Fostering a Sense of Belonging: OSA Provides All-Round Support for Student Development

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) has consistently empowered students to transition smoothly from campus life into society through digital technology, cross-sector collaboration, and comprehensive student support services. In an interview with Shue Yan Newsletter, Ms Sophia YIP Sau-yin, Associate Vice President (Student Affairs), emphasised that student services extend beyond administrative procedures. More importantly, they aim to help students build capabilities, cultivate empathy, and foster a deep sense of belonging during their university years.

In line with the University’s strategic emphasis on “Digital Humanities” and “Knowledge Transfer,” OSA is progressively digitising its student services. The department makes active use of online platforms and the internal network to enhance administrative efficiency across various functions—from event promotion, registration, and fee collection procedures, to data management for students with special educational needs within counselling services. Ms YIP noted that the purpose of technology is not merely to streamline processes, but to liberate time and energy for staff to address students’ individual needs directly.

In terms of career support, OSA is collaborating with internal campus teams to develop CareerHub, an integrated platform that consolidates existing career service tools to strengthen the employer network. The platform will feature an e-Portfolio function that enables students to record their participation in activities, community service, awards, global exchange programmes, and internship experiences throughout their university journey. “In the past, co-curricular achievements were primarily recorded through the Awards and Co-curricular Achievement Transcript (ACAT), which focused mainly on activities organised by OSA. Going forward, exchange opportunities, internships, and learning experiences hosted by various academic departments and administrative units across the University can be consolidated in this single platform.”

“Preparing a CV shouldn’t wait until your final year,” Ms YIP reminded students, emphasising that university life is a step by step process of building credentials. When students realise that they have “nothing to write,” they should view this as an opportunity to take the initiative, participate in activities and broaden their horizons. CareerHub also enables students to curate personalised portfolios—incorporating off-campus experiences, creative works, and micro-films—to prepare themselves well for further studies or employment.

Simultaneously, OSA is strengthening ties with industries, professional bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and alumni. The newly launched “The Way to Success” Leadership Training Programme invites seasoned corporate executives and industry leaders to engage with students and cultivate servant leaders. Meanwhile, the Mentorship Programme will expand to cover a broader spectrum of professional sectors, providing students with direct access to industry veterans. Students will also have opportunities to attend campus talks and engage in interactive, side-by-side learning with mentors.

Mental health care is another major focus for this academic year. Ms YIP shared that the University secured funding from the Education Bureau’s Quality Enhancement Support Scheme (QESS) to launch the Student Mental Wellness and Resilience Ambassador Scheme. Under this scheme, 40 student ambassadors are being recruited and trained to organise promotional campaigns that raise mental health awareness on campus. “The project will collaborate with lecturers from the Department of Counselling and Psychology to develop an online self-learning platform, empowering students to understand and prevent mental health challenges independently. This platform will also be shared with another self-financing tertiary institution to benefit a wider student community.”

OSA will also continue to roll out workshops on financial literacy, campus inclusion, and volunteer service, encouraging students to apply their knowledge to give back to society. The department plans to partner with social welfare organisations to deepen students’ understanding of ethnic minority cultures and life experiences, helping them learn mutual respect and harmonious cooperation across diverse backgrounds. For non-local students, OSA will offer tailored support on local employment market trends, Hong Kong labour legislation, and cultural adaptation to facilitate their integration into both campus life and local society.

Currently, OSA has a total of 18 full-time staff who provide the various services to students. The Student Activities Section oversees more than 40 student organisations and varsity sports teams; the Counselling Section supports student psychological well-being; the Career Services Section guides students on career planning and further studies; and the Student Finance & Liaison Section assists students with scholarship applications, community resource sourcing, and external support linkages.

Looking ahead to HKSYU’s 55th anniversary, Ms YIP hopes that teachers, students, and alumni will uphold the University’s core motto of “Cultivating virtues of benevolence; broadening horizon and knowledge” (敦仁博物)—striving for broad knowledge alongside upright character, while respecting others and serving the community. She firmly believes that when students feel happy, comfortable, and accepted on campus, a deep sense of belonging naturally takes root. Even as they forge their own paths after graduation, they will remain deeply connected to their alma mater, eager to return, share their experiences, and support the generations that follow.