The Service-Learning and Leadership Office (SLLO) has received the “International Research Award” from the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE), in recognition of its exemplary contributions through research on service-learning and community engagement.

Over the years, PolyU has developed many international partnerships in places such as Rwanda, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with a focus on engaging students in tackling complex and significant issues. Dr Grace Ngai, Head of the SLLO, said, “After a decade of hard work, we are thrilled that PolyU is hailed as a leader in the development of best practice in international service-learning projects.”

Identified as “one of the world’s most impressive and impactful service-learning initiatives in higher education”, PolyU’s programmes and scholarly contributions about multicultural and cross-cultural engagement have had a lasting impact on the lives and livelihoods of community partners.

Dr Stephen Chan, the founding head of the Office of Service-Learning, which was the SLLO’s predecessor, said, “We are proud of the success of the scheme at PolyU, which now offers more than 60 service-learning subjects taught by 170 teachers from 26 departments to 4,000+ students each year.”

The IARSLCE is a renowned international organisation whose primary objective is to cultivate, encourage and present research about service-learning and community engagement across all levels of the education system.