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.
- Unauthorised 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 authorised 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 organisations and/or sitting on University committees for a specified period
- Barred from examination for specified period
- Probation
- Suspension of study
- Dismissal
- Others
Student Induction and Guidance
New Student Induction
New Student Induction, which is usually held in August every year, aims to promote new student’s understanding of holistic development and adjustment to their university life. During this period, the University Life Orientation Workshop (Personal Transformation) is offered to all new students to facilitate their planning of university life through introducing the concepts of whole person development and a wide range of university resources for supporting students’ holistic development and increasing awareness of their current state of whole person development. Senior students are recruited to serve as peer mentors for new students to facilitate their adjustment. For non-local students, a series of customised training and programmes are offered for their smooth transition to university life in Hong Kong.
Guidance
Upon admission, each new student will be assigned mentors who will provide guidance to the students for their academic and personal development in the new environment. 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
The University is committed to provide equal educational opportunities for all students, including those with special educational needs (SEN). SEN students should first register their documented special educational needs with the University. The Unit for Students with Special Educational Needs will conduct need assessment and coordinate with relevant academic and administrative departments to provide fitting accommodation, facilities and services to facilitate their learning and studies. Eligible students are also encouraged to apply for disability grants and awards which provide financial sponsorship for the cost of study aids. Please click here to visit the website of the Unit for Students with Special Educational Needs.
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, and in supplement, to academic programmes, these activities are also designed to help students attain the University’s Graduate Attributes.
China Sustainable Service Scheme
This scheme aims to deliver educational services for sustainable development of the rural communities in provinces in mainland China. Participants will receive a series of training workshops on generic skills (e.g. communication, teamwork skills, etc.) and organising service activities. The educational services include home visits, voluntary teaching, setting up learning facilities in primary schools, and planning open day activities with teachers and principals in the local schools, etc. Afterwards, they will organise fundraising activities in Hong Kong to facilitate the smooth running of this scheme.
Creative Arts Activities
The opportunities for music performance at Baptist University are rich and diverse. The Academy 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, 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 organises 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.
The Academy of Film regularly offers masterclasses, special screenings, seminars, and workshops for HKBU students to enhance their creativity, critical thinking skills and preparation for careers in the creative industries. Acclaimed Hong Kong and International directors, writers, cinematographers, editors and designers share their expertise with students in guest lectures. The Global University Film Awards (GUFA) launched in 2018 recognizes emerging talents, fosters creative exchange among film students worldwide, and builds synergy between young regional talents and the international creative industry. The screenings are open to all students for enjoyment.
Sports 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, dragon boat, fencing, football, handball, karatedo, rugby, squash, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, table-tennis, volleyball, water polo and woodball. Competition is scheduled for both men’s and women’s terms. Students also have the opportunity to take part in selected intramural sports competitions. In addition, Healthy Lifestyle courses covering a variety of physical activities are offered by different departments a university core courses.
Student Organisations
Membership of student organisations is open to all students of the University. The University encourages every student to engage in activities initiated by student organisations. However, joining any such organisation is entirely voluntary. Becoming a member of a student organisation may involve payment of a membership fee. Students may participate in activities organised by those organisations which have been registered with the Office of Student Affairs or the Students’ Union. https://sa.hkbu.edu.hk/cls/goto/soc
- The Students’ Union aims to promote activities in the best interests of all students and the University, to help collaborate various student organisations, 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 48 societies 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 Religion and Philosophy Society, the Students’ Union Faculty of Arts Society, the Translation Society;
School of Business—the Association of Business Students, the Society of Accountancy, the Student Union Economics Society, the Student Union Society of Human Resources, the Student Union Strategic Marketing Society, the Students’ Union Business Management Society, the Students’ Union Entrepreneurship Society, the Students’ Union Human Resources Management Society, the Students’ Union Management Information Systems Society;
School of Chinese Medicine—the Chinese Medicine Society, the Society of Chinese Materia Medica;
School of Communication—the Communication Society;
School of Creative Arts—the Music Society, the Students’ Union Visual Arts Student Society;
Faculty of Science—the Biology Society, the Chemistry Society, the Computer Science Society, the Students’ 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 Social Work Society, the Sociology Society, the Students’ Union Education Studies Society, the Students’ Union The Association of Quaternary Societies of Faculty of Social Sciences;
School of Continuing Education—the College of International Education Students’ Society, the Early Childhood Education Society, the Psychology Society, the Sport and Recreation Leadership Society, the Students’ Union Academy of Film (Higher Diploma) Students’ Union, the Student Union Creative Writing for Film, Television and New Media Student Society, the Student Union Integrated Communication Management Student Society, the Student Union Liberal and Cultural Studies Student Society, the Students’ Union Environment and Resources Management Society, the Students’ Union Social Policy Society, the Students’ Union Society of Higher Diploma in Management (Sport and Healthy Living), the Students’ Union Sport and Recreation Studies Society, the Students’ Union The Nursing Society. - In addition, there are currently 59 interest clubs 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 Business United Society, the Catholic Society, the Chinese Debating Team, the Chinese Music Club, the Cinemania, the Computer Association, the Dance Association, the Dramatics Club, the Game Theory Society, the Judo Club, the Karate Club, the Magic Club, the Psychological Competence Association, 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 Chinese Traditional Martial Art Association, the Student Union ENACTUS, the Student Union French-German Club, 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 Rugby Club, the Student Union The United Association of Sports and Entertainments, the Students’ Union Archery Club, the Students’ Union Campus Run Crew, the Students’ Union Chinese Health Care Society, the Students’ Union Chinese Tile-based Game Society, the Students’ Union Dodgeball Club, the Students’ Union Esports Society, the Students’ Union Mystic Society, the Students’ Union Photographic Association, the Students’ Union Society of Fitness and Health, the Students’ Union Sports Climbing Club, the Students’ Union Sustainable Education Service Group, 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 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 Students’ Union Hall Council of C. L. Soong Hall, the Students’ Union Hall Council of C. N. Yang Hall and the Students' Union Hall Council of S. R. Zhou Hall.
- The International Association serves as a platform to facilitate communication between international students, local students and the University. The Club also acts as a support group helping international students to assimilate into university life as well as establish networks with other student societies.
- Student Participation in University Governance: 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 organisations of the University is open to student representatives. The opinions and interests of students can be reflected through their participation in the University Senate, Faculty/School Boards and other campus-wide administrative committees. For details, please visit https://sa.hkbu.edu.hk/campus-life/students-participation-in-university-governance.
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 and prepare for their job search.
Career Education
For students’ career development, CC offers a wide variety of services and programmes, including career talks and exhibitions from both the 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 help them understand the practice, sub-culture and expectations of being an executive in different professions.
Besides, job search skills workshops are conducted to equip students with the necessary skills. Major topics include career exploration, writing application letters and professional resumes, interviewing for jobs, effective communication skills in the workplace, presenting a positive and professional image to employers, etc.
Company visits are also arranged so that students can directly discuss with the senior executives, thereby enhancing their understanding of different business operations.
Career Counselling/Advising and Virtual Career Consultations
Individual career counselling and career advising services are offered. Students can make appointments to enhance self-understanding, explore career interests, acquire updated job market information and make appropriate action plans. In addition, psychometric tests are offered upon the needs of students. Well-established online career tests are used to understand students’ occupational inclinations, personal strengths and abilities for planning future direction or making career decisions.
Interview Clinic (one-on-one consultation for about 45 minutes) is regularly arranged to enhance students’ interview skills and presentation skills via face-to-face mock interviews. The service is delivered via online or offline mode. Constructive feedback is given by professionals or career counsellors/advisors to increase interviewees’ confidence and improve their interview performance.
CV Clinic (one-on-one consultation for about 45 minutes) is arranged regularly to improve students’ resumes and cover letters. Both online and offline modes are offered. Career counsellors/advisors give professional advice to students to enhance their writing skills for job search.
Career Friday is a direct career consultation service offered to all undergraduates every Friday. This walk-in service, either online or offline, welcomes students to talk to our professional staff for career counselling or advising. Each student is given a 45-minute face-to-face consultation to discuss career issues, such as career planning, job application, recruitment selection, job search skills, and further studies.
Career consultations by external professionals are arranged from time to time. Management/Director-level professionals from different industries, experienced career consultants, and HKBU alumni are invited to deliver individual consultation sessions on career-related issues.
Career Mentorship Programmes and Virtual Mentoring
CC cooperates with external organisations like CEO Global to organise ‘The Way to Success’ Programme. Students are expected to develop their career aspirations and have their perspective towards the world of work broadened.
Students can also experience a new way of mentoring on the BUhub platform. They can connect with different industry practitioners and explore career-related topics through instant online chats. The virtual mentoring at BUhub is different from the traditional ones as there are no time and physical boundaries.
Career Exploration Trips
During the winter break, overseas career exploration trips are organised to enhance students’ global outlook and extend their knowledge of different work cultures. These trips feature visits to various companies and organisations in Singapore and Taipei, career talks and cultural exchange with local university students, enabling HKBU students to know more about the career opportunities in these two cities.
Skills Empowerment Scheme
Skills Empowerment Scheme aims to encourage students to extend their knowledge base by equipping themselves with the practical skills most desired by employers. Students who have participated in the scheme are expected to get at least one market/internationally-recognised certification. In 2021-2022, students were sponsored by CC to undergo various training courses related to digital marketing, data analytics, licensing examinations for securities and futures intermediaries, etc. In addition, LinkedIn learning, an online learning platform, was introduced to enable students to learn anywhere, anytime and at their own pace.
How to Ace a Hackathon in Recruitment Assessment Training Series
Hackathons have been a recent recruitment tool to hire quality talents in Hong Kong and Asia. Today, large corporations have been organising or using hackathons in their recruitment assessment to evaluate a candidate’s problem-solving, interpersonal, and time-management skills. This preparation training series aims to equip students with essential skills to win and outshine other candidates at hackathons in recruitment assessment.
eSports Talents Development Programme (ETDP)
ETDP aims to provide great insights into the eSports ecosystem to HKBU students who are keen to develop their career in the eSports industry.
Besides in-depth career experience sharing by industry professionals and diversified eSports training, students will have first-hand experience in the real eSports businesses. Students can also join our exclusive eSports local tour to learn more about the local eSports organisations and competition venues. ETDP is definitely an unparalleled opportunity to understand the value chain of this booming sector, connect with key stakeholders in the field, and unlock your potential.
Subsidised Internship Scheme, STEM Internship Scheme and Externships 100 Scheme
Subsidised Internship Scheme, STEM Internship Scheme, and Externships 100 Scheme aim to enhance our students’ competitive edge for employment. Students can broaden their vision about the world of work and strengthen their transferable skills such as self-confidence, sense of cooperation and problem-solving ability. Students can undoubtedly gain practical skills from the job experience and explore their career aspirations.
Overseas Virtual Internship
With the effective use of the latest communication technology, overseas internships have become more common. Flexible working arrangements and a remote work structure allow work meetings and supervision to be done virtually. Students can now work from home and still engage the world while easing their financial burden and breaking the geographical constraints.
The Greater Bay Area Opportunities
The development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), one of the most economically vibrant regions in Mainland China, is accorded the status of key strategic planning in the country’s development blueprint. Students will definitely possess an edge in the job market if they have related experience in the GBA.
Working together with different external parties, CC will provide students with various opportunities to understand the labour market, work culture, and career prospects and establish interpersonal networks in the GBA.
60-second Elevator Pitch Competition cum GBA Internship Programme
To enhance the competencies of our students who wish to pursue their career in the GBA, CC has launched the 60-second Elevator Pitch Competition cum GBA Internship Programme.
Participants undergo individual career advising by GBA experts and attend intensive workshops on the GBA’s development and self-pitching skills. After all, students will have a chance to compete for summer internship opportunities in well-known enterprises in the GBA.
Metropolitan Attachment Programme (MAP)
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 develop transferable skills such as self-confidence and problem-solving ability. In the summer of 2019, twelve groups of students were arranged to have work attachment experience in Berlin and Munich, Chicago, Melbourne and Sydney, Nanjing and Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Toronto and London. The programme can also enrich students’ living and work experience in different cultural environments.
Global Attachment Opportunities (GAO)
GAO are arranged for high calibre senior students from different academic backgrounds. They travel to foreign esteemed corporations and organisations overseas for internships. Apart from the benefits to their future employment, GAO can also foster the development of students’ personal qualities in terms of career aspirations, self-confidence, global awareness, and social and language skills. By gaining this experience, students will have more flexibility in choosing their career across different countries and cultures.
A University Year in the Community (UYC)
UYC Project is a unique gap year/semester option offered to students to defer their study and extend their learning boundaries through gaining hands-on workplace experiences that complement their academic studies in different renowned corporations in Hong Kong. It aims to broaden students’ vision about the world of work, strengthen their life and transferable skills, assist them in their career planning, and facilitate their smooth transition to the workplace upon graduation.
Employers’ Mini Sharing
The Employers’ Mini Sharing Series is launched to prepare our students better to meet the prevailing hurdles in their job search journey by enhancing the communication between students and business professionals and broadening their perspective towards different industries.
In each mini sharing, three business leaders are invited to share their experiences with students who are divided into small groups. Each business leader chats with a group of students at one time. After 20 minutes, the leader will rotate to talk to another group of students.
Career Fair and Virtual Career Fair
The large-scale Career Fair is annually 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, career forums and seminars, providing students with an opportunity to meet their future employers.
Virtual Career Fair is a signature event of HKBU in which employers and HKBU students can interconnect and chat in real-time. Apart from applying with traditional cover letters and CVs, students can add a video CV to their online applications to give employers a clearer and stronger impression. Interviews, both online and offline, can then be arranged in a more efficient and boundaryless manner.
Employment Information and Liaison
CC liaises with employers for full-time, summer, part-time and temporary job opportunities. Students can search for these job vacancies and on-campus student helper opportunities via BUhub.
Recruitment talks, exhibitions and campus interviews/tests are arranged to familiarise students with job application procedures, recruitment processes, and information on companies and jobs.
Career Advancement Scheme for Taught Postgraduates (CAST)
CAST targets to assist full-time taught postgraduates in career planning and preparation through a series of professional services and career training. It includes self-exploration workshops, job search skills training, company visits, individual consultations by professionals in different industries, and networking events.
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.
E-resources
Students can obtain comprehensive information about job seeking tips, making video CVs, preparations for work, etc., at our E-resources pool and CC website.
Campus Life and Support Section (CLS)
Campus Life and Support Section (CLS) is committed to enriching students’ university life through the provision of student amenities and funding support, and encouraging students to participate in University Governance and organise student activities to attain personal excellence:
Campus Life and Amenities
- CLS enhances students’ sense of belongings to the University by:
• providing guidance to student bodies and supporting student development through activity funds; • managing various student amenities and facilities; • arranging meetings or other activities between students and the University management. - Learning Commons provide a dynamic environment (e.g. interactive area, quiet study area, creative multimedia room, individual workstations, group study rooms and large seminar rooms) to facilitate students’ learning needs and participation in various kinds of learning activities.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Students' outstanding achievements are rewarded, recognised and encouraged through the award of scholarships.
- Equal opportunities on study and personal development is promoted through the provision of financial assistance to students in need.
Counselling and Development Centre (CDC)
A team of trained and experienced counsellors is here to provide assistance to students in enhancing students’ mental health, setting personal goals and fully actualising their potential. Please click here to visit the website of the Counselling and Development Centre.
Counselling and Assessment
- Individual Counselling: Counselling and psychotherapy are provided for students to induce personal growth and positive changes in 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 inventory, which was constructed for tertiary students in a Chinese context 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 take the tests.
Psychological Competence and Development
- Development Courses: Workshops of two to three hours and 12-hour Mental Health First Aid Standard Courses are offered throughout the academic year. 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 take the eCourses.
- GE Courses: To provide more extensive psychological skills training, the Centre collaborates with the Department of Social Work to offer a GE Capstone course called “Be a Better Service Leader: Emotional Intelligence in Action”.
- Psychological Services Trip—EQ Express (EQE): EQ Express aims at facilitating participants’ EQ development through training and delivering an EQ promotion programme for children outside Hong Kong. The EQ Ambassadors will promote the concept of emotional intelligence and demonstrate caring spirit during the overseas trip. They will be able to internalise 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 enhance understanding in various mental illnesses, first aid responses, and community resources to strengthen self-care as well as alertness to and acceptance of people in need.
- Mental Health First Aid Captain Programme: This programme aims at building a supportive mental wellness network among HKBU students. The Mental Health First Aid Captains, who are also certified Mental Health First Aiders, are trained to identify and provide immediate support to fellow students with emotional needs. They will also take initiatives in reaching out and organising activities to help strengthen the mental wellbeing of classmates of the same major and cohort.
Support for New Students
- Transition to University Life Webpage: This webpage for freshmen provides helpful information and resources for students’ psychological adjustment to university life. In addition to helping students be more 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 new students in their adjustment to university life at the beginning of the semester. They will also have opportunities to learn through training, supervision and their helping experience.
- University Life Orientation Workshop: The Personal Transformation Workshop (UOW 1) is organised 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 connecting them 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: Induction activities, Cantonese classes, seminars, workshops and community services, etc. are provided to assist new Mainland students to assimilate into the University and Hong Kong society.
- Individual Mentoring: Officers of the Mainland Student Services Unit provide mentoring and advice for Mainland students to address issues which hinder their adjustment to new life in Hong Kong.
- Cultural Exchange Trip: The Cultural Diversity Express is a trip 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.
Leadership Qualities Centre (LQC)
In line with the mission of the University to provide a higher education that develops and sustains the integrity of the whole person, and its values of strong commitment to both academic excellence and community service, the Centre aims to empower students to become committed global and local citizens, assume active roles to face and resolve global challenges and to become proactive contributors in the local community.
Co-curricular Learning
The Centre offers a wide range of Co-curricular Learning (CCL) activities, which are components of U-Life Programme that are in line with the mission of the Office of Student Affairs and the University and aim to provide students with a comprehensive while 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 activities take in different forms, including seminars, workshops, campus events, and experiential learning activities.
Leadership Development
Various programmes mixed with integrated trainings, workshops and service opportunities are offered to enhance participants’ understanding in their personal characters, equip them with skills and knowledge to serve and lead. Peer mentor support groups will also be formed by students completing the programme to build a network with motivated and positive minded students.
HKBU Student Leadership Corps brings students with multi-dimensional experiential learning to enhance leadership knowledge and skills, develop their personal qualities, team collaborations and compassion in serving the community and the world.
Positive Coach Student Certification Programme provides intensive training and certification for students to apply key concepts from Positive Psychology to their personal and professional life. It aims to help students understand and utilise their character strengths in a wide spectrum of areas, including relationships, stress management, education, coaching, and personal goals. After training, students are expected to manage positive emotions, enhance communication skills, leverage growth mindsets, better encounter stress and challenges, and motivate others to live a happier life.
Speaking for Confidence is a practical and an effective communication training programme which aims to sharpen students’ communication and public speaking skills. Down-to-earth trainings will be provided focusing on both theories and practices to boost students’ employability and confidence.
Global Vision
Global Leadership Programmes target to increase students’ international exposure and global awareness. The Centre nominates passionate and outstanding students on behalf of the University to participate in local and international Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, such as Harvard World MUN Conference, after a series of intensive trainings.
The Centre offers an array of new overseas experiential learning opportunities including HKBU Backers Learning to develop students’ global perspective and awareness of international affairs, foster students’ caring spirit for the community and enrich students with meaningful exposure and experience. Students are provided with funding to initiate projects to explore the world for learning and enriching skills, establish connections and friendships with people of their projects, or provide services to the underprivileged.
Meanwhile, the Centre provides various eye-opening opportunities with leading International Virtual Youth Conferences for students to partake in interactive and immersive virtual discussions and build active engagement with global youth attendees via real-time communication.
Civic Leadership and Engagement
Programmes aim at enhancing students’ social awareness, developing their citizenship and strengthening their sense of belonging to the local and national communities through current affairs study groups, visits to prominent social leaders, leadership training workshops and study tours.
HKBU Student Think Tank attempts to provide opportunities for students to study the social challenges in-depth and take key lead to propose constructive solutions for the betterment of Hong Kong.
Project WeCan is a peer support scheme to train up selected students as peer mentors to provide mentoring service for the youth-at-risk in the Kowloon City District and give guidance to mentees regularly with the support from professional advisers.
Community and Voluntary Service
A series of community and voluntary programmes prepares students to serve those in need in the community and other developing countries. It promotes the awareness of humanistic issues such as poverty and aging. In addition to provide help and care to needy people, training and opportunities for critical thinking and self-reflection of the current social issues are provided through workshops, focus groups and service trips.
The underprivileged children usually lack opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities due to financial difficulties. Apart from limited exposures, their aspirations are also constrained. HKBU students assist in setting up a Summer School@University Experience for Underprivileged Children to experience a series of thrilling learning activities, outdoor excursions and visits. Not only can underprivileged children enjoy a fruitful and meaningful summer holiday with widened exposure, the project can also foster HKBU students’ caring for the communities.
The Centre is a central hub for elite and multi-hyphenate student volunteers to impact the community to connect, collaborate and change. A number of dedicated Student Volunteering Teams will be formed in hopes of fostering social consciousness and community engagement, developing talents and offering skill-based specialist training. Volunteers will give back to the local community outside campus during their time in HKBU. They will navigate and lead a vast range of volunteering activities including “Clean-Up the Ocean” and “Hairstylist Volunteer”.
Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Centre is elevating and empowering youth innovation, intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship in campus via a series of SEED Talks, SEED Incubator Training and Start-up Saturdays. Advancing entrepreneurial training and exciting events are arranged covering various business aspects.
Student Partnership
The Centre has leveraged on its well-established student partnership with external organisations, namely 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 Office of Student Affairs aims to cultivate a congenial yet stimulating living-learning environment in the Halls that encourages participation and integration of 1,770 residents from different backgrounds. Under the roof of two high-rises, 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, and would serve as observable role models to whom students may look up to throughout their University studies and life-long expedition.
In the Halls, all bedrooms and communal facilities are air-conditioned and provided with internet and Wi-Fi service. The communal facilities which serve as platforms for residents’ interaction and engagement, include a 300-seat canteen, a Courtyard, Fitness Rooms, Study Rooms, Laundry Rooms, a Computer Room, Sitting Lounges, a Joint-Hall Convenience Store, Multi-Purpose Rooms, a multi-purpose Chapel, floor Lounges and Kitchenettes, etc.
Under the guidance and care of Resident Masters and Hall Life Team, and with the support from student committees and leaders, residents experience in various kinds of intentional residential education and hall life programmes that contribute to their whole person development and cultivate their abilities and transferable skills. The four residents’ development dimensions namely Personal Enrichment, Green and Health Mindfulness, Residents’ Bondedness and Community & U, are delivered through local and overseas programmes that engage residents with the community within and outside of the University. Some signature programmes include an experiential programme on green and sustainability with local project internship and overseas tour, community care programmes, international cultural exchanges and high table dinners, etc.
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 wired and Wi-Fi 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 and self-serviced laundry 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 culture, gifts are given to student residents during festivals and examination seasons. To promote social life and enhance communication amongst student residents, the House organises an array of extracurricular activities such as day tours to the hot scenic spots of Hong Kong, community services programmes, leadership and team building training and cultural exchange workshops.