Wing Ying SZETO is a young graduate from the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc) Programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences (FOSS) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
When Wing Ying first stepped into the HKU FOSS, she was driven by a simple but powerful curiosity: how do people, places, and policies shape the way we live? That question, and the professional, and interdisciplinary environment at FOSS, turned her university years into a transformative journey, from inquisitive student to confident, impact-driven graduate.
Building an Interdisciplinary Academic Foundation
Raised with a keen interest in how human society interacts with the built environment, Wing Ying found the perfect academic home in a double major in Geography and Urban Governance. In her first year, she was encouraged to explore broadly. She took prerequisite courses across the social sciences, including sociology and physical geography. Those experiences helped her realise that her passion lay not just in understanding landscapes, but in understanding people, including how human behaviour unfolds in spatial settings, and how cities can be planned more thoughtfully and sustainably.
Wing Ying gradually shaped a study path that combined human geography, urban planning, data analytics, and community development. The Faculty’s interdisciplinary curriculum gave her the flexibility to connect these interests, while its professional teaching staff ensured she was challenged to think critically and work rigorously.
In the classroom, this blend of theory and practice became very concrete. In the course titled Building Smart Cities with GIS, Wing Ying and her groupmate developed an app called “Toilet Express” using ArcGIS applications and IoT utilities. The project aimed to improve toilet usage efficiency by automating monitoring tasks and analysing real-time data. Through this experience, she strengthened her technical skills while addressing a practical everyday issue, an example of how FOSS nurtured students to turn curiosity into workable solutions.
During her studies, she was encouraged to venture beyond her own department. She took the Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation course under the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, a course that opened her eyes to the power of social enterprises. Together with classmates, she co-developed “Walkie Doggie,” a social start-up initiative that explored how business models could support community needs. Balancing commercial viability with social responsibility gave her a new perspective on how interdisciplinary thinking can drive sustainable, ethical change.
Leadership, Community Engagement, and Practical Experience
Outside the classroom, Wing Ying’s university life became a personal laboratory of exploration. She thrived in student leadership, serving as Chairperson and Executive Committee member of Geographical, Geological and Archaeological Society (GGAS). In that role, she took end-to-end ownership of events and initiatives, from sponsor outreach and logistics to on-the-ground coordination with her “jong yau” (fellow committee members of GGAS). Managing stakeholders, engaging the student community, and solving user-centric problems under time and resource constraints gave her a masterclass in project management and leadership.
Her residential life as a Starr Hall member further enriched her experience. Living in a vibrant hall community exposed her to peers from different cultures and disciplines, nurturing empathy, adaptability, and a strong sense of belonging. FOSS’s caring culture extended beyond lecture theatres, and Wing Ying found mentors, friends, and collaborators who supported her personal and intellectual growth.
The Sustainability Leadership Programme and the FOSS Social Venture Lab Summer Bootcamp added another dimension to her learning. Through targeted workshops, she gained project management skills while exploring environmental and social challenges. At the Social Venture Lab, she and her teammates were challenged to design actionable solutions to societal issues within a corporate context, including working with MTR and her team won the 1st runner up of the final pitching. This experience taught her how to translate broad sustainability concepts into focused, practicable interventions that organisations could adopt.
Pushing her boundaries even further, Wing Ying joined the Cathay Hackathon 2026, where she worked intensively with a team to develop and pitch solutions under tight time pressure. The hackathon showed her that social sciences graduates can thrive in innovation-driven environments, bringing human-centred perspectives to technology and business challenges.
Global Exposure, Mentorship, and Career Development
A wide range of global opportunities were provided throughout her studies. Academic field trips across Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands exposed her to sustainable development and e-mobility policies in action. Beyond coursework, she travelled to more than 20 countries, from Vancouver to Yellowknife to Mexico, navigating climates from -30°C to 40°C. These journeys strengthened her cross-cultural agility, resilience, and global awareness. She learned that real-world human connection is crucial for understanding complex social problems, and that textbooks, while important, are only part of the story.
Throughout her journey, mentorship played a vital role. Through the FOSS Mentorship Programme, Wing Ying was paired with an alumna, a social worker at the Social Welfare Department. Their informal coffee chats became safe spaces for honest questions and candid advice. Her mentor helped her understand how the sector evaluates candidates, what frontline social work truly involves, and how to plan for long-term milestones. This mentorship did not end when the formal programme concluded; they reconnected later when Wing Ying volunteered as a Hok Yau Club Counsellor, continuing a meaningful relationship that grounded her career aspirations in community impact.
Today, Wing Ying applies these transferable capabilities at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG). She conducts research-driven initiatives and collaborates with an alumni network to support youth-focused and society-focused projects. The analytical rigour she learned through Geography and Urban Governance, the empathy and innovation gained from social work and entrepreneurship courses, and the leadership experience honed in GGAS and hall life all converge in her professional role.
Looking back, Wing Ying describes her time at HKU Social Sciences as “real-world exploration rather than just textbook study.” Her story stands as a testament to how a professional and interdisciplinary faculty can help a curious student explore the full extent of her potential, discover her strengths, and turn her curiosity into genuine, lasting impact.