Ranking among the world’s top 100 institutions, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) aspires to nurture socially responsible professionals and global citizens. PolyU’s service-learning programme has witnessed a tremendous expansion from 6 service-learning subjects and 200 students in 2012 to over 70 regularly-offered subjects and more than 4,500 students each academic year. The University’s commitment to holistic student development through service-learning has received wide recognition including the UGC Teaching Awards, QS Reimagine Education Awards, and as the winner of the “Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year” by the Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2022. The Service-Learning and Leadership Office (SLLO), with over 10 years of success, takes the lead in advancing service-learning and youth leadership at PolyU. It champions efforts and resources to make service-learning a meaningful and crucial aspect of faculty work, student life, institutional identity and external partnership. It strives to train, support and facilitate faculty members and academic departments to design and implement innovative service-learning courses and projects. With a pool of service locations extending across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, South-East Asia and Africa, SLLO demonstrates strong partnerships with local and international community organisations. The office also steers research on the pedagogy and practices of service-learning and fosters collaboration with universities and institutions worldwide. Spearheading the development of quality academic service-learning experiences in response to community needs, SLLO delivers a diverse portfolio of programmes and initiatives to prepare students to become civic-minded professionals with leadership skills, cross-cultural capability, global perspective and a heart to serve. It will continue to engage all stakeholders who embrace the culture of service-learning, and expand service-learning programmes overseas for students in full force.
