How can our fundamental role as educators help advance social responsibility among students? This online forum will showcase The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) as a leading example, highlighting their innovative approach to transforming undergraduate education through non-local learning experiences that develop socially responsible leaders with both national pride and global perspectives. Building on their expertise in social responsibility education, PolyU has taken the bold step of ensuring half of their undergraduate students participate in these experiences through service-learning.
This ambitious initiative presents significant challenges, given PolyU’s large student body and the disciplinary diversity across academic programmes. From coordinating international partnerships to ensuring meaningful community impact while achieving academic objectives, these challenges have sparked innovative collaborations across faculties, industries and communities worldwide.
This Forum will examine how PolyU addresses logistical and pedagogical obstacles while ensuring academic integrity, cultural sensitivity, and the social impact of transformative learning experiences. Additionally, innovative practices from various institutions will be discussed, highlighting how learning opportunities and curriculums are designed to benefit both students and the wider society that universities serve.
| Theme | Social Responsibility in Teaching and Learning: Service Learning and Community-Engaged Learning |
| Date | Wednesday, 23 April 2025 |
| Time | 08:00 AM – 09:00 AM UTC time [Time converter] |
| Format | Online via Zoom |
| Moderator | Dr Julian Skyrme
Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement
The University of Manchester |
| Speaker | Dr Grace Ngai
Head, Service-Learning and Leadership Office
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
| Respondents | Assoc. Prof. Dennis F. Quilala
Project Development Associate for Service-Learning
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Philippines Diliman
Ms Chia Ming Huei
Specialist (Experiential Learning)
College of Interdisciplinary & Experiential Learning
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Dr Eugene Machimana
Head: Curricular Community Engagement
Department for Education Innovation
Unit for Community Engagement
University of Pretoria |
Please register by Monday, 21 April 2025. The Zoom link to join the Forum will be sent to all successful registrants closer to the event date.
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