{"id":45273,"date":"2026-08-12T19:05:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T11:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/?post_type=school_news&p=45273"},"modified":"2026-08-14T14:57:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T06:57:09","slug":"hku-social-sciences-expands-global-learning-through-global-bay-areas-impact-lab","status":"publish","type":"school_news","link":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/school_news\/hku-social-sciences-expands-global-learning-through-global-bay-areas-impact-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"HKU Social Sciences Expands Global Learning Through Global Bay Areas Impact Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Faculty of Social Sciences has successfully concluded the latest edition of its Global Bay Areas Impact Lab<\/strong>, an innovative experiential learning programme developed in partnership with Waseda University <\/strong>(Japan) and Sun Yat-sen University <\/strong>(Guangzhou).<\/p>\n

Launched in 2024, the 12-credit programme connects students across leading global bay areas to explore social innovation, sustainability, and community development through academic study, fieldwork, internships, and international exchange. This year marked a significant milestone as Waseda University students joined HKU participants in Hong Kong following the Japan segment, transforming the initiative into a true two-way exchange.<\/p>\n

The 2026 cohort brought together 28 students<\/strong>, including 19 from HKU Social Sciences<\/strong>, representing the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Italy, and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

The programme spanned three locations:
\n– Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area<\/strong>: Field training at Sun Yat-sen University and six-week internships with social impact organisations.<\/p>\n

– Tokyo and Fuji City<\/strong>: Academic lectures and experiential learning activities hosted by Waseda University.<\/p>\n

– Hong Kong and the Northern Metropolis<\/strong>: Students explored urban development through lectures, guided visits, community engagement, and a Design Thinking workshop.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

During the orientation at Sun Yat-sen University, students visited leading social impact organisations in the Greater Bay Area, setting the stage for their six-week internships. At the Starts Youth Development Center, a non-profit promoting quality reading for rural children, they explored first-hand how innovative approaches drive sustainable change.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"Warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Fuji City, HKU and Waseda University students teamed up to address real-world civic challenges. Through intensive field studies, these cross-cultural teams worked with various City Hall departments\u2014spanning city planning, SDG promotion, and community development\u2014to apply social innovation frameworks to local governance.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bringing a social innovation mindset back to Hong Kong, students explored the rapidly evolving Northern Metropolis. By engaging directly with key stakeholders\u2014such as Mr. Hau Wing-kong, Representative of Yin Kong Village in Kwu Tung\u2014students examined the area’s history and future plans, exploring how to balance new urban development with the preservation of existing communities and ecosystems.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Through a comparative study of the Greater Bay Area and Tokyo Bay Area, participants examined how cities address challenges related to sustainability, social inclusion, and community development.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the experience, one student shared:<\/p>\n

“To achieve real change, we need to mobilise the resources of different stakeholders and adapt solutions to local contexts from the bottom up.”<\/em><\/p>\n

By combining international collaboration with real-world learning, the Faculty continues to empower students to become socially conscious, future-ready leaders equipped with a global perspective.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","school_new_categories":[781],"school_news_tag":[],"thought_leadership_category":[],"department_category":[],"class_list":["post-45273","school_news","type-school_news","status-publish","hentry","school_new_categories-teaching-learning"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/school_news\/45273"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/school_news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/school_news"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"school_new_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/school_new_categories?post=45273"},{"taxonomy":"school_news_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/school_news_tag?post=45273"},{"taxonomy":"thought_leadership_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/thought_leadership_category?post=45273"},{"taxonomy":"department_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.socsc.hku.hk\/tc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/department_category?post=45273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}