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 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 leading or organising hands-on projects that make a real difference through 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, such as:

  • Creative Interdisciplinary research, with students partnering with staff from academic unit/departments, organisations or communities.
  • Student-organised academic symposiums, conferences and knowledge-sharing forums
  • Partnerships between students and local organisations and communities.
  • Innovation challenges and hackathon events that bring students together to solve problems.
  • Advocacy initiatives and social enterprises grounded in specific challenges related to the UN Sustainability Development Goals.
  • Peer mentoring and support programmes to assist students and youth with academic and wellbeing issues.
  • Other student-organised activities that demonstrate both leadership and impact.
All projects must have a dissemination component back to the University community. For example, presentation, exhibition, delivery of workshop, press publication (e.g. HKU’s Communication and Public Affairs Office), or other sharing activity.

1. Getting started

Eligibility

  • Open all undergraduate students. Postgraduate students may participate if part of projects led by undergraduates.

  • Apply individually or collaborate with other HKU students (preferred).

  • Projects must be significantly student-led or initiated. We will generally not fund students to attend non-student-organised activities (For example, academic conferences, paying a service provider to substantially organise the activity, or simply attending a symposium)

  • Projects should be clearly trans- or inter-disciplinary in nature. 

  • We welcome Common Core Student Learning Partners, student associations and clubs, and other informal student groups to apply.

  • The proposed project/activity must not duplicate or be closely aligned a capstone or assessments for formal course work.

funding conditions

  • HK$500 – $5,000 per student depending on the scope of the project.

  • Funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis only.

  • Reimbursement is generally paid after the successful completion of the project and submission of all deliverables, unless justified otherwise.

  • Funding will only be for essential operational expenses of conducting the project. Salaries and stipends to students, cash rewards, and the purchase of equipment will not be supported.

2. application and approval

Application

Application open until 30 Jun 2028. Apply at least one month before the start of your project.

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:

  • Demonstration of student leadership and impact.
  • Depth or breadth of deliverables and outcomes. Deliverables should be meaningful and impactful.
  • Number of HKU students engaged or impacted.
  • Feasibility based on funding and expertise.
  • Dissemination component back to HKU
  • Trans- or interdisciplinary projects and teams.
  • Alignment to the programme learning outcomes of the Common Core and the HKU’s University Educational Aims.

Applications may be returned to students for further revisions before approval or approval subject to revised funding amounts or special conditions.

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

3. implementation

Dissemination

  • Remember to share what you’ve done back to the University community and the general public.
  • Examples: Seminar or presentations, workshops, exhibitions/ showcases, media publication (e.g. article or blog by HKU’s Communication and Public Affairs Office), poster at a university event or public conference, or other creative way.
  • If you are looking for a venue for dissemination, Common Core runs an Annual Student Learning Festival around April each year (for a poster or booth). Also, HKU’s Communication and Public Affairs Office always look forward to hearing about interesting projects.

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 dissemination activity back to the HKU community.
  • A completed end-of-project questionnaire.

Certificate and letter

Students will be awarded a certificate and a formal letter recognising their achievement in initiating and leading an impact project.

Students’ names and projects will also be featured on the Common Core website.

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.