This summer, more than 1,400 PolyU students travelled to different parts of the world to apply their knowledge and skills to create positive societal impact. From providing vision care and promoting cultural education to building solar energy systems and engaging in community affairs, these exceptional experiential learning opportunities – known as Service-Learning at PolyU – offer undergraduate students meaningful ways to contribute to the betterment of society.

PolyU has pioneered the integration of social responsibility and civic engagement into undergraduate education through its flagship Service-Learning initiative. In the 2024/25 academic year, over 40% of PolyU’s undergraduate students received support to undertake Service-Learning studies outside Hong Kong. Among them were students who travelled to Yunnan, China, to participate in various projects across disciplines.

Yunnan: cross-disciplinary efforts support local elderly and children

A PolyU team of more than 260 students and staff members embarked on a journey to Malipo, Yunnan, a region known for its rich cultural tapestry. Through collaborative projects in areas such as metaverse innovation, Chinese history and cultural preservation, financial education, and vision screening, students worked closely with local communities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, exchange ideas, and seek improvements in the lives of local residents.

The Department of Computing offered a project on utilising artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the metaverse to create digital tributes for the local elderly, such as virtual tours and digital narratives. “I believe the elderly still have hopes and desires to connect with the world and explore. This project encourages them to embark on new journeys,” shared student Han Yingyu.

The project offered by the School of Optometry was to provide eye examinations and vision care education, focusing on assessing the eye health of local children and raising awareness about eye health issues. “For the students, they spend most of their time in the classroom. Now we are exploring experiences in a different environment, so every moment here is interactive and special,” said Dr Elie de Lestrange-Anginieur, Research Fellow of the School of Optometry.

In addition, the project offered by the Department of Chinese History and Culture aimed to educate primary school students about Chinese moral and ethical values, while the School of Accounting and Finance’s project aimed to enhance financial literacy among children through games and educational materials.

Rwanda: installing solar energy systems and digital storytelling

As part of PolyU's Service-Learning projects, the “Wong Tit Shing Sustainability Education Project: Habitat Green in East Africa” brought together over 120 PolyU delegates – including more than 80 students, over 20 staff members, student leaders, and NGO partners – to Huye, Rwanda. During their 17-day journey, they collaborated with over 50 local youths to tackle real-world challenges and made a lasting impact through both technical and creative initiatives.

Students enrolled in subjects provided by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Department of Computing installed solar energy systems to provide sustainable energy solutions to 502 rural households and power two cell offices. This hands-on effort not only lit up homes but also sparked new possibilities for the local communities.

This year also saw the launch of the digital storytelling project, where students enrolled in the subject offered by the English Language Centre captured the stories behind African Evangelistic Enterprise Rwanda’s Child Sponsorship Programme. Through their lens, they documented the journeys of children and parents whose lives have been transformed, helping to raise awareness and support for the NGO’s vital work.

PolyU students overcame language barriers, resource constraints, and unfamiliar environments, and became resilient and connected with the local community, proving that Service-Learning is not just a project, but a movement of collaboration and empowerment.

PolyU is the first local university to make academic Service-Learning a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students. The essence of Service-Learning lies in applying professional knowledge to serve society, cultivating socially responsible young people with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective. Since its launch in 2012, PolyU’s Service-Learning initiative has enrolled more than 42,400 students, contributing over 1.69 million hours of service to communities in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan, and overseas.