CENTRE OF DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS (CEDARS)

Campus Life

The Campus Life Section of CEDARS provides high quality support services to enhance students’ overall learning experience. Specifically, we provide guidance and assistance in several major areas. On financial matters, our section helps students to apply for the Government grant and loan and non-means-tested loan schemes. We also run the University financial assistance scheme to assist students in need. On accommodation, we assist students to apply for Halls of Residence and Residential Colleges and run a free accommodation service for students to rent off-campus privately-owned housing. There is support for non-local students in visa matters and hall placement. We also render support for the student bodies and student activities, monitor on-campus catering services and attend to any general concern students have on campus life.

We also work with other support units to promote students’ physical, social, emotional and environmental wellness.

If you want to know more about our work, you are welcome to:

visit the CEDARS website at http://cedars.hku.hk
call us at 2859 2305
e-mail us at cedars@hku.hk
visit us on 3/F, Meng Wah Complex

Careers and Placement

The Careers and Placement Section of CEDARS is committed to delivering the most effective and all-round career services for students in career planning, training and workshops which enable them to develop professional competencies and attitude in launching a rewarding career. We also support employers to identify and recruit top quality graduates who match their corporate values and requirements.

Our experience indicates that students should start planning their career early, preferably in their first year of study. They could start with identifying a tentative career objective which could be done with the help of Prospects Planner at the Careers and Placement Section of CEDARS website www.hku.hk/careers or joining our workshops on career planning.

In addition to the website, our Help Desk has a lot of accessible resources for students. Live recruitment events, alumni sharing sessions, CEO and industry talks are organized from time to time and are announced through e-mail messages and posting on our website to all students.

After identifying career objective, the next step is to prepare oneself for a profession. Career preparation programmes and internship positions in Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas are offered from time to time and are also announced through e-mail messages. Part-time and summer job opportunities are also available to students to prepare themselves for the world of work, and are posted on our website.

Besides responding to open advertisements, students may wish to post their particulars on our exclusive online system, where students could be approached by employers directly for job opportunities.

Final year students who are interested in graduate positions should watch out for job vacancies and recruitment events via emails and our website. Students can also check the Joint Institution Job Information System (JIJIS,www.jijis.org.hk) frequently for vacancies.

On top of the services listed above, Careers and Placement Section of CEDARS also runs workshop and provides one-on-one consultations on career planning, CV writing and selection process preparation. Again, watch out for our e-mail messages, call our Help Desk at 2859 2314, or come to visit our office in person.

We welcome suggestions and questions, and can be reached readily through e-mail at careers@hku.hk.

Counselling and Person Enrichment

The Counselling and Person Enrichment Section of CEDARS (CEDARS-CoPE) is committed to empowering students to build up their character strengths, live a satisfying and psychologically healthy life, and develop positive attitudes and life skills for their personal success so that they are able to contribute to their communities by demonstrating leadership and sensitivity.

To help students live a successful and well-balanced university life, CoPE offers the following services and programmes:

“Psychometer”: It is our web-based psychological assessment hub at psyax.cedars.hku.hk. Take the psychological tests on university adjustment, learning styles, time management, social life and mental health to gain a better self-understanding and identify ways to achieve university success. Immediate feedback, recommendation and enrichment tips are available.
Professional Counselling Service: Seek early consultation on any personal issues (e.g. adjustment, study-related matters, relationships, mental health, life goals) and take steps to overcome personal blocks. We have a team of professional Clinical Psychologists and Counsellors. This service is confidential and free-of-charge. To make your first appointment, please call 2857-8388, email cedars-cope@hku.hk or come to our centre at Room 408, Meng Wah Complex. You will be invited to a 15-20 minute screening session with our Duty Counsellor. Afterwards, you can schedule a full appointment with the Case Counsellor, which is usually within 2 weeks of your first appointment.
Person Enrichment Programmes: Each semester CoPE offers a great variety of small group interactive workshops on effective learning, self-management, time-management, social skills and emotional competence. Also watch out for our campus-wide activities to promote mental health and successful university life.
Accessibility Support Service for Students with Disabilities and Special Educational Needs: We provide comprehensive service to students with disabilities or special educational needs (SEN). Contact CEDARS - SEN Support and find out what support you would need in your university life.
Peer Support Networks: (1) Join “Peer English Tutoring”, a peer support initiative for one-to-one conversational English practice jointly managed by Centre of Applied English Studies and CEDARS. (2) Register for “Survival Cantonese” to learn 30 essential day-to-day Cantonese phrases from a student tutor. (3) Attend buddy programmes and support networks. (4) Check our website and Facebook (facebook.com/cedarscope) for other new initiatives.
Inclusion Funds for Learning Activities and Projects: Apply for “First-in-the-Family Education Fund” (for full-time local undergraduate students only), “HKU 81 Inclusion Fund and Henry Chan Inclusive Education Fund” and “HKU Class of ‘84 Social Inclusion Fund” to expand your horizons. Details are available at http://cedars.hku.hk/edufund.

Student Development

In line with HKU educational aims, the Student Development Section of CEDARS nurtures students to become contributing members of the community through a variety of educational programmes and activities covering three main areas:

Sustainability Leadership Programme supports student leaders to apply their knowledge, leadership and creativity to solve pressing global issues.

Community Engagement Programme offers opportunities for all students to enhance their understanding of the world through engaging with local and overseas communities to address community needs.

Education for Empowerment offers opportunities for HKU members to make exchange with global leaders and change makers in lectures, summits, and conventions. It also supports students to prepare and engage in prestigious conferences and competitions worldwide.

Moreover, Student Development Section also provides support for student-initiated projects, NGOs and social enterprises as well as students’ participation in external competitions and conventions.

Website: http://www.cedars.hku.hk/sd
Enquiries: 2857 8387 / cedars-programmes@hku.hk

HKU Service Network

The HKU Service Network is an online platform specifically designed to support students to contribute to global issues through joining and developing sustainable and innovative service projects. Students may promote their service projects, recruit volunteers, identify partners and opportunities, share experience and even showcase their achievements to attract funding. Students can sign up using their HKU Portal account at http://cedars.hku.hk/servicenetwork.

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is a distinctive feature of the new undergraduate curriculum at the University. The Gallant Ho Experiential Learning Centre (GHELC) collaborates with a wide network of local and overseas partners to identify experiential learning opportunities for students from all 10 Faculties. The Centre also organises workshops to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to take full advantage of experiential learning opportunities in unfamiliar environment. For details, please go to http://ghelc.hku.hk.