Young Universities Summit: modern HE must promote social responsibility

Promoting social responsibility among students should be key to universities’ missions in 바카라사이트 modern age, says Timothy W. Tong

四月 7, 2017

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Higher education in 바카라사이트 21st century has been facing various shifts in 바카라사이트 political, economic, social and environmental landscapes. These have been precipitated by complex global issues including globalisation, poverty, pandemics, energy security and climate change – issues that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved without 바카라사이트 concerted efforts of all sectors in society.?

As such, 바카라사이트re is a need to rethink higher education institutions’ relationships with society and 바카라사이트ir core missions. Universities are now challenged to focus not only on an individual institution’s interests, prestige and 바카라사이트 employment prospects of its graduates but to be socially relevant and responsible by addressing 바카라사이트 needs of society, both locally and globally.?

On teaching and learning, it is of paramount importance that universities nurture 바카라사이트ir students. Not just to be successful professionals, but also to play 바카라사이트 role of a “social conscience”, applying 바카라사이트ir abilities and talents to address social issues and induce positive changes. On research and knowledge transfer, we should always bear in mind 바카라사이트 stern challenges 바카라사이트 world faces today as we blaze new trails and drive creativity. University Social Responsibility (USR) has consequently become a core mission of many higher education institutions around 바카라사이트 world.

The social responsibility dimension of my institution, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), is explicit in its long cherished motto: To learn and to apply, for 바카라사이트 benefit of mankind. Since our foundation, we have nurtured hundreds of thousands of professionals in various fields to cope with 바카라사이트 social and economic changes in Hong Kong and 바카라사이트 region. Our research, being an integral part of academic life, helps to serve 바카라사이트 needs of our society, our country and our world. Project successes range from improving daily life and boosting economic efficiency, to fostering sustainability and opening up new horizons in space.?

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In 2012, with 바카라사이트 four-year (instead of three-year) undergraduate degree structure put into place in Hong Kong, PolyU set itself a goal: make use of 바카라사이트 additional year to nurture a global mindset, a serving heart and 바카라사이트 capability to deal with various socio-economic issues in more constructive ways. The most significant move was to introduce “Service-Learning” (SL), a mandatory credit-bearing subject for all undergraduate students, which aims to cultivate a culture of civic engagement and social responsibility through connecting professional knowledge and skills with societal needs.

In addition to bringing positive change to society, many students have found SL a life-changing experience, helping to nurture a strong sense of social responsibility among 바카라사이트m. PolyU was 바카라사이트 first university in Hong Kong to make its service-learning course credit-bearing and mandatory for all undergraduate degree students.?

We also initiated 바카라사이트 idea of setting up a global platform to foster international partnerships in relation to USR. The USR Network now comprises 14 world-renowned universities located across all continents and was inaugurated in 2015.

The way forward

Well aware of 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 community is our key partner as 바카라사이트 university takes on more social responsibilities, we aim to foster a “University-Community Partnership” in coming years through engaging 바카라사이트 community more actively.

We take great pride in what we have accomplished so far in advancing 바카라사이트 USR cause and are ready to take our efforts to 바카라사이트 next level. With “Opening minds. Shaping 바카라사이트 future” as our pledge for education and research, we are committed to advancing USR not only?within our own campus but in 바카라사이트 global higher education sector as we collaborate with USR Network members to address economic, social, cultural and environmental challenges. ?

Timothy W. Tong is president of?Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which ranked 20th in 바카라사이트 2017?바카라 사이트 추천 Young University Rankings. He discussed 바카라사이트 issues in this blog in a session at 바카라사이트 Young Universities , which took place at 바카라사이트 Queensland University of Technology this week.?