Communication-Intensive Courses (CiC)
Introduction To CiC
Imagine a bustling university campus where a science student is confidently presenting her research findings to an international audience. Nearby, a business student crafts a compelling proposal that will soon impress industry leaders. In another building, an arts student is designing a visually striking digital exhibition that communicates complex cultural narratives.
What connects these diverse students isn’t just their university—it’s the invisible thread of communication skills woven into every aspect of their education.
This is the story of Communication-intensive Courses (CiC) at the University of Hong Kong.
The Journey Begins
The CiC story began in 2018, launched as a collaborative effort between three keys units at HKU—the Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES), the Teaching And Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC), and the Common Core Curriculum. Together, they set out to embed essential communication skills at the heart of students’ learning journeys.
In today’s fast-evolving landscape, communication goes far beyond writing essays or giving presentations. It means combining oral, written, visual, and digital skills to engage meaningfully with diverse audiences. Recognizing this, CiC was created to embed these essential literacies into the heart of students’ learning journeys.
The Four Literacies
Oral Literacy
The ability to communicate through spoken texts that are constructed with the appropriate content, structure and language features, fit for their intended academic or professional purpose and audience.
Written Literacy
The ability to communicate through written texts that are constructed with the appropriate content, structure and language features, fit for their intended academic or professional purpose and audience.
Visual Literacy
The ability to communicate in speech and writing through appropriate visual modes (e.g. diagrams, graphs, charts) and/or visual media (e.g. posters, 3-D printed objects, stage performances) fit for their intended purpose and audience.
Digital Literacy
The ability to use appropriate information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information in speech and writing fit for their intended purpose and audience (e.g. videos, wikis, websites, virtual reality projects).
CiC courses are specially designed to weave communication skill development directly into course content. Whether it’s through lively group discussions, multimedia projects, or digital storytelling, students gain hands-on experience practicing and refining their communication in authentic academic and professional contexts. This active learning approach not only boosts their confidence but also sharpens critical thinking and collaboration skills.
How Does CiC Work?
When a course receives the CI (Communication-intensive) badge, it means:
- The course explicitly develops students’ communication knowledge, skills, and attributes
- At least two of the four communication literacies (oral, written, visual, digital) are incorporated
- At least 40% of the course grade comes from communication-rich assessment tasks
- Students receive meaningful feedback on their communication
These courses appear across all ten faculties and our interdisciplinary Common Core curriculum, ensuring every student’s journey includes multiple opportunities to develop as a communicator.
The CiC Difference
What makes CiC truly unique is how it transforms teaching and learning across the entire university. Rather than treating communication as an isolated skill, CiC-badged courses weave communication learning directly into disciplinary content.
What Our teachers Say About CIC
“The CIC initiative helped me become more reflective about pedagogy and student communication.”
What Our students Say About CIC
“The debate workshop helped me speak clearly and organize my thoughts quickly.”
The Ongoing Story
Today, the CiC initiative continues to evolve, supporting teachers through professional development, designing innovative assessment approaches, and constantly refining how we prepare students for a world where effective communication is more valuable than ever.
This is more than an educational program—it’s a commitment to transforming how students learn and how graduates engage with the world. In a landscape where ideas need to transcend boundaries, CiC equips HKU students with the versatility to communicate across contexts, cultures, and mediums.
Through CiC, we’re writing a new story of higher education— preparing our graduates to adapt, innovate, and lead in the rapidly evolving landscapes of tomorrow.