About

This course builds upon the foundation students were given in their Freshman Seminar, a primary goal of which is to help them become responsible, well-informed citizens. It is designed to give students the utmost flexibility in determining both when and how to complete this CGE requirement, enabling students to tailor it to their individualized academic schedules and personal interests while still allowing them to commit sufficient time to make the experience meaningful.

Students will generally complete the course during their third or fourth year of study, and may include the summer between their second and third years or third and fourth years. Students may choose to complete the course in their second year if they choose to study abroad. 3 credits will be awarded upon completion of the course.

Goals

The course addresses the following goals:
•Understand complex problems facing Hong Kong society and the wider world
•Recognize a range of methods and responses to particular issues and respect the different views of others
•Develop your own framework of values
•Strengthen skills in collaboration and teamwork
•Gain tangible results from hands-on involvement in a community, within an organization, or in a service-related research project, and be able to reflect upon and articulate those results to others

Requirements

Students are required to complete:
•A detailed proposal, explaining the student’s interest in their chosen project or organization and outlining the tasks involved in the service project
•Structured reading on a relevant topic, as proposed by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor or on-site advisor where possible
•A service project or internship, with a minimum of 40 hours spent on actual service/project work
•A service work journal
•An evaluation of the student's work, submitted by an organization supervisor/faculty advisor
•A debriefing discussion with peers
•A formal oral presentation, followed by questions and answers
•A final essay, bringing service experiences together with an academic perspective
Students are required to spend a minimum of 40 hours for the internship or service project component of the course, though more is encouraged. This does not include time spent on independent reading, discussion, or other course requirements.

Assessment

Written Proposal                                                                                      10%
Service Project (evaluation by an on-site supervisor) and Journal      40%
Presentation and Discussion                                                                   20%
Final Essay                                                                                               30%

Partnered Programs

Students can choose to participate in one of several structured partnerships established by Morningside College

Community Development Projects in Rural China

Students will work in teams on one of several projects in rural Mainland China that focus upon developing sustainable bridges and village housing using environmentally friendly materials and methods. Students will also have the chance to visit primary schools and interact with local families as well as promote public health practices.

Sponsored by: Professor Edward Ng , Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridges to China); Dr. Emily Chan, public health projects
Contact: Sharon Chow

Times and dates of projects will be posted as updates are available.

Projects at CUHK

Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development

The Centre supports and facilitates research in all areas of law affecting commerce and business dealings, including the fields of banking law, capital markets, commercial law, contract law, corporate law, investment law, intellectual property, securities regulation, international trade law, tax law, and any other economically focused area of law in which a member of the CUHK Law Faculty addresses his or her research.

Website: http://www.studenthere.com/redirect.php?url=http://www.law.cuhk.edu.hk/research/cfred/

Centre for Rights and Justice

The Centre serves as an important vehicle to enhance and foster research in the area of comparative and public law, including Access to Justice, Constitutional and Administrative Law, Public International Law, Criminal Justice and Human Rights.

Website: http://www.studenthere.com/redirect.php?url=http://www.law.cuhk.edu.hk/research/crj/

Responsibilities: Students are invited to apply for internships with either CFRED or CRJ to work closely with a faculty member on upcoming research projects in unexplored critical areas of Chinese Law. Examples of research projects include: legal regulation and stock manipulation, merges and acquisitions in China, and tax evasion.

Sponsored by: Professor David Donald

Timeline: Semester-long internships to be applied for at least two weeks in advance of the Fall or Spring semesters. Please indicate which research project you may be interested in working on and we will set up a short interview between you and CFRED/CRJ.

Centre for Civil Society Studies

Visiting Fellows Program—Student Ambassadors

Description:
The visiting fellow program selects groups of civil society stakeholders to learn development of civil society and gain first-hand experience in NGO governance in Hong Kong. The groups are composed of the following:
     1.     Senior staff of Civil Society Supporting Organizations (i.e. organizations that provide training, technical support and platform of information sharing to NGOs, grassroots organizations, and communal organizations );
     2.     Officials in related government departments;
     3.     Scholars involved in research of civil society;
     4.     Media
     5.     Entrepreneurs

While guests of CCSS, these leaders engage in workshops, communication seminars and site-visits of social service institutions.

Responsibilities: Students will attend a training program designed to familiarize themselves with the historical significance of certain sites in Hong Kong. While the visiting fellows are at CUHK, students will escort the fellows to cultural and historical sights in Hong Kong as well as attend several of the conferences and off-site visits to agencies/social service institutions.

Sponsored by: Professor Anthony Spires
Contact: Ms. Claire Wong
Website: http://www.studenthere.com/redirect.php?url=http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/iso/calendar/2008-09/English/research_institute&ctr.htm

Timeline: Dates for incoming cohorts of NGO leaders needing student ambassadors will be posted as opportunities arise.

NGO Internships:

Students may intern with a local or international NGO of their choice, subject to approval by a Junior Fellow or the Dean of General Education. They should make contact individually to establish an on-site supervisor, and then correspond with this supervisor to confirm internship duties, goals, and expectations. Most organizations have rolling applications for various volunteer positions, and requirements vary accordingly. However, many organizations also welcome volunteers even if they do not openly advertise volunteer positions, so students are encouraged to make polite inquiries into any NGOs they are interested in.

The following internship positions are also available through direct contacts with Morningside College:

Vision First, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

Mission: Vision First, through community participation, promotes the welfare of asylum-seekers and refugees, irrespective of religion, race and nationality by advocating and providing shelter and access to medical, counseling and educational services – focusing on personal development, always respecting their dignity.

Short-term projects:
     1.     Translation of our webpage into Chinese
     2.     IT support for staff and our members
     3.     Homework support to children in there homes around HK
     4.     Writing support for marketing, proposals and publications
     5.     Administration support within the centre

Long-term Project (1 academic year):
VF is looking for students to run classes, workshops, courses in areas such as personal development, business management, language, IT, recreation .

Contact: Cosmo Beaton
Website: www.visionfirstnow.org

Individualized Projects:

Students may design a project of their own choosing that must be either relevant to pressing campus issues or provide a service to the wider community. It can be either an individual or team project.

Overseas Exchange Project:

Students will enroll in a Service Learning course offered by the host institution and pre-approved by Morningside College and/or volunteer with a pre-approved organization in the host country.

Forms and Documents