FHM Student's Oxford Journey: From Shakespeare to Algorithms

Yuen Wing-man, BEd(CL) Year 5 student, received the prestigious 2024/25 Academic Excellence Student Exchange Scholarship, completing an intensive four-week interdisciplinary programme at the University of Oxford this summer. This achievement highlights both Yuen's academic excellence and the Faculty’s commitment to developing versatile and forward-thinking graduates.

During her time at Oxford, Yuen embraced the challenge of cross-disciplinary learning. She spent her first two weeks immersed in Shakespearean literature, engaging in seminar discussions on classics like Hamlet and King Lear while exploring how cultural contexts shape textual interpretation. For the final two weeks, she pivoted dramatically to study algorithms in decision-making—despite being new to programming, she mastered fundamental concepts including A* algorithms and breadth-first search techniques with support from instructors and peers, gaining valuable insights into their practical applications and limitations.

Yuen shared that this experience taught her that as future educators, one needs to go beyond simply using technology—one must understand the principles that drive it. She considers stepping outside her comfort zone one of her most rewarding decisions, believing this unique educational journey has both expanded her intellectual horizons and strengthened the foundation for her teaching career.

Yuen's experience perfectly embodies ‘Humanities Can!’ philosophy, demonstrating how humanities education—through interdisciplinary learning and global exchange—develops adaptable thinkers equipped with the diverse perspectives needed to navigate tomorrow's challenges.