KE Spotlight - Community Engagement - HKU Knowledge Exchange

HKU JC JoyAge project releases findings on public awareness and misunderstandings on elderly depression

Professor Terry Lum, Project Director of JC JoyAge and Professor of Department of Social Work and Social Administration, released findings of a survey on awareness and attitude towards elderly depression. Of the 1,332 respondents, more than half (52%) estimated at least 10% of elderly are suffering from depression, even up to 30% predicted by half of them. Over 85% of the respondents agreed to help the emotionally distressed elderly friends, relatives and neighbours. The survey also revealed common myths about elderly depression with half of the respondents failed to recognise depression is not a normal feature of ageing. About 40% of them did not take it seriously when the elderly express suicidal thoughts, and 48% were not aware that memory problem can be one of the depression symptoms. Up to 75% of them thought that it would be helpful to depressed elderly by reminding them to count their blessings and advising them to focus on positive thinking. Researchers reminded the public to pay more attention to changes in elderly's conditions and their complaints as elderly depression could be expressed as physical discomforts or cognitive problems.

Knowledge Exchange (KE) Excellence Award 2017

The university-level KE Excellence Award was introduced in 2015-16 to recognise the significant impact that our academic staff had made to benefit society. Professor Paul Siu Fai Yip and team members – Dr Yik Wa Law and Dr Qijin CHENG of the Faculty of Social Sciences has received the KE Excellence Award 2017.

"My Little Story with Mom" premiere held at HKU

The Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project, in partnership with HKU’s Faculty of Social Sciences, held a premiere and sharing session for its short film “My Little Story with Mom”. About 1,000 participants from the field of healthcare, social welfare, education and the general public attended the event. The full version of mini movie can now be viewed at http://foss.hku.hk/jcecc/en/mini-movie/.

HKU holds tours to promote water initiative

The Jockey Club-Water Initiative on Sustainability and Engagement programme launched the "My River, My Community" Scheme. It comprises the formulation of a series of professionally designed and guided field trips. Each itinerary, centred on one river basin, highlights its multiple dimensions such as ecological, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. This Scheme will help enhance participants' knowledge of and emotional connections with our city's rivers. Apart from the "My River, My Community" WISE Choice field-trip routes, this scheme also recommends Eco-Tour and Cultural Tour to encourage the public to explore the unique natural beauty and cultural heritage of each river.

Knowledge Exchange Awards 2017

The annual Faculty Knowledge Exchange (KE) Awards recognise each Faculty’s outstanding KE accomplishment that has made demonstrable economic, social or cultural impacts to benefit the community, business/industry, or partner organisations. Results of the 2017 Faculty KE Awards are now available.

HKU Sustainable Lai Chi Wo Programme selected the first HK case to illustrate best local nature-based solutions to sustainable development

The Equator Initiative of the United Nations Development Programme selected the Sustainable Lai Chi Wo programme, led by the Policy for Sustainability Lab of the HKU Faculty of Social Sciences, as the first and the only selected case from Hong Kong for inclusion in its Solutions Database to showcase the best nature-based solution to sustainable development undertaken by local communities around the globe. HKU President Professor Peter Mathieson announced the news at the International Symposium of Collaborative Governance for Rural Sustainability held at HKU. In addition, HSBC has pledged to support the next phase of the programme which seeks to turn Lai Chi Wo into an innovation hub to demonstrate and incubate new concepts of sustainable living and social-economic models that can be replicated locally and regionally.

HKU survey reveals gaming addiction problem among Hong Kong upper primary students

The Social and Health Psychology Laboratory of the HKU Department of Psychology conducted a "Survey on the Gaming Habits among Hong Kong Upper Primary students" from March to May in 2017. A total of 2,006 Primary 4 to 6 students were surveyed. Results reveal that the problem of gaming addiction is prevalent among the students. The research team is concerned about the needs of children and parents, and so they built a Game Over Programme (GOP) website to provide information and downloadable resources for the prevention of gaming addiction. The website was kick-started on June 20 to provide background information about the project and will be fully launched in early August.