The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held Service-Learning Scholarships Presentation Ceremony on 2 November at Chiang Chen Studio Theatre to award 100 students who demonstrated outstanding performance in Service-Learning subjects in the academic year 2014/15.
PolyU is committed to nurturing students to become all-round global citizens with professional knowledge and a caring heart. With the launch of four-year undergraduate curriculum in 2012, the University introduced Service-Learning (SL) as a mandatory credit-bearing subject. Professor Daniel Shek, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) addressed the ceremony and said, “Since the inception of the Service-Learning programme, a total of 5,164 undergraduate students have completed the SL subject and they served more than 200,000 hours. The establishment of Service-Learning Scholarship is not only to commend students with distinguished performance in SL subject, but also to encourage students to keep on engaging in community services.”
Professor Shek also expressed his heartfelt thanks to the benefactors for sharing the University’s belief on Service-Learning and their generous contributions in establishing the scholarships.
Through a short drama at the ceremony, three scholarship recipients shared their Service-Learning experience with the guests. Chen Hanshen, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, utilized his professional knowledge and imagination to develop a watering system for mentally-disabled persons. Sun Rui, from the Department of Building and Real Estate, travelled to Inner Mongolia to record the history and culture of Orochen tribe, enlightening his interest in anthropology and cultural conservation. Chow Kin Yee, from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, installed solar panels and lightings for villagers in Cambodia, bringing them electricity and improving their living standard. Although students faced hardships in their Service-Learning projects, the fruitful results drove them forward to continue serving the community.
The scholarships were presented by the donors and donating organizations; Professor Roy Chung Chi-ping, PolyU Court Chairman; Ir Dr Peter Wong Kwok-keung, PolyU Court member; Professor Angelina Yuen, PolyU Vice President (Institutional Advancement and Partnership); and Professor Daniel Shek, PolyU Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme). After the Ceremony, guests were invited to the 2014/15 Service-Learning Photo Exhibition, which showcased over 30 photos taken by PolyU students during their services in Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and overseas. The exhibition aims to introduce the different Service-Learning projects conducted by PolyU staff and students to the general public.
PolyU established the Service-Learning Scholarship Scheme in 2013 to reward students with outstanding performance in Service-Learning subjects. All the scholarship recipients are required to join a leadership training workshop offered by the Office of Service Learning and complete 20 hours of service in support of the implementation of the Service-Learning subjects/projects of PolyU.
