We are One RC4

The world is becoming increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. In order for us to make sense of the many constantly moving parts, and attempt at the best decisions based on rapidly changing information at hand, we need to have the ability to form a macro view of how the moving parts interact and effect a certain direction of change.

Indeed, we find that the traditional method of breaking complex problems down into manageable parts and attacking them separately may not be sufficient. The complexity of the problem often lies in the interconnectivity of the constituent parts – a change in one part causes other parts to move. This is why we often lament that “when one problem is fixed, another one pops up.”

At the same time, the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of the world bring us stress. Here, another aspect of interconnectivity becomes important – the interconnectivity of a community of people. We all experience occasional low points, and we all need support from our family and friends in one way or another.

"RC4 aims to help you thrive and become more resilient in the world."

RC4 provide a curriculum with a focus on “systems thinking”. We adopt an interdisciplinary and integrative approach that examines how complex problems in the world can be seen through the lens of a system, with the intertwined interconnectivity of its multiple parts. Let’s take healthcare as an example. Clearly, it is not just about medical sciences; economics, sociology, culture and belief systems, and human behaviour are equally important factors.

RC4 is also the home-away-from-home for our 600 residents. It is a close-knit living-and-learning community with a strong spirit of concern and care. In the College, students study together, egg each other on to become better “systems thinkers”, engage in various co-curricular interests together, discuss real world issues together, and support each other in times of need. At the same time, they are supported by a dedicated team of 5 Resident Fellows (who are academic staff teaching in the College), 15 Resident Assistants (who are senior students with assigned duties), as well as other teaching fellows, admin staff and housing staff.

At RC4, we believe every member of the community is important. The College is an interconnected whole. We share our joys and tears. Together, we strive for excellence.