KE Spotlight - Community Engagement - HKU Knowledge Exchange

HKU introduces new bereavement counselling model

Dr Amy Chow, Associate Professor of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, in collaboration with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) developed the "Reweaving Grief" innovative bereavement counselling model in Hong Kong. The model was adopted from the Woven Memories initiative founded by Ms Mary Burgess in Australia, for people who keep clothes and other fabrics belongings of deceased family members, and developed with cultural consideration for Hong Kong. This project is expected to offer a new choice to bereaved persons in Hong Kong who do not prefer formal counseling.

Faculty of Social Sciences and NGOs launch Jockey Club Water Initiative on Sustainability and Engagement

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has provided over HK$14.7 million to support the Faculty of Social Sciences of HKU – in collaboration with six environmental NGOs – to launch a three-year project entitled "Jockey Club Water Initiative on Sustainability and Engagement" (JC-WISE). Through a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional and cross-sectoral collaboration, JC-WISE aims to elevate the level of public awareness, and appreciation, of the importance of water conservation and sustainability. Dr Frederick Lee, Associate Professor of the Department of Geography and Project Co-Investigator, said JC-WISE is the first large-scale project to promote the Water Footprintconcept and the multiple values of freshwater in the community. A Water Footprint Calculator – the first of its kind in Hong Kong – will be developed on mobile and online platforms for calculating water footprints of popular local food items. The project will also offer a GIS-based database with open access to public and guided field-trips to reconnect the community with rivers and river basins in Hong Kong.

HKU 'Youth Quitline' helps a quarter of participants quit smoking

Since its establishment in 2005, “Youth Quitline” has helped nearly a quarter of the participants quit smoking at the six-month follow-up and helped 11.5% of those who did not quit smoking reduce cigarette consumption.

Disaster-Prone Academic Helps Others to Heal

By both fate and design, Dr Christian Chan of the Department of Psychology has found himself in the wake of natural disasters, observing and helping communities cope with the psychological after-effects.

It Takes a Village

A team that encompasses local residents, academia and the private sector has joined forces to embark on a long-term programme to develop a blueprint for the revitalisation of villages and rural communities in Hong Kong in ways that are both innovative and sustainable.

Knowledge Exchange Awards 2016

The annual Faculty Knowledge Exchange (KE) Awards recognize each Faculty's outstanding KE accomplishment that has made demonstrable economic, social or cultural impacts to benefit the community, business/industry, or partner organizations. The KE Award (Non-Faculty Unit) was introduced with the same objective for the independent centres, institutes and units of the University. Results of the 2016 KE Awards are now available.

HKU "Lung Cancer Fighter Programme" for lung cancer patients and caregivers launches second phase recruitment

HKU Department of Social Work and Social Administration and the Hong Kong Cancer Fund launched the first phase "Lung Cancer Fighter Programme" in April. Ninety-seven pairs of lung cancer patients and family caregivers were recruited to participate in an eight-session psychosocial intervention course. Before taking the course, about 50% of both the patients and family caregivers were at-risk of developing anxiety and depression problems. After the course, over 80% of the patients reported improvement in general vitality and daily functioning, and nearly 80% of the caregivers and 70% of the patients experienced improvements in their overall quality of life. One-third of patients and more than a quarter of caregivers who were at-risk have fallen below the clinical cut off in mental health functioning. The organisers are recruiting participants for the second phase.