Leadership and Impact Award

Leadership and execution is becoming a critical competence in our increasingly volatile and complex contemporary world. Graduates who can demonstrate these capabilities will not only stand out in competitive job markets but are uniquely positioned to become changemakers and entrepreneurs, driving innovation and creating solutions to address our most pressing societal issues.

This award scheme supports undergraduate students in undertaking hands-on projects that make a real difference through leading others and delivering tangible outcomes.

Whether you’re launching a sustainability initiative on campus, developing a social enterprise to tackle inequality, creating technology solutions for community problems, organising campaigns that amplify underrepresented voices, or organising an interdisciplinary conference, this funding helps you to bring these ideas to life.

What projects/ initiatives can be funded?

The award supports student-led projects and initiatives, such as:

  • Collaborative Research projects: Student-initiated interdisciplinary research, partnering with staff from academic unit/departments, organisations or communities.
  • Conferences and symposiums: Student-organised academic events and knowledge-sharing forums.
  • Community partnerships: Collaborative initiatives between students and local organisations.
  • Innovation challenges and hackathons: Events that bring people together to solve problems.
  • Awareness campaigns and workshops: Educational and advocacy initiatives on important topics.
  • Social ventures and enterprises: Projects that address community needs through sustainable models.
  • Peer mentoring and support programmes: Initiatives that support students peers.
  • Other student-organised activities that demonstrate leadership and impact.
All projects must have a dissemination component. For example, poster or conference presentation, exhibition, delivery of workshop, or other sharing activity.

1. Getting started

Eligibility

  • Open all undergraduate students. Postgraduate students may participate but projects must be led by undergraduates.
  • Work individually or collaborate with other HKU students (preferred).
  • Projects/ initiatives must be student-led or initiated. Hence, this award will not fund students to attend pre-existing events or workshops.

funding conditions

  • HK$500 – $5,000 per student depending on the scope of the project.
  • Funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis.
  • Reimbursement is generally paid after the completion of the project, unless justified otherwise.
  • Funding will only be for operational expenses of conducting the project/activities. Salaries or stipends to students and the purchase of equipment will not be supported.

2. application and approval

Application

We are open to receive applications for projects running from 1 Dec 2025 until 30 Jun 2028.

Award Application Form

Please submit your completed application form to commoncore@hku.hk

Review and Approval

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applications will be vetted based on:

  • Student-led projects demonstrating leadership and impact.
  • Depth or breadth of deliverables and outcomes.
  • Number of HKU students engaged.
  • Feasibility based on funding and expertise.
  • Learning outcome is well-articulated.
  • Alignment to the programme learning outcomes of the Common Core and the HKU’s University Educational Aims.

A letter will be issued when the project is approved. Students should confirm their acceptance. 

3. implementation

reminders

  • Undertake the activities as described in your application.
  • Ensure you keep all invoices/receipts for reimbursement purposes. For overseas travel, please keep your boarding passes.

Ethics

Please read through the University’s Policy on Research Integrity and apply for ethics approval if collecting data from human participants for research purposes (Consent and Related Forms).

4. post-project

reporting

At the conclusion of the project, students should submit a post-project report with the following information:

  • A clear project financial breakdown with receipts (original copies) of individual expenses items attached;
  • Copies of boarding passes for oversea travel;
  • At least 5 photos of students engaged in the project;
  • Any promised deliverables;
  • A completed end-of-project questionnaire.

Applying for credit

(Optional) Students may be able to apply for one (1) or two (2) non-graduating out-of-classroom academic credits for participating in activities organised under this funding scheme.

The credits will appear on your Academic Attainment Profile (AAP) once your formal application is approved. More information can be found at the HKU Horizons webpage.

Need Assistance?

The Common Core is here to help facilitate the process at every step of the journey, so do not hesitate to ask questions at commoncore@hku.hk.