Student Life

Principle

The Hong Kong Baptist University is a community of individuals aspiring to academic excellence, personal wellness, and spiritual maturity. All members of the University are expected to behave as responsible persons with high standards of honesty and conduct.

The Office of Student Affairs is especially concerned with student life and self-discipline of students. The University affirms its commitment to academic freedom, to the rights of the individual, and to provide an open forum for differing opinions. Students are to conduct themselves with dignity in accordance with University regulations. They should therefore seek to understand thoroughly the information in this University Student Handbook as well as other University publications. When a student accepts admission, there must be a willingness to abide by the social, moral, and academic standards of the University throughout the programme of study.

Standards of Conduct

Students are required to observe the following Standards of Conduct that are considered appropriate to the educational purposes and Christian principles of the University:

Students are to exhibit a regard for the rights of others at all times.
Students are to show respect for the safety and property of other persons as well as of the University.
Students are expected to value their personal integrity and therefore to demonstrate honesty at all times.
Students are expected to show respect to University administrators, faculty and staff at all times and to establish friendly relationships with other students.
Students are expected to comply with the rules and regulations set by the University.

The following examples of misbehaviour, while not exhaustive, are intended to give a student an idea of what kind of behaviour amounts to a breach of the University’s Standards of Conduct and would therefore result in disciplinary action.

Dishonesty in completing assignments and examinations, including plagiarism and cheating.
Obstruction or disruption of learning, teaching, research or administration such as talking, eating or drinking in classrooms and using of mobile phone during lectures.
Disorderly behaviour related to drunkenness.
Smoking in any enclosed or non-smoking areas on campus.
Use or possession of illegal drugs or illegal drug paraphernalia.
Gambling on campus.
Stealing, defacing or destroying properties of another person or of the University.
Unauthorized entry into or occupation, damage, improper use, and defacement of of University's facilities.
Forgery or falsification of or use of forged or falsified documents.
Misuse of University documents.
Indecent behaviour.
Assault on or defamation of or sexual and other form of harassment towards or battery against the person of any staff or student member of the University or of any visitor to the University.
Failure to provide identification to authorized staff upon request when being suspected of violation of University's rules and regulations.
Failure to observe rules and regulations governing the use of various facilities and resources provided by the University.
Violation of local law or ordinance.

Sanctions for Breach of Standards of Conduct

Students who fail to comply with the University’s Standards of Conduct will be brought before the Director of Student Affairs or the Panel on Disciplinary Cases as appointed by the Student Affairs Committee for inquiry and, depending on the seriousness of the matter, be given one or more of the following sanctions:

Censure
Written warning
Written reprimand
Restitution
Suspension of the right to use certain facility within certain period
Order to provide voluntary service on campus
Disqualification from serving as office bearers of student organizations and/or sitting on University committees for a specified period
Barred from examination for specified period
Probation
Suspension of study
Dismissal
Others

Orientation and Guidance

Orientation for New Students

New Student Orientation, normally held in August every year, aims to promote freshmen’s understanding of holistic development, orienting their university life, and enhance their sense of belonging towards the University. University Life Orientation Workshop (Personal Transformation) will also be offered to students to enhance their understanding about their different aspects of whole person development and better prepare for the pursuit of a balance and holistic development in the university. New students will be introduced to important information related to University regulations and procedures, co-curricular and extra-curricular programmes, student life, and campus services. Senior students will be recruited to serve as peer mentors for freshmen to facilitate their adjustment to the University. For Mainland students, a series of training and services for adjustment enhancement are offered for a smooth transition and good adjustment to university life and to Hong Kong.

Guidance

Upon admission, each new student will be assigned a mentor who will give guidance to the student in the new environment. Counsellors at the Counselling and Development Centre of the Office of Student Affairs will help in other areas of concern. However, this assistance does not relieve the student of the responsibility to consult the University Student Handbook and other information booklets for basic information on the University. She/He should be particularly aware of all the regulations, procedures and requirements relating to her/his own programme. Students entering the final year should take the initiative to consult their respective departments with regard to academic progress, study programme and graduation requirements.

Support from Unit for Students with Special Educational Needs

In keeping with the spirit of equal opportunities, the University is committed to providing equal educational opportunity for all students including those with special educational needs. Students with disabilities or special needs who require the provisions of reasonable adjustments and support services should first register their documental special educational needs with the University. The Unit for Students with Special Educational Needs will coordinate with the relevant academic and administrative departments to provide appropriate accommodation, facilities and services to facilitate students’ learning and studies. Eligible students are encouraged to apply for disability grants and awards which provide financial sponsorship towards the cost of study aids.

Student U-Life Record E-system (SURE)

Student U-Life Record E-system (SURE) captures all the involvement of the students in their study years. It acts as an electronic platform, which integrated with Student Development Portfolio System (SDPS), and allows students to keep track of their non-academic records in preparing their curriculum vitae (CV).

Co-curricular and Extracurricular Activities for Whole Person Education

With the University’s emphasis on educating whole persons exemplified into its Graduate Attributes, in conjunction with the academic programmes, the University provides many opportunities for co-curricular and extracurricular activities to help enrich students’ educational experience. Complementary to and in supplement to academic programmes, these activities are also designed to help students attain the University’s Graduate Attributes.

Arts and Cultural Education Programme

This is an educational endeavour at the cutting edge of the University’s vision of whole person education. The programme consists of a collection of workshops on arts, social and cultural studies, creative and critical thinking, and various aspects of personal development. The overall focus of the programme is on the whole person. Interdisciplinary studies, project-based undertakings, community outreach and computer-assisted interactive modes of teaching and learning are emphasised as essential strategies to achieve the above-mentioned educational goal.

Creative Drama Festival

This festival aims to raise students’ awareness of current socio-cultural issues in order to develop their creativity and teamwork skills by participating in drama performance. This large-scale event is the first in Hong Kong attempting to promote Drama in Education at all education levels, from primary to tertiary institutions. Students develop skills by overcoming challenges set by the festival: firstly, participants will prepare, with their teammates, a 4-min drama of a given topic within 15 minutes; furthermore, they need to make use of a set of provided props for reasonable purposes in the drama, which challenges participants to think outside of the box. Training workshops will be provided in order to help participants develop confidence and necessary skills for drama performance.

Gansu Sustainable Service Scheme

This scheme aims to deliver educational services for sustainable development to the rural communities in Gansu Province. Participants will receive a series of training workshops on generic skills (e.g. communication, teamwork skills, etc.) and service-learning activities. Afterwards, they will organise fundraising activities in Hong Kong for the purpose of facilitating sustainable development of education for Gansu rural communities. These educational services include home visits, voluntary teaching, setting up learning facilities in primary schools, and planning open day activities with teachers and principals in local schools, etc.

Music and Visual Arts Activities

The opportunities for music performance at Baptist University are rich and diverse. The Department of Music offers many performing groups that can be taken for academic credit including the University Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra (Collegium Musicum), University Choir, Chamber Choir (Cantoria Hong Kong), String Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Women’s Chorus and a wide range of smaller instrumental ensembles. All of these and more are available to students regardless of major.

Students can enjoy a wide range of visual arts activities offered by the Academy of Visual Arts (AVA), ranging from on-campus exhibitions of works in different art forms at Koo Ming Kown Exhibition Gallery (Baptist University Road Campus) and Gallery of Academy of Visual Arts (Kai Tak Campus), artist talks and seminars, guided tours, visual arts conferences and visits to large-scale international art festivals. AVA also organizes various community arts activities for students in partnership with the community and the creative industry, including art workshops, knowledge transfer projects, exhibitions and summer school programmes. All these activities have helped link up students with the art world and the audience, as well as foster art appreciation in the community. In addition, the AVA offers many general education courses in visual arts for non-visual arts students, and opens up Visual Arts major courses in studio and media arts, crafts and design, and visual arts studies to all students irrespective of their major.

Sports and Physical Education Programmes

The University is a member of the University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China. It maintains an intercollegiate programme of athletics, badminton, basketball, cross-country, fencing, football, handball, karatedo, rugby, squash, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, table-tennis, volleyball and woodball. Competition is scheduled for both men’s and women’s terms. A comprehensive intramural programme is also offered to all students. Besides, a variety of elective courses in physical education is provided through the Department of Physical Education.

Student Organizations

Membership of student organizations is open to all students of the University. The University encourages every student to take an active role in activities organized by such student organizations. However, joining any such organization is entirely voluntary. Becoming a member of a student organization may involve payment of a membership fee. Students may participate in activities organized by those organizations which have been registered with the Office of Student Affairs or the Students’ Union.

The Students’ Union aims to promote activities in the best interests of all students and the University, to help co-ordinate various student organizations, and to co-operate with the University administration for the common good of all. These activities include welfare services, campus-wide projects, recreational, social and cultural activities.
The Postgraduate Association aims to promote the welfare of the postgraduate students who registered on all full-time and part-time research degrees and taught postgraduate programmes of the University. The Association also aims to facilitate intellectual and social communication among the postgraduate students of the University and to establish academic, intellectual and social links between the postgraduate students of the University and other tertiary institutions.
Academic societies, composed of students studying the same programme, seek to cultivate a professional attitude amongst members through co-curricular and extracurricular studies and projects. There are currently 44 societies active in this aspect:
Faculty of Arts—the Chinese Language and Literature Society, the English Language and Literature Society, the Humanities and Creative Writing Society, the Music Society, the Religion and Philosophy Society, the Translation Society, the Student Union Faculty of Arts Society, the Student Union Liberal and Cultural Studies Student Society;
School of Business—the Association of Business Students, the Society of Accountancy, the China Business Studies Society, the Student Union Business Management Society, the Student Union Economics Society, the Student Union Human Resources Management Society, the Student Union Management Information Systems Society, the Student Union Society of Human Resources, the Student Union Strategic Marketing Society;
School of Chinese Medicine—the Society of Chinese Materia Medica, the Chinese Medicine Society;
School of Communication—the Communication Society, the Student Union Creative Writing for Film, Television and New Media Student Society, the Student Union Integrated Communication Management Student Society, the Students’ Union Academy of Film (Higher Diploma) Students’ Union;
Faculty of Science—the Biology Society, the Chemistry Society, the Computer Science Society, the Physics Society, the Student Union Mathematics Society, the Students’ Union The Student Association of Science Faculty;
Faculty of Social Sciences—the China Studies Society, the European Studies Society, the Geography Society, the Government and International Studies Society, the History Society, the Physical Education and Recreation Management Society, the Psychology Society, the Social Work Society, the Sociology Society, the Sport and Recreation Leadership Society, the Students’ Union Social Policy Society, the Students’ Union The Association of Quaternary Societies of Faculty of Social Sciences;
Academy of Visual Arts—the Students’ Union Visual Arts Student Society;
School of Continuing Education—the College of International Education Students’ Society, the Early Childhood Education Society.
In addition, there are currently 61 active interest groups open to all students: the AIESEC, the Association of Mainland and Hong Kong Youths, the Astronomy Club, the Band Society, the Base of Youth Enlightenment, the Bridge Club, the Business United Society, the Catholic Society, the Chinese Affairs Association, the Chinese Debating Team, the Chinese Music Club, the Cinemania, the Computer Association, the Dance Association, the Dramatics Club, the Game Theory Society, the Hong Kong Youth and Tertiary Students Association, the Judo Club, the Karate Club, the Magic Club, the Photographic Association, the Psychological Competence Assoication, the Rotaract Club, the Rowing Club, the Social Service Association, the Student Union A Cappella Society, the Student Union Animation and Comic Arts Society, the Student Union Archery Club, the Student Union Baseball and Softball Club, the Student Union Chinese Traditional Martial Art Association, the Student Union ENACTUS, the Student Union French-German Club, the Student Union Gansu Sustainable Service Group, the Student Union Golf Club, the Student Union Hiking Explorer Association, the Student Union Iaido Club, the Student Union Japanese Culture Club, the Student Union Kendo Club, the Student Union Korfball Club, the Student Union Mandarin Debate Team, the Student Union Mandarin Drama Performance Association, the Student Union Mountaineering Association, the Student Union Orienteering Club, the Student Union Society of Bowling, the Student Union Society of Dance Sport, the Student Union Society of Muay Thai and Boxing, the Student Union Society of Rugby Club, the Student Union The Bird Watching Society, the Student Union The United Association of Sports and Entertainments, the Students’ Union Campus Run Crew, the Students’ Union Dodgeball Club, the Students’ Union Mystic Society, the Students’ Union Sports Climbing Club, the Students’ Union The Entrepreneurship Society, the Students’ Union The Investment Society, the Students’ Union The Riddlebusters, the Taekwon-Do Club, the University YMCA, the User Unit of the Hong Kong Award for Young People, the Wine Knowledge and Networking Association, and the Wing Tsun Society.
Hall Councils aim to promote activities and interests of hall residents. There are altogether four Hall Councils, each with a unique hall motto: the Student Union Hall Council of Y. P. Cai Hall, the Student Union Hall Council of C. L. Soong Hall, the Student Union Hall Council of C. N. Yang Hall and the Students' Union Hall Council of S. R. Zhou Hall.
Student Participation in University Governances: To ensure that students’ views are properly addressed in the University’s policy formation process, membership of a majority of the policy making and advisory organizations of the University is open to students. The opinions and interests of students can be reflected through their attendance in the University Senate, Faculty/School Boards and other campus-wide administrative committee meetings. For details, please visit http://sa.hkbu.edu.hk/goto/ugov.html.

Career Centre (CC)

Career Centre (CC), acting as a bridge among students, academic staff and employers, aims to facilitate students’ career development and job search. Staff of CC have established strong links with different business sectors to keep abreast of the current employment market situation. A wide range of services and programmes are offered to help students plan for their career as well as their job search.

Career Education

For the career development of students, a wide variety of services and programmes are offered. These include career talks and exhibitions from both public and private business sectors. Prominent guest speakers from various employment fields and government departments are invited to provide students with a wide range of career information for career choice, and to assist them in understanding the practice, sub-culture and expectations of being an executive in different professions.

Besides, company visits (both local and overseas) are also arranged so that students can directly discuss with the senior executives, thereby enhancing their understanding of different business operations.

Large-scale career fair is arranged for students to obtain the most updated job market and recruitment information. Recruitment booths of well-known companies are set up, with on-site interviews and career talks, providing students an opportunity to meet their future employers.

Career Counselling/Advising

Interview Clinic (One-to-one consultation for about 30 minutes) is regularly arranged to enhance both interview skills and presentation skills of students via face to face mock interviews. Constructive feedback is given by professionals or career counsellors/advisors to increase the confidence of interviewees and improve their interview performance.

CV Clinic (one-to-one consultation for about 30 minutes) is arranged regularly to improve resumes and cover letters of job seekers. Career counsellors/advisers give professional advice on students’ resume and enhance their writing skills for job search.

Employment Information and Liaison

CC liaises with employers for full-time, summer, part-time and temporary job placement. Together with the Joint Institutions Job Information System (JIJIS) which provides a centralized website with job searching features for students/graduates of local universities, CC has also introduced the Baptist University Career Match Engine (BUCME) as another complementary job search device for students.

Along with the employment information, recruitment talks, exhibitions and campus interviews/tests are arranged to familiarize students with the procedures in job application, recruitment process, company and job information.

Graduate Employment Survey

A Graduate Employment Survey is conducted annually to understand the first career destination of current year’s graduates. Survey reports are available for reference.

Career Advancement Scheme for Taught Postgraduates (CAST)

CAST is a pioneering project in the year 2016. It targets to assist full-time taught postgraduates on career planning and preparations through a series of professional services and career trainings. CAST is designed to meet personal needs and career interests. It includes self-exploration workshops, job search skills trainings, company visits, individual consultations by professionals in different industries, and networking events.

Career Mentorship Programme (CMP)

Career Mentorship Programme (CMP) intends to promote a sharing and supportive relationship between experienced professionals and selected students with a view to enable the latter to learn about the world of work through interactions with senior executives at the work setting. The programme, though informal, may serve as a significant complement to the formal academic curriculum of the University. Mentors and mentees would meet regularly for two to three years.

Empowerment for Elites Programme (E4E)

E4E is a newly designed programme for the identified elites who are nominated by academic faculties as student ambassadors at the annual Employers' Luncheon. These outstanding students normally receive trainings on presentation skills and business etiquette, and are able to connect with employers in Luncheon. To further enhance the employability of these senior form students, E4E provides intensive career trainings and follow up by external consultants.

Metropolitan Attachment Programme (MAP)

Metropolitan Attachment Programme (MAP) aims to enhance students’ competitiveness for employment and future advancement by working in different companies overseas. The programme can strengthen students’ language and communication abilities and also develop their transferable skills such as self-confidence and problem solving ability. In summer 2016, ten groups of students are arranged to have work attachment experience in Chicago, US; Melbourne and Sydney, Australia; London, UK; Toronto, Canada; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Berlin and Munich, Germany; and Taipei, Taiwan. The programme can also enrich students’ living and work experience in different cultural environments.

Local Attachment Opportunities (LAO)

Local Attachment Opportunities (LAO) aim at enhancing the competitive edge of our students for employment. Students can broaden their vision about the world of work, and strengthen their transferable skills such as self-confidence, sense of co-operation and problem solving ability. Students also undoubtedly can gain practical skills from the job experience in their major or related disciplines and explore their career aspirations.

Global Attachment Opportunities (GAO)

Global Attachment Opportunities (GAO) are arranged for high caliber, senior students from different academic background. They are arranged to different esteemed corporations and organizations overseas for work attachment for three months or up to one year. Apart from the benefits for their future employment, GAO can also foster the development of students’ personal qualities in terms of career aspirations, self-confidence, global efficiency, and social and language skills. Gaining this experience, students can develop more flexibility in choosing their career across different countries and cultures.

A University Year in the Community (UYC)

A University Year in the Community (UYC) Project is a unique gap year/semester option offering students to defer their studies at the university, and extending their learning boundaries through gaining hands-on workplace experiences that complement their academic studies in different large corporations in Hong Kong. It aims at broadening students’ vision about the world of work, strengthening students’ life and transferable skills, assisting students in their career planning and facilitating a smooth transition to workplace upon their graduation.

Effective Presentation Programme (EPP)

Effective Presentation Programme (EPP) aims at equipping students with all rounded skills to express their innovative and tactful ideas and arousing the awareness of the students and the public in the learning and use of English. Through a series of intensive speech training, practicum, seminars and activities, students can develop good communication and interpersonal skills, and have the confidence and skills in all modes of speech communication.

Career Achievers’ Forum (CAF)

The Career Achievers’ Forum (CAF) aims at providing an interactive platform between students and professionals in the work field. Through a series of small-group and interactive workshops held by professionals from different career fields, students would be able to equip themselves with necessary information and skills for the career they are interested in. It also enhances their understanding of real life business operations.

Further Studies

Students can obtain comprehensive information about further studies from CC, including background of different universities, updates in scholarships, etc.

Job Search Workshops

Job Search workshops are conducted so as to equip students with necessary skills. Major topics include career explorations (through career test, ‘Career Occupational Preference System (COPS)’), writing application letters and resumes, interviewing for jobs, communication skills in work place and presenting a positive and professional image to employers, etc.

Student Development Portfolio (SDP)

This portfolio aims to help students plan for and keep a record of their development, encourage students to participate in campus activities and provide certification on students’ non-academic areas for future employment and further studies.

Counselling and Development Centre (CDC)

A team of trained and experienced counsellors is here to provide assistance to students in defining and accomplishing their personal and academic goals as well as fully actualizing their potential in social, psychological, intellectual and professional development. Please click here to link to Counselling and Development Centre.

Counselling and Assessment

Individual Counselling: Students can receive support and facilitation from one of the professional counsellors to effect personal growth and positive changes according to their needs, on areas such as emotional management, interpersonal relationship, self-esteem, university adjustment, study problems, career exploration, etc.
Assessment: Psychological tests are administered to enhance students' self-understanding and identify areas for growth.
Whole Person Development Inventory (WPDI): This localized inventory constructed by the Office of Student Affairs and academics from the Faculty of Social Sciences is administered to students at various stages of their university life to enhance the understanding about their different aspects of whole person development.
Psychological Online Tests: Self-report psychological tests are available online to promote students’ self-understanding and identify areas for personal growth. Students can log-in to the platform and obtain immediate feedback. Please click here to link to the tests.

Psychological Competence and Development

Development Courses: Workshops of two to three hours and two-day Mental Health First Aid Standard Courses are offered throughout the semesters to enhance students’ self-awareness, psychological competence and life skills. Areas of focus include self-understanding enhancement, EQ development, mental health education and university life adjustment, etc.
eCourses: To cater for students with preference for different learning modes, a series of eCourses are provided through the BU eLearning Platforms to increase students’ self-understanding and enhance their psychological competencies and life skills. Please click here to link to the eCourses
IGE Courses: To provide more extensive psychological skills training, the Centre collaborates with the Department of Social Work to offer courses including “Service Leadership and Emotional Intelligence”, “Psychology of Positive Living” and “Improving Mental Health for University Success”.
Psychological Services Trip—EQ Express (EQE): EQ Express aims at facilitating participants’ EQ development through training and delivering an EQ camp for children in Mainland. The EQ Ambassadors will promote the concept of emotional intelligence and demonstrate caring spirit during the seven-day trip in Mainland. They will be able to internalize the knowledge of EQ and strengthen their social intelligence.
Mental Health Enhancement: To promote mental wellness proactively, different activities such as displays, talks, web articles, etc. are provided to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness. Mental Health First Aid Standard Courses are offered to provide understanding in various mental illnesses, first aid responses, and community resources to enhance self-care as well as alertness to and acceptance of people in need.

Support for New Students

Transition to University Life Webpage: This webpage for freshmen is to provide helpful information and resources for students’ psychological adjustment to university life. In addition to help students to be aware of the changes they are going through in the first year of university study, it also provides students with tips for personal growth and student success. For details, please click here.
Peer Mentor Programme: This programme aims to cultivate peer support on campus. Peer mentors provide assistance to freshmen in their adjustment to university life in the beginning of the semester. They will also have opportunities to learn through training, supervision and their helping experiences.
University Life Orientation Workshops: The Personal Transformation Workshop (UOW 1) is organized for new students during their orientation to better prepare them for university life.
Whole Person Development Mentoring: This service aims to raise students’ awareness of the importance of Whole Person Development as well as one’s strengths and weaknesses. With individual mentoring, students are encouraged to use co-curricular and extracurricular activities to facilitate their growth.
Host Family Programme for non-local students: This programme aims to provide an opportunity for non-local freshmen to enhance their personal learning experience by interacting with local host families. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the people and culture of Hong Kong. They can also receive support and "home care" while they are miles away from home.

Mainland Student Services

Induction Programmes: Orientation activities, Cantonese classes, seminars and workshops, etc. are provided to assist the new Mainland students to assimilate in the University and Hong Kong society.
Individual Mentoring: A team of Mainland Student Services Officers is accustomed to helping Mainland students to address issues which hinder their adjustment to new life in Hong Kong.
Cultural Exchange Trip: The Cultural Diversity Express is a tour which aims at facilitating intercultural sensitivity. Participants' understanding and empathy for people from other cultures can be enhanced through their interaction and teamwork with fellow participants during the trip. As a result, Mainland students can find it easier to assimilate into Hong Kong society.

Developmental Education Resources

To stimulate students’ self-reflection, the webpage Good Morning BU provides many inspiring quotes and mottos. Additionally, different types of self-help materials such as books and leaflets are also available at the Centre.

Leadership Qualities Centre (LQC)

In line with the University’s mission of providing a higher education which develops and sustains the integrity of a whole person as well as its strong commitment to both academic excellence and community service, the Centre supports and facilitates “total development” of students by managing the Co-curricular Learning (CCL), part of the University Life course, and by providing quality leadership training programmes and ample community service-learning opportunities for the student body.

First-year Experience

Co-curricular Learning (CCL): As part of the University Life course, Co-curricular Learning (CCL) aims to provide students with a comprehensive and diverse range of non-formal learning opportunities which will help expand their breadth of knowledge, stimulate their thinking, and broaden their horizons at large. The learning takes in the form of seminars, workshops, campus events, and experiential learning activities, in which some of them focus on four specific themes including psychological competence, service and leadership, national and global citizenship, and career development.
Freshman Experience Programme - Community Explorer (FEP): It provides a learning experience for freshmen to engage and explore our communities. Freshmen and senior student leaders would form groups to investigate their chosen theme from Servant Leadership or Community Engagement with various activities including workshops, field trips, visits, discussion or self-initiated projects. The student leaders are trained to lead freshmen to develop their leadership potential and serving attitude.

Global Vision

Global Leadership Programme: With the aim of increasing students’ international exposure and global awareness, the Centre appoints passionate and outstanding students on behalf of the University to participate in many local and international collegiate Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, such as National MUN and Harvard World MUN, after a series of year-long intensive trainings. The Centre also offers the overseas experiential learning opportunities for students; the Change-Makers Programme (CMP), in which students probably visit, serve and discuss with others who are also concerned with the most vulnerable in the globe, nurturing students into responsible global citizens who will promote positive human values and global ethics to both local and global communities after the trip. The HKBU Global Youth Summit is a two-day intensive activity with an aim to inspiring and cultivating local and overseas youngsters to have a global mindset and become aware of the wider world while respecting and valuing diversity and acting to build a better world. Service-Learning Global Internship Programme (SLGIP) provides students with summer internship opportunities at non-profit/non-governmental organization in Asian countries which aims to enhance students’ intercultural knowledge and understanding towards underprivileged communities worldwide.
Overseas Study Tours and Conferences: In collaboration with academic departments, student organizations and community organizations, the Centre also provides eye-opening opportunities for students in participating overseas study tours and international conferences.

Civic Engagement

Civic Leadership Programme: Through current affairs study groups, visits to prominent social leaders, leadership training workshops and study tours, the programme aims at enhancing the social and political awareness of students, developing their citizenship and national identity and strengthening their sense of belonging to the local and national communities.
Peer Support Scheme: The objective of this nine-month programme is to train up students to provide mentoring service for the youth-at-risk in the Kowloon City District. Selected students would be trained as peer mentors and give guidance to their mentees regularly with the support from professional advisers.

Service-Learning

A series of service-learning programmes prepare students to serve disadvantaged groups in rural areas of China and other developing countries, and promote the awareness of humanistic issues such as poverty and aging. Students will provide help and care to needy people along with training of their critical thinking and self-reflection of the current social development through workshops, focus groups and service trips. Collaborating with the School of Chinese Medicine and the Department of Religion and Philosophy, three Interdisciplinary General Education courses, namely “Paths to Service Leadership in Health Services”, "Service Leadership and Meaning of Life and Death" and “From Responsible Citizenship to Service Leadership” are offered for students to strengthen their motivation in caring and enhance the understanding of certain topics and respective service provided in the community.

Student Partnership

The Centre has been able to leverage on its well-established student partnership with external organizations, including Wofoo Leaders’ Network (WLN) and University YMCA® (HKBU) to implement the “Train-the-Trainer” and Experiential Learning Model, which aims at developing students as office-bearers and peer leaders in various projects and activities.

Student Accommodation Section (SAS)

Undergraduate Halls

The four Residence Halls are named after four prominent Chinese figures, namely Prof Chen-Ning Yang (楊振寧教授), the late Mr Yuan-Pei Cai (蔡元培先生), Mr Shu-Ren Zhou (周樹人先生) and Madam Ching-Ling Soong (宋慶齡女士) who had outstanding achievements in areas of scientific research, education, literature and social movement respectively in the contemporary Chinese history. Those prominent Chinese will serve as observable role models for students during their study and residence in the University.

The four halls provide altogether 1,770 places. Erected as two connected towers, the complex comprises ample communal facilities including a 400-seat BU Fiesta, a Courtyard, a Fitness Room, Study Rooms, Laundry Rooms, a Computer Room, Sitting Lounges, a Joint-Hall Convenience Store, Multi-Purpose Rooms, a multi-purpose Chapel, 36 Lounges, 34 kitchenettes, etc. All bedrooms and communal facilities are equipped with air-conditioners. All rooms are provided with internet access points and Wi-Fi service is available throughout the Halls.

The Office of Student Affairs aims to cultivate a congenial yet stimulating living-learning environment in the Halls. To strengthen residents’ sense of belonging and citizenship, they are heavily involved in committees and consultative groups which form an integral part of the hall governance. Apart from hall life guidance and care, there are various kinds of intentional residential education and hall life programmes which aim to promote whole person development in students and cultivate residents’ abilities and transferrable skills.

Dr Ng Tor Tai International House

Located on the campus, Dr Ng Tor Tai International House (“House”) provides homely and comfortable accommodation to the guests and visiting scholars of the University. It also serves as one of the on-campus student hostels for accommodation of full-time non-local postgraduate and undergraduate students of the University. In the House, every air-conditioned student room is equipped with a private bathroom, basic furniture, electrical appliances and broadband connection for Internet access. Basic room cleaning and security patrol are also provided to ensure a clean and safe living environment. A common room with food-reheating facilities, the reading corners and the House restaurant are ideal places for meeting friends and small groups’ discussions.

Like those living at hostels, student residents of the House are required to observe and comply with hostel rules and regulations. To protect the safety and health of all student residents and ensure proper functioning of hostel facilities, room inspections are conducted regularly. Besides, to show the House’s caring, gifts are given to student residents during festivals and examination seasons. With a view to promoting social life of and enhancing communication amongst student residents, the House organizes an array of extracurricular activities like day tour to the hot scenic spots of Hong Kong, talent contest, photo competition, career talk, community services and interest classes.

University-managed Off-campus Student Residence

For the sake of providing better accommodation support to the full-time non-local students, the University has rented Carlson Court which is a 19-storey high private residential building at Kowloon City administered by the Off-campus Housing Team (“Team”).

To ensure orderly hostel operation and promote harmonious living environment, student residents there are also required to observe and comply with accommodation rules and regulations. All shared flats are provided with basic furniture and electrical appliances, Wi-Fi Internet access and cooking facilities. Flats’ inspections and maintenance to facilities are also carried out regularly. Besides, in order to provide a good platform to polish one’s communication and interpersonal skills and to develop stronger social network, the Team organizes a great variety of student programmes and activities such as sightseeing tour to explore Hong Kong, career talk, community services and interest classes. Apart from these activity-based exposures, student residents can experience a sense of being cared and warmth as presentation of festive gifts and personal visits are organized regularly by the Team.