(From left to right: 2nd Prize Winner: N.T. Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School (新界鄉議局元朗區中學); 1st Prize Winner: Wa Ying College (華英中學); 3rd Prize Winner: Carmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary School (迦密主恩中學))
(From Left to Right: Honourable Mentions: Diocesan Girls' School (拔萃女書院) and ELCHK Lutheran Academy (基督教香港信義會宏信書院))
On 17 August 2024, the PolyU Igniting Social Innovation Competition 2024 reached its grand finale and prize presentation ceremony, showcasing the remarkable talents and innovative ideas of local secondary school students.
Organised by the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the PolyU Igniting Social Innovation Competition serves as a platform for nurturing the next generation of social innovators and policy advocates. The competition inspires young minds to tackle complex social challenges with creative solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and ultimately, to make a tangible difference in the lives of Hong Kong residents and communities.
This year we have over 300 students coming from 67 secondary schools participating in this competition. After two intense rounds of elimination, ten teams successfully made it to the finals. The topics they addressed ranged from pressing social issues like youth mental health, housing, high land prices, and an aging society below.
|
Name of the School |
Topic |
|
Carmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary School |
University Students Providing Home Services for Elderly Living Alone (便利屋計劃 - 大專生為獨居長者提供家居服務) |
|
Diocesan Girls' School |
Housing Crisis - Underground Development |
|
ELCHK Lutheran Academy |
Child Negligence - Potential Family Dangers from a Child's Perspective |
|
New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School |
Innovative Housing Designs and Shared Spaces |
|
P.L.K. Mrs Ma Kam Ming - Cheung Fook Sien College |
Talent Xplorer – VR Career Exploration Experiences (Talent Xplorer - VR職業體驗) |
|
Queen's College Old Boys' Association Secondary School |
No Poverty - An Old Man's Difficult Life (無貧窮 - 伯伯的艱難生活) |
|
Saint Francis of Assisi's College |
MBTI-Based Shared Housing Matching Platform |
|
Shun Tak Fraternal Association Cheng Yu Tung Secondary School |
Immersive Virtual Worlds Simulating Natural Living Experiences for Children with Chronic Illness |
|
St. Clare's Girls' School |
PathFinder - Personalized Assessments to Match Youth with Suitable Careers |
|
Wa Ying College |
The Impact of Family Factors on Youth Mental Health (家家有本難唸的心經 - 家庭因素對於青少年精神健康的影響) |
For example, students from Wa Ying College proposed to raise public awareness about the impact of family pressure on youth emotions by using 360-degree and virtual reality technology. They also advocated for increased parent counselling as a means to improving young people's mental health. Their innovative and practical proposal earned them the championship. Another team, comprising students from Diocesan Girls' School, suggested relocating non-residential facilities such as gymnasiums and shopping malls underground. This would free up surface space for housing development and environmental improvements. The breadth and creativity of the finalists' proposals demonstrated their deep understanding of Hong Kong's social challenges and their ability to devise practical, technology-driven solutions.
The judging panel for the final round included distinguished social innovators and experts from the fields of applied social sciences and knowledge transfer. The panel comprised Dr Lu YU, Associate Professor and Associate Head of APSS, Miss Sarah MUI, a pioneering architect and Co-founder and Design Director of One Bite Design Studio, and Miss Mia ZENG, Manager of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office (KTEO).
Prof. Eric CHUI, Chair Professor and Head of APSS, delivered a welcoming speech in the prize presentation to the participants, principals, and teachers from the secondary schools. He encouraged everyone to be innovative and creative when dealing with ill-defined social issues and problems.
This year, we are pleased to congratulate Wa Ying College (華英中學) on winning 1st Prize, New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School (新界鄉議局元朗區中學) for 2nd Prize, and Carmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary School (迦密主恩中學) for 3rd Prize. We also congratulate Diocesan Girls' School (拔萃女書院) and ELCHK Lutheran Academy (基督教香港信義會宏信書院) for receiving honorable mentions in the competition.
We congratulate all awardees and thank all participants for their contributions to this year’s competition.
Online coverage:
Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/46ZbcEo
Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/3YPx5nt
