Jointly organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Service-Learning and Leadership Office (SLLO) and the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN), with support from PolyU’s Department of Computing, the inaugural symposium of International Symposium Series on Service-Learning in Higher Education for a Shared Future was successfully held on 13–14 November 2025, at PolyU Campus. It launched a five-year series aimed at fostering dialogue, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of service-learning and community engagement (SLCE) across diverse global landscapes.
The 2025 inaugural symposium was held under the theme “Shared Challenges and Opportunities in Institutionalization of Service-Learning and Fostering Civic Engagement” and brought together over 40 participants, including distinguished speakers, guests, and attendees from universities and associations across China and North America. Notably, three speakers came from the USRN member institutions: Prof. Elain Donnelly, Director of Tisch College Community Research Center and Research Professor at Tufts University; Prof. Wen Yuan, Deputy Director of International Office at Sichuan University; and Prof. Xiandong Zeng, Professor of Faculty of Education at Beijing Normal University.
Prof. Cao Jiannong, PolyU Vice President (Education), welcomed all symposium participants at the opening.
The event opened with an inspiring address by Prof. Cao Jiannong, Vice President (Education) of PolyU, who highlighted service-learning as a vital expression of the University’s mission and shared that PolyU is close to achieving its ambitious goal of enabling 50% of undergraduates to engage in service-learning beyond Hong Kong.
Prof. Grace Ngai, Head, Service-Learning and Leadership Office, delivered the introductory remarks at the beginning of the symposium.
Plenary Discussion at the symposium, chaired by Prof. Andrew Furco.
In the closing remark, Prof. Ben Young, Chair of the USRN Executive Committee and Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) at PolyU, emphasised the collective impact of the USRN in advancing the role of social responsibility in higher education globally. Through collaboration, the transformative power of service-learning and experiential education can be amplified, benefiting students, communities, and institutions alike.
Designed as a dialogue and workshop, the symposium featured interactive discussions and working sessions, with participants divided into four groups representing the key players in the service-learning ecosystem—teachers, students, institutions, and the community. These sessions provided a platform for exchanging practices, challenges, and opportunities, leaving participants inspired with new insights, practical strategies, and strengthened connections. The enthusiastic engagement throughout the two-day programme laid a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration and future symposia in the five-year series.
