Uni jumps on security bandwagon

The Education University has become the fifth university with plans to launch national security courses for its students majoring in education to learn about the implementation of the courses in schools.

The courses, covering themes such as political and national security, and cyber, cultural and ecological safety, would be taught via seminars and lectures.

"The themes are closely tied to our daily lives."

This came after four universities announced that national security education will start from this month or in January, with some making the subject a graduation requirement.

In July, Hong Kong Baptist University announced that undergraduate students admitted from this year needed to pass a national security education course to graduate but it will not be counted in students' grade point average.

The course covers themes such as the importance of the national security law, Hong Kong's constitutional status, "one country, two systems", cyber and environmental safety and public health.

Also in July, Hong Kong Polytechnic University said there will be a compulsory national security education course for freshmen from this month.

Lingnan University followed saying it would introduce national security-related topics in common core and integrated learning programs, seminars and talks this month.

In August, Hang Seng University said it would roll out a national security education course in January at the earliest.

It would be an elective subject taught by accounting, corporate governance, and law faculties.

Earlier in March, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said he was delving into the launch of national security education in eight subsidized universities.

This happened as the national security law mandates all tertiary institutions to roll out national security education.