Press Release

HKBU and Hong Chi Association continue collaboration
deepening service learning to create an inclusive future

Monday, 13 July 2026

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and Hong Chi Association (HCA) have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue a shared commitment to fostering an inclusive society through innovative service-learning and strengthened community collaboration. Building on the achievements of the past two years, both parties will co-create learning activities, encourage knowledge and skills sharing, and provide opportunities for students and service users to participate in community projects.

The MOU was signed earlier by Dr Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) of HKBU, and Ms Zuie Lin, General Secretary of HCA, at the MOU renewal ceremony held on the HKBU campus. The signing was witnessed by Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, and Mr Edward Yau, Chairman of HCA.

In his address, Professor Alex Wai elaborated HKBU’s commitment to whole-person education and the role of service-learning in nurturing socially responsible graduates. Amid the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, he emphasised the importance of nurturing human-centred creativity, critical judgement, and meaningful connections, while continuing to deepen collaboration with HCA to co-create impactful transdisciplinary outcomes.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Edward Yau highlighted the importance of mutuality in the collaboration. He shared that individuals with intellectual disabilities are not merely beneficiaries, but active contributors whose talents and perspectives inspire new ways of thinking and creating.

According to the MOU, HKBU and HCA will co-create learning initiatives for HCA service users and HKBU students, foster knowledge transfer and skills exchange, as well as provide opportunities for members of both organisations to participate in community engagement and service-learning projects. Both parties will also organise joint workshops to share best practices, and explore research projects that benefit people with intellectual disabilities while promoting diversity and inclusivity.

Since the initial collaboration agreement in 2024, HKBU and HCA have collaborated on 14 projects, benefiting over 260 participants from eight Hong Chi schools and 12 service units. More than 250 HKBU students and instructors across four faculties and schools, including the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Business, School of Communication, and School of Creative Arts, have taken part in these initiatives. Over the past two years, the fruitful collaboration between HKBU and the Hong Chi Association has demonstrated the transformative power of partnership between HKBU students and people with intellectual disabilities. The co-created projects have included marquetry, oral history, sustainability, social enterprise, and creative productions such as a drone show.

The signing ceremony also featured a sharing session by Professor Anna Qin, Assistant Professor of the HKBU Academy of Visual Arts and Assistant Dean of the School of Creative Arts, as well as HKBU students and HCA trainees who participated in the University’s service-learning course “Studio: Object Culture”. They reflected on their experiences co-creating from concept to production, combining craft with digital fabrication, and shared how the hand-drawn ideas of trainees were transformed into marquetry artworks through a creative process involving generative AI and laser-cutting techniques.

Jerry Lai, an HKBU Visual Arts student, expressed his delight at having the opportunity to integrate technology with traditional craftsmanship alongside HCA trainees in the creation. He also noted that the new techniques taught in the course were eye-opening for him. He said, “In the past, artisans had to spend a great deal of time and effort to complete their works. Today, we are able to combine technology with traditional craftsmanship by using computers for layered design and laser cutting machines to assist with engraving. This is something I had never imagined before.”

Molly Ho, another Visual Arts student, remarked that although she and the HCA trainees had different approaches to creation, their collaboration turned out to be complementary, “When Visual Arts students create, we tend to carefully consider composition, colour scheme, and the message of the work, which may unintentionally diminish the authenticity of our creations. In contrast, the works by the HCA trainees are full of imagination and creativity, prompting me to reflect on the true meaning of creation.”

The HCA trainees shared how they developed friendships and gained confidence through their interactions with HKBU students. Throughout the activity, participants adjusted their ways of communication, overcame boundaries, and worked together to develop innovative solutions.