Lingnan University’s Gerontechnology Project: Fostering the Future of Social Entrepreneurs
Lingnan University has always been committed to supporting social innovation and development, encouraging young people to creatively address social needs. Among its various initiatives, the Jockey Club Gerontechnology and Smart Ageing in Place Project at Institute of Policy Studies hosts an 18-hour Socialpreneurship Training Course every even-numbered month. To date, more than 35 sessions have been completed. The course in February attracted over 100 registrations, with successful applicants able to participate the course in hybrid learning.
To support the mainland Chinese students understand discussions on Hong Kong's ageing society and to further enhance young people's understanding of the elder care industry and gerontechnology across different regions, the course attracted both local and mainland students (including undergraduates and postgraduates). The course included multiple discussion sessions, allowing students to explore silver market opportunities from various perspectives, with a particular focus on developments in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr Shi Yu-bo from Master of Science in Health Analytics and Management at Lingnan University, who was already deeply interested in entrepreneurial activities before attending the February training course, shared his experience, "I enrolled in the 35th session of the Socialpreneurship Training Course. This course uses elder care services as an entry point, providing a clear understanding of social enterprises in Hong Kong. The course provided detailed guidance on how to apply for the seed funding necessary for starting a business, which is very helpful for students who wish to establish their own enterprises. We also learned about addressing profitability issues after the establishment of a start-up, which is particularly important for those with entrepreneurial aspirations.
The group assignments in the class and the reflective discussions led by Dr Chloe Siu, the project manager, allowed me to genuinely experience the thought processes and expectations involved in starting a company with partners. Moreover, Dr Siu used both Cantonese and Mandarin for instruction, which helped mainland students better grasp the course content. Overall, this course will be a valuable life experience for me!"
Additionally, the course in February invited the colleagues from Lumos of Yan Oi Tong Youth Space to share their community project. They also introduced project planning and tips for writing project proposals, helping participants interested in community innovation projects prepare effectively. The course not only attracted young participants but also involved members of the public, including working professionals and retirees, enabling people across different age groups to think about innovative ideas and social needs from various perspectives.
