Happenings

Our Highlights
Event
Beating the Heat: Lessons from Singapore for a Cooler Hong Kong

The Beat the Heat Training & Study Tour was organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Singapore, in partnership with the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) and the Cool Coalition. It brought together international experts, policymakers, and researchers to address urban heat and climate vulnerability for more liveable cities. Two of our […]

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Organization
Advancing Sustainability Education Through Industry-Relevant Learning

HKU’s Master of Social Sciences in Sustainability Leadership and Governance (SLG) programme prepares future leaders to tackle sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary, practical learning. As part of this commitment, we partner with CFA Institute to enhance students’ exposure to industry-recognized knowledge in sustainable investing and ESG integration — bridging academic learning with real-world application. HKU SLG […]

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Event
The APHEN-ICH 2026 International Forum and General Meeting in Hanoi

Preserving Living Heritage in the Asia-Pacific: The APHEN-ICH 2026 International Forum and General Meeting in Hanoi In August 2026, with our colleague Daisy Yeung’s presence, the Centre participated in the APHEN-ICH 2026 International Forum and General Meeting held at Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi. Over three days, we immersed in conversations with heritage practitioners, researchers, […]

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Event
Building an AI-Ready and Inclusive Talent Pipeline

The Centre for Civil Society and Governance (CCSG) at HKU, through the “Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment,” aims to harness innovation and technology (I&T) to support people with disabilities (PWD) and promote inclusive employment opportunities. In collaboration with GreenTomato, a leading digital transformation consultancy and AI solutions provider, we delivered a job tasting […]

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Event
Celebrating Traditional Wisdom Through Art – Artists Incubation Programme

This project, centred on the 300-year-old Hakka village Lai Chi Wo, set out to conserve traditional knowledge while empowering both the local community and emerging artists. By immersing participants in the village’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, the programme focused on three core elements: Soil, Plant, and Sound. Guided by our staff and experienced mentors, […]

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Event
“Celebrating Traditional Wisdom Through Art” Exhibition – Can contemporary art bring new imaginations into centuries-old village traditions?

A new exhibition, “Celebrating Traditional Wisdom Through Art,” will be hosted at the iconic Fringe Club in Central this June. This unique exhibition showcases how sustainability, cultural heritage, and creative expression come together. Since late last year, our Centre has been working with a group of emerging artists where they embarked on an incubation journey […]

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Event
A Dialogue on Building Resilient Urban-Rural Partnerships

To kick off our conference and network launch event for the Network for the Study of Social-Ecological Systems (SES) Transformations, the Centre for Civil Society and Governance hosted a public dialogue on “Building Resilient Urban-Rural Partnerships.” We were very pleased to welcome network members from across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside practitioners, government representatives, and guests […]

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Event
Network for the Study of Social Ecological Systems (SES) Transformation – Network launch

The first conference and official launch of the Network for the Study of Social Ecological System (SES) Transformation will take place as a two-day event on 5–6 May 2026, organised by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong. The network brings together scholars working on social-ecological systems, governance, commons, […]

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Event

Building the “Scale Infrastructure” for Social Innovation and Community Resilience Open Forum cum Project Showcase

14:30 - 17:30

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

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Event

Symposium on Seizing Opportunities for Inclusive Employment in a Time of Change

00:00 - 17:00

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

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Event

Knowledge Primer 4 – “Collaboration for Driving Circular Economy in the Food & Beverage Industry”

14:30 - 17:00

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.

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Event

Revisioning Inclusive Employment Seminar Series 2022

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

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Event

Social Innovation in Business for Good Causes

15:30 - 17:30

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!

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Event

AIRI Urban-Rural Sustainability Fellowship 2022-23 Taster Events on Socio-ecological Landscape Planning and Management

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

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Event

Discussion Forum on Urban-rural Partnership for Sustainability

14:00 - 16:30

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.

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Event

Regional Roundtable on Rural Sustainability – critical issues in Asia

14:00 - 17:00

“Rural Sustainability Programme – APAC Initiative for Regional Impact” (AIRI) held its first regional roundtable on June 25, 2022 under the topic “Rural Sustainability – Critical Issues in Asia”. Academics and practitioners from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and Thailand delivered thematic presentations on collaborative governance, rural-based economy, sustainable agriculture, and decentralisation of decision-making in rural resources, sharing local case studies of models and experiences on rural revitalisation and sustainability. The discussion session examined how to scale up innovative rural revitalisation projects to drive a bigger impact. The roundtable recording is now uploaded to https://ccsg.hku.hk/airi/regional-roundtable This event marks the official start of the “Rural Sustainability Programme – APAC Initiative for Regional Impact” (AIRI). To create action momentum for long-lasting rural sustainability in Asia-Pacific, AIRI focuses on establishing a regional infrastructure and capacity building among those keen stakeholders and change fellows, including university intermediaries, local and international for-benefit institutions and individual individuals talents.

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Event

Sustainable Campsite Design Hackathon

Centre for Civil Society and Governance is organizing a “Sustainable Campsite Design Hackathon” together with the Division of Landscape Architecture, HKU between May and June 2022. The Hackathon provides an opportunity for idea jamming, exchange of perspectives, and collaborations among individuals and parties from different sectors and backgrounds with the aim to design a sustainable campsite and wilderness experience using the concept of “Øscape” as a framework. The first stage of the Hackathon has been completed and the prototypes of the campsite design have been created through the concerted effort of the participants. Nature lovers, campers and professionals from different backgrounds are welcome to join the “Wild Factor Workshops” of the next stage to comment on the prototype designs, propose alternative ideas to tackle the problems faced by the campsite, and connect the professional knowledge, techniques and suggestions from various sectors to further improve the campsite design.   Wild Factor Workshop 1 Date: 11/6/2022(Sat) Time: 9:00-17:00 Venue: Mui Tsz Lam (Sha Tau Kok)   Wild Factor Workshop 2 Date: 12/6/2022(Sun) Time: 10:00-13:00 Venue: Cheung Sha Wan (Kowloon)   Details and registration: https://ccsg-hku.surveycake.biz/s/7Rwlq * The “Sustainable Campsite Design Hackathon” will be conducted in Cantonese.

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