Graduate Support Fund
Graduate Support Fund
Introduction
In response to the adverse economy and rising unemployment rate, LEI proposes to introduce a series of new programmes to provide immediate support and career development aid to LU graduates since 2020. These new LEI programmes have empowered 55 graduates to explore alternative career opportunities, gain practical work experience, and exercise workplace leadership. Short term goals include:
- nurturing graduates to develop businesses and self-employment opportunities
- engaging graduates in joint-incubation programmes
- engaging graduates in global innovation and entrepreneurship competitions
- offering graduates startup or office internship
The goal of the programme is to engage graduates with meaningful innovation and entrepreneurship challenges during the job-seeking period. Graduates will also gain employer-appreciated experience that would elevate their employability when the economy rebounds.
LEI Programmes
LEI will make full use of its I&E network to offer two tracks of support: (1) Start-up and Social Enterprise Subsidies & (2) Part-time Internships at Offices and Start-ups. The types of services include:
- Provide business-ready projects for the students' startup businesses, not-for-profit organisations, and social enterprises for a more inclusive economy
- Develop joint-incubation programme(s) with HKSTP and Cyberport to shoot for startup funds
- Bring in business elites from established co-working spaces to provide intensive coaching and hands-on support for graduates to develop their business ideas
- Mentor student groups to engage in major local and global competitions and funding applications (e.g. ITF, Bill and Melinda Gate Foundations, etc.)
- Provide part-time internship programmes in startups and offices
- Provide students with knowledge on financial empowerment
Benefits
These empowerment programmes will benefit students in one or more of the following ways:
- Become self-employed in the process
- Gain work experience in office or startups
- Acquire demonstrable problem solving and leadership skills
- Enrich CV with award recognitions
Eligibility
- LU's graduates of UG programmes in the academic year of 2019/20, 2020/21 or 2021/22*; OR
- Young entrepreneur(s) who teamed up with at least one LU's graduate of UG programmes in 2019/20, 2020/21 or and 2021/22*
(*will be considered as a higher priority)
Funding Amount
- For start-up stream: Up to HKD30,000 per approved project
- For internship stream: $8,000 x 6 months
How to Apply?
[For start-up stream]
All applicants should complete the application form and submit the following documents to lei@ln.edu.hk by 13 September 2022 (Tue).
1) CV; & 2) 10-slide PPT (please refer to the sample of the business model canvas)
[For internship stream]
The application will open in the summer of 2023.
Application Process
Step 1: Submit the Application form with a 10-slide pitch deck and a resume (The slides should include all 9 elements from the Business Model Canvas.)
Step 2: Pitch your idea during an interview
Step 3: Accepted Applicant > Submit start-up proposal > Proposal Approved by LEI > Sign Agreement Form
Step 4: Begin the business operation
Step 5: Business Registration
Step 6: After spending the first HKD15,000, LEI will conduct a mid-term progress review to justify if the team will be accepted for another HKD15,000
Step 7: Used up 30,000HKD in 6 months and submit a Final Report.
Useful Resources
- Guidelines on business proposal, final report and notes for reimbursement
Enquiry
- Ms. Jessica Wong (2616 8063/ jessicawong2@ln.edu.hk)
- Ms. Kati Ng (2616-8071/ kating@ln.edu.hk)