The Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received the Silver Award in the Tertiary Institution category of the Investor and Financial Education Award 2025, presented by the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC). The award recognises the Centre’s innovative research project, “PREParation through Motivational Interviewing and Education for Financial Planning (PREP-ME-Finance)”, and its significant contributions to advancing financial education among older adults in Hong Kong.
The award ceremony was held on 10 March 2026 at the IFEC FinEd Hub at The Mills in Tsuen Wan. Awards were presented across three categories: the Kindergarten and Primary School, Secondary School, and Tertiary Institution.
PREP-ME-Finance is an innovative research project led by Prof. Xue BAI, Professor of APSS and Director of PolyU Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies. The project targets community-dwelling adults aged 50 and above who live alone or with a spouse or partner. It adopts a four-arm clustered randomised controlled trial conducted across 24 elder centres, recruiting 400 participants to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions, including motivational interviewing (MI), MI combined with photovoice, an education-only approach, and a waitlist control group.
The project aims to enhance financial preparation for later life by addressing participants’ needs, risks, barriers, and goals. Through structured sessions focusing on goal setting, decision-making, resource exploration, and financial planning, participants demonstrated significant improvements in financial preparation attitudes and behaviours. Statistical analyses indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in key measures among participants in the MI intervention groups compared with those in the control group.
This initiative also aligns with the Hong Kong Financial Competency Framework, covering areas such as financial planning, saving and investing, and risk protection. The project collaborates closely with community partners, including District Elderly Community Centres (DECCs), Neighbourhood Elderly Centres (NECs), and Active Ageing Centres (AACs).
