I·CARE Programme
Launched in 2011, the I‧CARE Programme has been committed to offering informal whole-person education to students based on the I·CARE Framework (vide the chapter on “Student Development Portfolio”). In line with its motto “Aspiration through Reflection; Renewal through Civility”, the I·CARE Programme aims to inspire students to actively partake in social and civic services. It also facilitates the release of students’ holistic competencies so that they will become able to enhance the wellness of people in the local, regional and global communities. The I·CARE Programme is now administered by the I·CARE Centre for Whole-person Development under the Student Experience and Development Section of the Office of Student Affairs. This Centre also collaborates with other University units to motivate all-round development of students.
Activities under the I‧CARE Programme are mainly carried out through the following areas:
- University Lecture on Civility
This Programme is consisted of seminars and cultural activities that explore the relationship between men and society/ nature. Scholars, artists and luminaries from around the world share their unique humanistic points of view with students and catalyse them to reflect on the meaning of life. Speakers of this Programme include, inter alia, Muhammad Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate), Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (master of Buddhist meditation), Lung Ying-tai (renowned writer), and Marcin Jakubowski (pioneer of open source movement).
- Social Service Projects Scheme
The University encourages students to engage in social and civic services in Hong Kong, the Mainland, and overseas countries. While funding has been set aside for students to design, initiate and implement sustainable development projects in local and impoverished areas to enhance people’s well-being, they will also be trained (through the “Proposal Writing Workshop” and “Sharing Session on Learning Outcome”, etc.), coached and monitored under the Scheme.
- Lean Poverty Alleviation Initiative
The Programme aims at bringing students to address the underlying causes of poverty as well as to build an enabling environment for penury moderation. “Poverty” is seen as not only the insufficiency of essential resources to maintain a citizen’s living but also one’s relative disadvantages as compared to the members of a dominant socioeconomic group. Under this Programme, students gain first-hand experience about societal issues and nurture resolve to tackle poverty through being engaged in experiential activities and direct services like the “Social Service Day – Let Elderly/ Youth be a University Student”, “Hong Kong Cultural Tours Project” and “Fitness x Mentorship” Scheme.
- Community Research Scheme
The Scheme allows students from different disciplines to work together on rigorous studies of various public issues under the guidance of professional tutors. Students collect and analyse data, carry out research and present findings that become blueprints for community and social reforms. Topics of research include, inter alia, “Pattern of Hidden Elderly in Public Estates” and “Child Caretaker in Grass-roots Families”.
- Social Enterprise Startup Scheme
The Scheme not only funds students (and also young alumni) to transform their creative business ideas into meaningful startup, but most importantly offers mentorship to them by the experts in real business sector. With financial support of the Scheme, participants validate, establish or scale up their social enterprises.
- I·CARE Achievers Programme
This Programme promotes various character strengths through well-designed activities like “Dialogue on Character”, “Retreat Day”, “Extensive Reading Scheme”, “Workshop on Value Clarification”, “Day Camp on Leadership Training”, “Farming cum Hiking”, “Course on Compassionate Communication” and “Remoulding Camp”. It aims to enhance the self-awareness and positive value of students, so as to promote healthy development of the community and the world. The Programme specifically hopes to help participants respect others, treasure humanity’s shared environment, be perseverant to cope with adversity, embrace passion to serve the needy, and possess a global outlook to address the world’s complicated issues.
- Activities Enriching Student Life
From time to time, the I·CARE Centre for Whole-person Development hosts or collaborates with other University units to run various activities to enrich student life. They include, inter alia, “Music Dreams Come True Concert”, “CUHK Campus Tour”, “Jockey Club Charles Kao Brain Health Services Project”, “Creating a Magical Moment for Children in Need”, “Go Hiking in CUHK Style with Vice-Chancellor”, “Life@CUHK – Exploring the Plentiful Possibilities of Life”, “Blood and Book Giving – A Challenge of Blood Donation Relay”, and “Mother Nature Rocks”.
I‧CARE Centre for Whole-person Development
Student Experience and Development Section
Office of Student Affairs
Tel: 3943 8621
Website: www.icare.cuhk.edu.hk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuhk_osa_seds
Facebook: www.facebook.com/icareprogramme YouTube: www.youtube.com/icarecuhk