Can Anthropology Be a New Normal in Experiential Learning Cum Public Outreach for Non-Anthropology Students?

Abstract

There has been increasing emphasis on experiential learning of students on the one hand and social responsibility of the academia for public outreach on the other hand. Anthropology seems to be the perfect medium to fulfill both, while at the same time advancing the global effort of anthropologists to extend anthropology beyond the academia to reach wider audiences. This is particularly salient in places like Hong Kong, where anthropology is marginalized, with only one anthropology department among the 20 degree-awarding higher education institutions. This paper gives an account of my project which introduces anthropological approaches to non-anthropology undergraduates in Hong Kong, while engaging them in experiential learning cum public outreach to address the educational challenges facing migrant secondary students. The project comprises five stages of 1) anthropological methodology training; 2) field research to identify the needs of migrant students; 3) designing measures to support migrant students; 4) implementation of measures; and 5) review. In the last stage, the participating undergraduates are particularly asked to create, with the input of migrant students, a sustainable collaboration plan which will enable both parties to learn from each other. This project is, therefore, for students by students aiming at enhancing the learning of both sides, using anthropological approaches. Based on the experience of this project, this paper discusses the opportunities and challenges for anthropological engagement to become a new normal for non-anthropology students in experiential learning cum public outreach. The focus is on dissemination of anthropological knowledge and participatory action in public sphere.