The Hong Kong Polytechnic University International Symposium Series on Service-Learning in Higher Education for a Shared Future

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University International Symposium Series on Service-Learning in Higher Education for a Shared Future will be hosted in Hong Kong on 13 – 14 November 2025. This event is a collaborative effort by the Service-Learning and Leadership Office (SLLO) and the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).

The 2025 event kicks off a 5-year series of symposia which are working sessions intended to foster dialogues, mutual learning, and deeper understanding of service-learning and community engagement (SLCE) across diverse global contexts. Like other forms of experiential learning, SLCE is inherently driven by culture and institutional ecosystems. We anticipate lots of rich discussion about how these practices take shape in different countries, regions, and institutions.

The inaugural symposium this November is designed as a dialogue cum workshop between China and North America regions, under the theme: 
“Shared Challenges and Opportunities in Institutionalization of Service-Learning and Fostering Civic Engagement.”

We anticipate stimulating discussions to explore shared good practices, challenges and opportunities in unpacking and deepening understanding of the ecosystem of service-learning. Through these dialogues, we aim to contribute to the global SLCE community by refining the principles and frameworks that can guide both practice and research across the service-learning ecosystem.