Campus Digest

Enhancing HKBU students’ empathy through service-learning in Chiang Mai 

Monday, 2 February 2026

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HKBU students and local students pose on the newly built playground.
Students volunteer to teach at a rural school.
Students build a playground for the rural school.
Students participate in a Thai cooking class to learn about local culture.

 

A group of 16 HKBU students participated in the Chiang Mai Service & Study Tour from 4 to 9 January, providing a series of service activities for a rural school in Lamphun Province, Thailand. Through experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom, students were able to develop a sense of empathy and strengthen their teamwork and sense of global citizenship.

The six-day tour was organised by the Leadership Qualities Centre of the Office of Student Affairs and sponsored by the HKBU Century Club. During the tour, the students volunteered to teach, built a playground serving over 100 students, and designed various educational activities. They also engaged in cultural activities to gain a deeper understanding of the local way of life.

Prior to their trip, the participating students attended preparatory meetings to plan service activities and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure smooth implementation. They will host a post-trip sharing session in February to reflect on their learning outcomes with the HKBU community.