Change Makers Stage
From Theory to Practice: Experiential Learning for Social Impact
Day 1 : 11:05 – 11:55
This session highlights the importance of experiential learning, such as community projects and social enterprise internships, in giving students real-world experience in creating social impact.
Learnings
- Importance of Experiential Learning
- Why is experiential learning important for creating social impact?How can community projects and social enterprise internships provide real-world experience to students?
- Benefits for Students
- What are the key benefits of experiential learning for students aiming to make a social impact? How does experiential learning enhance a student’s understanding of social issues and solutions?
- Implementation Challenges
- What challenges do educational institutions face in implementing experiential learning programs?How can these challenges be overcome to ensure students gain meaningful experience?
- Role of Educators and Organizations
- What role do educators and organizations play in facilitating experiential learning for social impact?How can they collaborate to provide impactful learning experiences for students?
Post-event Actions
- With growing expectations for industries to focus on social impact, what upcoming career opportunities does your organization offer?
- How can we support and empower young people and professionals in this field?
Speakers
Moderator
Dr. Fred Kei-tat Ku
Programme Director, Business Education for Social Good (BESGO) ; Associate Dean, CUHK Business School
BESGO, CUHK
Dr. Fred Kei-tat Ku
BESGO, CUHK
Programme Director, Business Education for Social Good (BESGO) ; Associate Dean, CUHK Business School
Dr. Fred Ku, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies) at CUHK Business School, is an accomplished scholar and award-winning educator in fields of business economics, social values and ESG. He is also the founder and director of CUHK BESGO Programme, which aims to cultivate social mindset of budding business leaders and proactively drive cross-sector collaboration to co-create greater social good. Besides, Dr. Ku provides training and consultancy services to businesses and government agencies.
My sustainability goals for 2023:
I aspire to see Hong Kong nurturing socially conscious leaders, and businesses prioritizing social value alongside economic profit, ultimately fostering a sustainable and inclusive society.
Catherine Tong Dannaoui
Executive Director
HandsOn Hong Kong
Catherine Tong Dannaoui
HandsOn Hong Kong
Executive Director
Catherine is a nonprofit leader with a communications and events background spanning over 15 years. As Executive Director of the local charity, HandsOn Hong Kong, she has a passion for creating impactful programs, empowering teams to reach their potential and moving people to take action. Since joining HandsOn in 2016, she has empowered thousands of the city’s employees, families and students on the power of volunteering to address our social needs. Catherine led teams and ran flagship events at both OgilvyOne and The Economist Group before joining HandsOn and holds a B.A. (Honours) in Communications from the University of Technology in Sydney.
My Sustainability Goals for 2024:
I hope to see Hongkongers commit to making sustainable choices–and changes–in their daily lives. There’s no starting point too small!
Speaking at:
Day 1
From Theory to Practice: Experiential Learning for Social ImpactDay 2
Opening Welcome
Nalini Dhiman
Student
CUHK Business School
Nalini Dhiman
CUHK Business School
Student
Nalini Dhiman is an advocate for creating shared value. At the crux, CSV is about economic and societal value going hand in hand. Pursuing a BBA degree specializing in Big Data and Quantitative Marketing, she is dedicated to driving positive change at the intersection of business and society.
She grew up in Hong Kong and India; one, the junction between the East and the West, a finance powerhouse, and the other, a growing economy bursting with innovation and ideas. This unique exposure has played a significant role in shaping her lens on the importance of sustainability.
Right now, it is the youth who can drive change. But we need to be educated, we need a platform to share ideas, and we need to come together to take little steps. Until one day those little steps become big strides.
Nalini’s interests are in creating shared value, peaceful and strong social justice, and youth education. At ReThink, she looks forward to being a part of ideation such that everyone, especially youth, leaves inspired to build sustainable solutions.
My sustainability goals for 2024:
Hong Kong has been most active in the corporate sustainable finance space, with an APAC lead in sustainability-linked loans and ESG ETF flows. It is therefore evident that corporations are driving the sustainability force in Hong Kong, especially in the green space.
Personally, then, I want to see and be a part of the following goals for Hong Kong in 2024 – 2025:
Enhanced youth education
They are the drivers of tomorrow, our future leaders. I want to see a greater focus on educating our youth, especially those who are from marginalized backgrounds, lower socio-economic brackets, single-parent families, etc. Equipping them with knowledge about the world, soft skills, hard skills, and critical thinking from an early age empowers them to make informed decisions about the world as they grow.
Increased organizational partnerships
We can see the greatest result in public education and material impact when organizations come together. For instance, three leading companies in Hong Kong, spanning different industries, launched a diversity internship program for underprivileged students which allowed them to set their ambitions in motion. The force of more is always larger than the force of one. I advocate for more cross-industry collaborations involving educational institutions, corporations, NGOs, and the Government.
Dr. Rosette Leung
Lecturer
CUHK Business School
Dr. Rosette Leung
CUHK Business School
Lecturer
Dr. Rosette Leung is a Lecturer in the Department of Marketing at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School. She teaches various courses, including Marketing Management, Global Marketing Management, Buyer Behaviour, Digital Marketing, and Integrated Marketing Communication. Her research interests span multiple areas, from social media marketing to internet-based relationships.
My sustainability goals for 2024:
My sustainability goals are to inspire and equip the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and determination to make sustainable choices and become leaders on fostering a more sustainable future. In addition to my commitment in business case writing about sustainability, innovation and climate change, I hope I can engage in more collaborative efforts with organizations and academics for sharing knowledge and best practices in sustainability.
Dr. Francesca Sin
CEO
Ronald McDonald House Charities Hong Kong
Dr. Francesca Sin
Ronald McDonald House Charities Hong Kong
CEO
Dr Francesca Sin is the CEO of Ronald McDonald Charities Hong Kong. She has been involved in the non-profit sector for over 20 years and has set up two charitable organizations and a social enterprise with the aim of raising public awareness of different social needs. Prior to joining RMHC Hong Kong, Francesca served as the School Supervisor at Hong Kong Red Cross Hospital Schools where she led and oversaw the management and development of 26 school units across 19 major public hospitals in Hong Kong.
Francesca has also taught Experiential Learning at the Faculty of Social Sciences in the University of Hong Kong where she had placed and mentored undergraduate students from five departments to learn practical skills of “Social Innovation” from over 150 non-profit organizations and social enterprises both in Hong Kong and overseas. She had the experience of the working role from both the Academia and the Organization.
Francesca holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (BEc) from Sydney University; a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Education (MEd) both from the University of Hong Kong; as well as a Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership from Meridian University in California. She has also been awarded Fellowship from Social Enterprise Research Academy Hong Kong for her contribution to the community.
My sustainability goals for 2024:
- More synergy amongst different stakeholders to leverage on their skills and resources to reach shared sustainable goals.
- Promote UN Sustainable Development Goals and “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” for a more harmonized and viable community.
Supported by
BESGO, CUHK
BESGO, a program backed by CUHK Business School, aims to educate and inspire the next generation of change-makers on how social good, social innovation, and sustainable practices can shape businesses and society’s future. With activities like training workshops, talks, and real-world projects, BESGO helps deepen students’ understanding of social needs and sustainability issues. By connecting educators, business professionals, social innovators, and future change-makers, BESGO fosters collaboration and creates shared value towards building a better future for all.
Our sustainability goals for 2024:
- Increase the awareness and understanding of social and environmental issues among students and participants by providing educational resources, workshops, and field visits.
- Foster partnerships and collaborations with local and international organizations that align with BESGO’s mission and values, and promote sustainability and social good.
- Engage and empower students to take action and create positive social and environmental impacts through BESGO’s programs and activities, and provide opportunities for them to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world projects.
Our initiative in accelerating sustainable development in Hong Kong:
BESGO has organized various activities to promote social innovation, social good, and sustainable practices. In the past, we have designed and produced teaching and learning materials, conducted seminars and workshops, and facilitated visits to community and social enterprises. We also published feature articles and teaching cases, and presented at local and international conferences. These initiatives aim to raise awareness, deepen understanding, and provide opportunities for students to create real impact and foster collaboration for a better future.