstone experience: student and academic perspectives

A principal consideration in recent cross-sector educational reforms in Hong Kong is ensuring that undergraduate programmes prepare students for the future workplace, a factor that has made the capstone a central feature of the new four-year curriculum. This paper discusses a study that explored the final-year student experience based on a final-year project (FYP). Both recent graduate and final-year student feedbacks reveal some uncertainty and a lack of confidence over successful transition that graduates attribute to an overtly research focus in the current design of FYPs. Inviting comment from senior academics allows a fuller picture of the rationale behind, and administrative considerations in, conducting a capstone experience. This formative study highlights specific features in designing a capstone experience and the need for academic engagement in order to support the desired outcome of graduate employability.

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