Strengthening Community Engagement through Service-Learning: A Critical Approach


Abstract: This workshop will introduce a critical approach to designing and organizing service-learning (S-L) programs. It will discuss how this approach contributes substantially by rethinking the meaning of S-L and supporting students in using their service experience to address community needs. Furthermore, this workshop will underline the significance of connecting students’ personal and interpersonal development with the awareness of issues of global importance and the initiation of concrete actions to respond to them. A community bridging program adopting the methodology of social design will serve as a case to deepen the participants’ understanding of this approach. Discussions and experiential exercises will also be used to facilitate participants’ learning.
 
Organizer: Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research (CLEAR)
 
Speaker: Prof. TO Siu Ming
Chairperson / Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, CUHK

Prof. TO Siu Ming is the Chairperson and an Associate Professor of the Department of Social Work, CUHK. He has been devoting himself to research and practice in youth empowerment and partnering with non-governmental organizations to develop service-learning programs. He was a previous director of the Service-Learning Centre of Chung Chi College. He also received the Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award in 2013 and the University Grants Committee Teaching Award (Teams) in 2021.

Mr. KUNG Wai Lok
Founder of the Lokday Culture, Non-governmental organization

Mr. KUNG Wai Lok is the founder of the Lokday Culture, a non-governmental organization that provides community-based care and support services through social design projects focusing on community transformation.

Date: 1st November 2024 (Friday)
 
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm (GMT+8)
 
Format: In-person Workshop
 
Venue: Room 203, 2/F, Cheng Yu Tung Building, CUHK
 
Target Audience: Academic Staff in CUHK and other Tertiary Institutions
 
Quota: 60
 
Language Medium: English
 
Registration Link: CUHK Participants:
https://webapp.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/ras/restricted/event?id=93478

Non-CUHK Participants:
https://forms.gle/ynRCC84srfcKwg61A

Registration Deadline:
25th October 2024 (Friday) 11:59 pm



For inquiries about the workshop, please contact Prof. LEE Wing Yan Vivian at 3943-8012 or by email: vivianlee@cuhk.edu.hk. 

Workshop Outline
9:30 am – 9:35 am
(5 minutes)
Prof. LEE Wing Yan Vivian
Associate Professor, Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research (CLEAR), CUHK  
  • Welcome and Introduction
Session 1:
9:35 am – 10:20 am
(45 minutes)
Prof. TO Siu Ming
Chairperson / Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, CUHK
  • Introduction of Service-Learning in Higher Education
  • Critical approach in designing and organizing service-learning programs
10:20 am – 10:35 am
(15 minutes)
Break
Session 2:
10:35 am – 11:35 am
(1 hour)
Mr. KUNG Wai Lok
Founder of the Lokday Culture, Non-governmental organization
  • Sharing of Community Partners
  • Sharing of sustainable approaches to service-learning programs
11:35 am – 11:50 am
(15 minutes)
Break
Session 3:
11:50 am – 12:20 pm
(30 minutes)
  • Reflection and Debriefing
  • Question and Answer Session
Wrap-up
(10 minutes)
  • Display of CLEAR webpage, micromodules and short videos