Promoting psychosocial competencies in university students : evaluation based on a one-group pre-test/post-test design

Abstract

At The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a two-credit general education course entitled “Tomorrow’s Leaders” was developed to promote intra- and interpersonal competencies in university students. The course was piloted in four classes of students in the 2010/11 academic year. Pre-test and post-test data utilizing the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale (CPYDS) were collected from 50 students taking the course. Positive changes in the program participants based on the total scale and subscale scores were observed. The present study provides pioneering support for the effectiveness of the course in promoting holistic development of Chinese university students in Hong Kong.