Happenings

Despite the significant number of people with disabilities (PWD) in Hong Kong, their needs and well-being are often neglected. However, PWD are entitled to respect, recognition, possibilities, and diversified lifestyles like everyone else. Career planning is a continuous and life-long process. Under the principle of integrated education, most special educational needs (SEN) students enroll in mainstream schools. They receive the same career planning service as non-SEN students despite the likelihood of needing an individualised educational plan. Recognising SEN students’ possible diverse career paths, educators are encouraged to scout the job market to provide suitable career planning for SEN students to unleash their employment potential after leaving school. Hong Kong is currently facing a shortage of talent and labour, and employers and industries are eager to come up with plans to fill job vacancies or nurture local talent. If companies can locate the talent pool in PWD, they will arrive at a win-win situation whereby they can now tackle labour shortage while PWD will have gainful employment. Moreover, riding on the increasingly popular tide of “Environment, Social and Governance” (ESG) as an indicator of corporate performance and resilience, nourishing an equal and diverse inclusive workplace culture can help the industry create social value and expand the imagination of social impact solutions. The Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong is launching the “Inclusive Education & Employment – Business & School Partnership Award Scheme,” a platform that combines resources, knowledge, and skills for representatives from the business sector and mainstream schools. It aims to facilitate the corporates to understand how diverse talents can bring value to business operations and for the education sector to know more about the job market trends. 💡Target Audience From the business sector: corporate communications and sustainability, human resources, and people committed to fulfilling social responsibility. From mainstream secondary schools: teachers responsible for life planning education and SEN supports. 💡Main Content Knowledge Exchange Sessions: Knowledge is the basis for empathy. In these sessions, experts and experienced practitioners from different sectors will be invited to share their professional knowledge and wisdom in practising inclusive employment. You will learn more about the malleability of PWD and the benefits of business and school partnerships from multiple perspectives. Organization Visits: Visits to PWD vocational training institutions and corporates that practice inclusive employment will be arranged. The visits will enhance participants’ understanding of PWD’s latest training curriculum and they will receive practical tips on working with PWD. Interactive Experiential Workshops: Workshops will be hosted by PWD trained and employed by non-governmental organisations and social enterprises. Participants can interact with these diverse talents through different forms of activities, enhancing communication and understanding between you and PWD. All activities will be conducted in Cantonese, are free of charge, and run on a first-come-first-served basis.. For registration, please fill in the Application Form. For more information, please refer to the Programme Guide (Chinese version only). If you have any questions about the Scheme, please contact us at jcicp@hku.hk. Let’s achieve a sustainable and inclusive society together! Thank you.

Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment Inclusive Career Platform A Sincere Invitation to Download “InMatch” Mobile Application In recent years, there has been growing public awareness of people with disabilities and the need for social inclusion. Interest-based communities, corporates and the philanthropic sector are keen to contribute to the cause, and yet many organisations promoting social inclusion are unable to gain headway on projects due to a lack of resources.   To resolve this mismatch, the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong has launched the mobile app “InMatch” under the Inclusive Career Platform of the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment. Users can share their innovative social inclusion project ideas/solutions; and various resources, such as capital, time, network and skills anytime, anywhere through their mobile devices to promote social inclusion.   As a resource-matching platform connecting different sectors, “InMatch” fosters a conducive environment in which communities of interest can engender a socially inclusive and cohesive society, while also facilitating more efficient and effective allocation of community resources.   The main features of the app include: Inclusion Ideas – Publish innovative inclusive project ideas or activities; and seek suitable resources (including seeking job openings for people with disabilities); Available Resources – Provide resources to support inclusive projects (including recruitment of people with disabilities); Latest Activities – Announce and browse the latest inclusive activities and information.   The mobile app supports: Corporates to connect and support organisations which promote social inclusion, with a view to optimising their “Environmental, Social and Governance” (ESG) performance; Schools, NGOs, parent organisations and social and promote activities through the app; Parents and people with special education needs (SEN) / disabilities to browse the inclusive activities to grasp the community information and resources; Community members to offer their resources to those in need more efficiently.   The mobile app “InMatch” is now available for free download from App Store and Google Play.   If you have any questions about “InMatch”, please contact us at jcicp@hku.hk.   Let’s achieve a sustainable and inclusive society together! Thank you.

As the world is getting more and more complex and uncertain, communities around the globe are struggling to pursue transformational changes in meeting various sustainability challenges. Apart from nurturing social entrepreneurship and innovative solutions, developing and strengthening the “scale infrastructure”—institutions, practices, ideas and people—that helps scale up innovative ideas into social impact is of major importance.  Over the past decade, there have been significant efforts worldwide to develop and enhance the “scale infrastructure”, as manifested in the emergence of venture philanthropy, the proliferation of impact investment programmes, the formation of collaborative platforms and networks, the application of business practices to the social sector such as social sector franchising, and the creation of new forms of cross-sector collaboration such as the Social Impact Bond. As a closing event for the Social Innovations for Sustainable Communities (SISC) Programme, this Open Forum aims to bring insights from experiences of scaling social innovation in Hong Kong, to reflect upon what has been attained, and to explore strategies for further enhancing the scale infrastructure. Also, to celebrate the SISC Programme’s successful incubation of Sustainability Catalyzers, the teams that were incubated and supported by the Programme will exhibit their works and impact in the Project Showcase. Participants are encouraged to join the Immersion Workshops organized by the teams to gain a deeper understanding of their missions and social innovation journeys, and to explore collaboration opportunities. Event Details  Date:  2 December 2022 (Friday) Time: 2:30 – 5:30 pm Venue: Yuet Ming Auditorium, The University of Hong Kong Language: Cantonese, supplemented with sign language Chit-Chat Session and Interactive Dialogue Guest Speakers Dr Anthony NG Trustee, WYNG Foundation Mr Charles CHONG Chairman, We R Family Foundation Ltd Ms Danielle TSUI Senior Vice President, Customer Proposition & Ecosystem Partnership Business Banking, Commercial Banking, Hong Kong, HSBC Moderator Professor Wai-Fung LAM Director, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, HKU   Project Showcase and Immersion Workshops * Project Showcase Time :     13:00 – 17:00 Immersion Workshops Time :     16:30 – 17:30 *Only forum participants are eligible to attend. (Admission is free and quotas will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis) Register NOW

Inclusive Career Platform of Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment will hold a symposium that aims to bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss the future of work and the opportunities it presents to PWD. It also aspires to devise effective strategies for promoting inclusive employment in the new era to unleash PWD’s talents, increase workforce diversity, and raise productivity.   Date:          18 November 2022 (Friday) Time:         2:30 – 5:00 pm Venue:       Multi-Purpose Area, Level 2, Main Library, HKU* Language: Cantonese, supplemented with sign language   Keynote Speech (1): Challenges and Opportunities for Inclusive Employment in the Age of Technology Dr Kevin LAU, MH, JP President, Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute Keynote Speech (2): Exploring New Possibilities of Innovation and Technology for Cultivating Social Inclusion Dr Sunny CHAI, BBS, JP Chairman, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Keynote Speech (3): Grasping the Market Demand to Rediscover the Opportunities of Vocational Training Dr Hon Stephen WONG Yuen-shan Senior Vice President & Executive Director of Public Policy Institute, Our Hong Kong Foundation Member, Legislative Council Panel Discussion: Opportunities in a New Era – Strategy for Promoting Inclusive Employment Panellists:  Ms Honnus CHEUNG Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Mojodomo Group Mr Nelson TSE Founder & Sales and Marketing Director, Million Tech Development Limited Honorary Chairman, Hong Kong Retail Technology Industry Association Mr Duncan LIU Project Specialist, Green Tomato Limited Moderator: Professor Wai-Fung LAM Director, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, HKU Register Now  Event Details Contact:    3917 4762 Ms Karen Chan / 3910 2462 Ms Jacqueline Cheung *Due to pandemic measures, there will be a limited capacity at the venue. Seats will be allocated through advance booking on a first-come-first-served basis

You are cordially invited to the fourth Knowledge Primer (KP4) titled “Collaboration for Driving Circular Economy in the Food & Beverage Industry” under the Partnership for Sustainability Leadership in Business (PSLB), initiated by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance (CCSG) of The University of Hong Kong. Seemingly efficient and convenient, the “take-make-consume-dispose” linear economy that we rely upon is taking a toll on our environment and society. This is especially evident in the resource-hungry and waste-intensive food and beverage (F&B) industry which caters for everyone’s daily needs and gastronomic desires. Reengineering the F&B value chains with the ideas of circular economy presents promising ways to design out waste and drive systemic change for sustainable development. It essentially relies on close collaborations between the F&B businesses and different value chain partners to put circularity into practice. This Knowledge Primer will shed light on the approaches to embedding circularity into F&B businesses for enhancing resilience. The KP includes keynote speeches surrounding the concept of circular economy for sustainability and business resilience, and real-life experience of putting the idea into practice in the hospitality industry’s context, as well as a panel discussion where distinguished and seasoned professionals will exchange views on the current progress, challenges, new developments and innovations needed for driving circular economy and sustainability in the F&B industry. The event details are as follows: Date: 17 November 2022 (Thursday) Time: 2:30pm – 5:00pm Venue: Atrium, The Mills Fabrica (4/F, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan) Format: Physical* and Online via Zoom Language: Cantonese and English (with simultaneous interpretation) *Due to pandemic measures, there will be a limited capacity at the venue. Seats will be allocated through advance booking on a first-come-first-served basis. Should you be interested in participating, please reserve seat(s) via https://ccsg.hku.hk/pslb/collaboration/events/kp4/on or before 9 November 2022. You are welcome to contact Ms. Mimi Kan at Telephone: 3910-2535 / Email: pslb@hku.hk for queries.

Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment hopes to invite different stakeholders and guest speakers to discuss and revision social inclusion and inclusive employment of Hong Kong through a series of thematic seminars to be organized in September 2022. The content includes: Inspiring Peers: How Career Coaches Guide People with Disabilities Power of Media: Promoting Inclusive Employment and its Strategies Dispelling Misconceptions: How Mainstream Education Impacts Social Inclusion Advancing Professionalism: Supporting the Needs of Frontline Staff in Facilitating Inclusive Employment Register Now

Social entrepreneurship is one of the most effective approaches to resolving social problems and creating social impacts. In this session, our honorable guests will share how their business and operation achieve their vision and social missions through business innovations. Date: 29 July 2022 (Friday) Time: 15:30 – 17:30 Mode: Online Language: Cantonese supplemented with sign language   Guest Speakers: Mr John TSANG, GBM, JP (Founder, Esperanza/Advisor Committee, StashAway/Senior Advisor, Bowtie) Mr George Chen (Managing Director, Public Policy, Meta (Facebook)) Ms Kitty Yip (Founder, Addoilmusic)   Moderator: Professor Wai-fung Lam (Director, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, HKU)   Register Now!

AIRI Urban-Rural Sustainability Fellowship 2022-23 is a one-year incubation programme jointly organised by The University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua University, National Chengchi University, and Asian Institute of Technology. The Fellowship aims to empower and connect thought leaders and exceptional practitioners from across the Asia-Pacific region who aspire to be Change Fellows spearheading urban-rural integration and rural sustainability. Change Fellows who have successfully completed the programme will earn a Certificate of Recognition jointly issued by the four universities. They will also be eligible to enter into a competition with innovative proposals that address rural sustainability challenges. There will be a total of four awards (one laureate from Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand respectively), each with a seed grant at the value of US$25,000. Event 1: Online Workshop on Integrated Nature-Culture Approaches to Rural Sustainability Date: July 23, 2022 (Saturday) Time: 14:30-16:15 (Hong Kong Time) Format: Zoom Language: English Contents: – Introduction to AIRI Fellowship Programme 2022-23 – Lecture: Sustainable Management of Socio-ecological Production Landscapes – Exercise: Re-establishing Socio-ecological Integrity of a Rural Community – Fellowship Scheme Application Instructions Trainers: – Mr Bruno Leles, Partnerships Associate, Secretariat of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative – Ms Katie Chick, Assistant Director, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, The University of Hong Kong Fee: Free of charge Enquiry: 3917-1255 / ruralsd@hku.hk Registration: Click here   Event 2: Visit to Lai Chi Wo, Mui Tsz Lam & Kop Tong on Rural Planning and Management Date: August 13, 2022 (Saturday) Time: 09:00-17:30 (Hong Kong Time) Format: Site visit Language: Cantonese supplemented with English Contents: – Introduction to AIRI Fellowship Programme 2022-23 – Guided Tour in Lai Chi Wo: The intact South China feng-shui village landscape of Lai Chi Wo and socio-economic strategies to revitalise the Lai Chi Wo cultural landscape – Site Visit to Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong: Planning and design challenges and opportunities for local forest villages – Fellowship Scheme Application Instructions (Round boat trip between Ma Liu Shui and Lai Chi Wo will be arranged.) Trainers: – Ms Katie Chick, Assistant Director, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, The University of Hong Kong – Mr Ryan Leung, Senior Project Officer, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, The University of Hong Kong Fee: Free of charge Quota: 20 Enquiry: 3917-1255 / ruralsd@hku.hk Registration: Click here

Bridging urban and rural communities for sustainability attainment is one of the key objectives of the Rural Sustainability Programme initiated by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong. Under the Programme, two incubation schemes were developed to mobilize and empower change agents from the wider community to collaborate and partner towards rural sustainability. The “Co-creation of the Community Scheme” aims to explore and experiment new ways of safeguarding and promoting the natural and rural capital; and the “Rural in Action Start-up Scheme” seeks to nurture innovative business models for rural vibrancy. The two schemes have supported 7 and 10 projects, respectively. This Discussion Forum invites representatives of projects of the above-mentioned schemes to share their experience in four critical action areas for urban-rural integration. The representatives will reflect on lessons learnt and identify success factors for building a sustainable community through urban-rural partnership. The event will be conducted in Cantonese.