Professional Certificate Programme in Parent Education

Generally, discourse on parenthood is child-focused. It tempts the public to review the work done by parents in terms of its effect on the child, and usually underscores the wearisome duties of parenting. However, as suggested by the Existentialist school of thought, people’s “know-why” in parenthood will affect their “know-how” in parenting, and what most parents really need is not simply the skills of parenting, but a commitment to parenthood. This module will broaden participants’ horizons by covering the existential and developmental dimensions of parenthood, scrupulously interpreting the latent crisis and life momentum behind daily parenting practice. Equal attention will be given to the meaning and concern, need and opportunity, challenge and obstacle, as well as the developmental effect of parenthood on the parents themselves from early parenthood to grandparenthood. The significance of offspring and future generations for the healthy development of a person as a self-actualizing and generative individual as emphasized in humanistic psychology, will be thoroughly discussed and analysed. 

This module will provide participants with an opportunity to reflect on their own experience of punishment in childhood and critically examine how they might have been simultaneously moulded in their characters, self-perception and interpersonal orientation by this. The stress of restraint and the underlying assumptions in most child-rearing practice will be scrutinized to show their latent adverse effects on those involved. Discipline and punishment will be meticulously differentiated from their philosophical stances. Participants will be facilitated to further appreciate discipline via the humanistic lens and the essentiality of rules and regulations for children in the acquisition of a sense of safety and certainty in their formative years. Productive use of behaviour management will be demonstrated to be a device to incubate independent living and the innate strength of life as well as catering to the basic genetic needs of people as suggested by Reality Therapy. The module will also integrate theories of social influence, and participants will recognize how behaviour change in a child can be achieved through different psychosocial processes, including identification and internalization. 

This module is designed to introduce the essential elements in guidance and counselling in various contexts including family, school and community. Topics include: definition and aims of guidance and counselling; the importance of the counsellor as a person; core conditions in counselling; and the motivation and self-care of the counsellor and "people-helper". 

This module is designed to provide an overview of important elements in group guidance and counselling. Topics include: kinds of groups; group leadership styles and what makes an effective leader; potential group problems; and group processes and dynamics. Special emphasis will be put on suitability and application in the Hong Kong context. 

This module is designed to provide an overview of the developmental needs of adolescents. Emphasis will be put on how the adolescent is influenced by family, school, peers and society. Topics include: basic concepts of adolescent development; cognitive development; moral development; social and personality development; factors influencing the adolescent; and specific developmental issues and problems of Hong Kong adolescents. 

This module is designed to provide an insight into various ways of enhancing a person's self-esteem and self-image. Topics include: understanding ourselves as humans; feelings and changes; growing towards autonomy; enabling a responsible generation; and a new way to praise and ways to enhance self-esteem in the classroom and at home. 

This module consists of three 7-hour sessions aimed at providing participants with a personal growth group experience. The group is semi-structured to meet the specific needs of the participants. It is hoped that through such group experience, participants can learn more about themselves and others; have a greater awareness of feelings about themselves and others; improve interpersonal communications; and reassess their values in an atmosphere of honest sharing and listening. Full attendance is required for this module. (Note: During the processes, participants will be led to revisit their personal growth experience including unpleasant experience and might cause emotional disturbance.) 

This module is designed to provide basic skills and practice for effective interpersonal communication. Topics include: knowing your own communication styles; awareness of non-verbal language; basic active listening skills; effective responding skills; appropriate assertiveness; and life situation practice. Learning takes place through interaction, experience and trying out new skills. 

This module is designed to provide learning and practice in how to effectively manage one's emotions. Topics include: key to emotional intelligence; knowing your limits and boundaries; managing with your heart and mind; and application in classroom and family settings. This module requires participants' active involvement and honest sharing for its best outcome. 

This module is designed to empower participants to build a comprehensive student care and support system in order to create a nurturing school environment in which children and young people can make maximum use of the opportunity to learn and grow. Topics include: the basic concepts and principles of a comprehensive student care and support system; its goals and domains, service interfacing and collaboration among key parties; and essential elements and skills to implement such a system. 

This module is designed to help the participants with knowledge and understanding to work with young people having problems of identity, intimacy and sexuality predicaments. The module will venture on dilemma and ambivalence of identity formation and intimacy faced by young people in depth. Through close examination of their own values and attitudes in these issues, participants will be equipped to help the youngsters to overcome their developmental hurdles with competence. 

This module will closely examine separation and loss in intimate relationship. Participants will learn about the emotional reaction of people to separation and bereavement, and how self may regenerate or stagnate in the dynamic process of attachment, separation, loss and reattachment. It will also introduce methods of intervention to rebuild the sense of connectedness as well as restore the momentum and normal functioning of individual after the change in intimate relationship.