Yow! Sven here! (I think I'll join in the 'non-first-letter-H-subject')

[Sven]

Hiya all,

The name's Sven Boers, from the Netherlands.

Currently a 2nd year student at the HKU, studying game design and development and specializing in Narrative design.

not much to say bout myself tho... Like to draw, read, write, tell stories, bla...

anyways, happy to be here, at least something interesting is goin on here. 
more than at school atm...

[Michaël Samyn]

Welcome, Sven!

So, what do they teach you at HKU?
Do you have theory courses?
Do you get commissions?
Is the focus on games, on videogames, on AAA games, on art or on something else even?

[Sven]

what they teach?

well, to be honest, not much...
Their focus lies on the state of mind they call 'design thinking'
That's the main thing they teach you. And methods that can help you with it.

There are a number of various courses: interaction design (mostly physical applications), game design and development (creating gameplay, narrative, and programming) and game art (mostly modeling and concept art)

Yes, we have some theoretical classes. But not really useful ones for me though. The theory classes are more focussed on skills you might need, such as programming and modelling.

We are taught by completing projects. We are given an assignment like 'make a game that teaches a high-school student about drugs'. And we have to deliver a prototype with 6 to 8 weeks. 
We don't get commissions, at least, not until year 3 I think, not really sure...

[Jeroen D. Stout]

Hi Sven!

Am I correct in thinking you were in my seminar group last year? Or am I getting old ?

Hope the HKU is treating its students well these days! I miss those corridors.

-J

[Sven]

Hey Jeroen,

Yep, ur right, that'd be me

[God at play]

Welcome.   Focusing on teaching students how to enter into a state of mind to accomplish something sounds like a pretty good vocational education to me.  It'd be interesting to know if they take this approach with other more "general" studies.