Personal Development & Social Skills
HKU provides you with all the resources and support you need to help you not only to achieve academic goals, but also to pursue personal growth. As you navigate through your university life, it is inevitable to face challenges from different directions. We are here to back you up and equip you with effective coping strategies, transferrable skills, a sense of shared learning and community.
Mind and Wellbeing, CEDARS
University life is full of fun and excitement, but you may also feel overwhelmed as you transition to a new environment. The Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) offers a wide range of services and resources to gear you up for a fruitful university journey.
Priortise your mental wellness, browse self-help information for tips to navigate challenges with ease. You can also develop positive self-care habits with modules and practices on Jockey Club TourHeart+, an app-based mental health support platform fully supported by CEDARS. If you find yourself in distress and want a safe space to talk about your situation, don’t hesitate to reach out to the qualified professionals at CEDARS. They provide counselling and psychological services free-of-charge to all current HKU students. Find out how to make an appointment with CEDARS’ Mind and Wellbeing service here.
CEDARS also encourages students to join hands in fostering a culture of care and mutual support. Explore the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, an international certificate programme offered every semester that equips you with mental health knowledge and helping skills. You can also browse the “Peer-to-Peer” Student’s Guide on Mental Health Support for practical tips on supporting your peers in everyday scenarios. Let’s work together to build a caring and supportive campus where compassion and resilience thrive!
LEAF Student Leadership Development Programme
LEAF is a student leadership development programme of CEDARS with a vision of fostering the growth and success of student societies and leaders at HKU. Its aims to promote the advancement of leadership skills, ethical conduct and compliance, and accountability building for student organisers, thereby facilitating effective student-led activity organisation. Check out our programmes, which consist of training workshops and modules for student activity organisers on key topics such as event planning and delivery, financial practices and risk management as well as community service opportunities. You can also take advantage of the resources library crucial for organising activities on campus, such as working documents, policies, guidelines and regulations.
GLOCAL Connect
GLOCAL Connect is a special initiative of CEDARS that aims to connect local and non-local students through unique local experiences. The programme’s mission is to foster mutual learning and interaction between these students, promoting global bonding and empowering individuals. GLOCAL Connect strives to enhance understanding and encourage meaningful connections that transcend boundaries.
Volunteering Opportunities
Serve 2Gather (S2G), designed by CEDARS, provides a platform for HKU students to cultivate civic awareness, social responsibility, and leadership. The programme offers a diverse range of service-learning opportunities, including training workshops, NGO visits, taster sessions, networking events, community engagement opportunities, and service trips.
Your S2G journey is more than a commitment to service—it is a journey of growth, impact, and leadership. Through hands-on experiences and community partnerships, you can gain knowledge, skills, and perspectives needed to contribute meaningfully to our communities. Join us to take action, lead with purpose, and make a positive impact on society.
General Education
At HKU, your quest for knowledge is never limited by your major or minor. The University strives to promote whole-person education by enhancing students’ general knowledge about global, regional and local issues, encouraging self-reflection and service learning, and cultivating appreciation of cultural diversity, creativity and arts. Explore the General Education Programmes, which are non-credit bearing programmes organised by the General Education (GE) Team of CEDARS. In each academic year, GE curates different courses, talks, seminars, forums, field trips, performances and public events covering a wide array of topics. Registration usually opens at the beginning of each semester in September and January.