Internship Week 2023 – Co-creating Future Ready 'Socientists'

The Social Innovation and Global Citizenship (SIGC) internship programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences of HKU aims to nurture its students to become future-ready ‘Socientists’: Global citizens who think critically, embrace diversity, and are ready to make an impact on society. In the summer of 2023, there will be over 480 available placement opportunities around the world. If this is the first time for you to apply for an internship, you may need assistance to navigate the variety of options and complete the application process. The purpose of Internship Week 2023 is to assist students in the application process.  We have prepared a series of workshops for job-seeking skills, meet-up events with Community Partners and alumni, in addition to individual consultation sessions.  This mini-website serves to provide you with a one-stop overview of the SIGC summer internship application details and all in-person and online activities to facilitate your application.

Communication, Media
and Culture
Corporate Sustainability
(CSR & ESG)[CSR]
Community or Social
Services [CSS]
Learning and Educational
Services [LES]
Mental Health and Social
Well-being [MHW]
Research and Policy
Analysis [RPA]
Social Entrepreneurship
and Innovation [SEI]
Communication, Media and Culture
Corporate Sustainability (CSR & ESG)[CSR]
Community or Social Services [CSS]
Learning and Educational Services [LES]
Mental Health and Social Well-being [MHW]
Research and Policy Analysis [RPA]
Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation [SEI]

Over 150

Community Partners

More than 210

Internship Topics/Posts

Around 490

Placement Quota

Deadline of Application

February 1 (12noon) -
10 (12noon), 2023

Internship Period

June 5 – July 28, 2023*
*unless otherwise specified

Events, Workshops & Activities

Date & Time Topic Activity
February 1 (Wed), 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Overview & introduction
How to start your internship application
Opening Session @Chamber Individual Consultation Session @Room 1108 / Zoom
February 2 (Thu), 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Advice from EL team
Individual Consultation Session @Room 1108 / Zoom
February 3 (Fri), 12 noon – 2:00 pm
Tips on choosing your internship and your career development
Chit-chat with Experienced SIGCers (Online)
February 3 (Fri), 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Knowing your options
Chit-chat with Community Partners (Online)
February 6 (Mon)
Job seeking skills
Workshop @Chamber
February 6 (Mon), 1:00 pm – 3:00pm
Advice from EL team
Individual Consultation Session @Room 1108 / Zoom
February 7 (Tue)
Job seeking skills
Workshop @Chamber
February 8 (Wed)
Job seeking skills
Workshop @Chamber
February 9 (Thu), 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Advice from EL team
Individual Consultation Session @Room 1108 / Zoom

Internship Week Schedule 2023

A series of activities, both online and in-person, are available during Internship Week to assist you in preparing the application. Join our three workshops on job-seeking skills and individual consultation sessions to seek advice on identifying your choices among the number of internship opportunities and get prepared for the application. You are also invited to join the online meet-up events to meet with our Community Partners and past interns via Miro.  Register now to reserve a seat! 

Opening: 2023 Summer SIGC Overview

Time: Feb 1 (3:00 pm–4:00 pm)

Venue: Social Sciences Chamber, 11/F, The Jockey Club Tower

Come and join us to learn about the arrangements of Internship Week 2023. The Experiential Learning Team will provide you with guidance on how to start your application, what your options are and how to choose a suitable one for yourself. This will be followed by a parallel session for students who have specific questions on fulfilling the SI or GC requirements.

Chit-chat Sessions
via Miro

Interactive dialogues for students to learn more about expectations and requirements of specific placements.

ONLINE

Session 1 :

FEB 3 (FRI) 12:00pm-2:00pm
Chit-chat with Experienced SIGCers*

*Experienced SIGCers are past interns consist of current students and alumni who are now the supervisors of our Community Partners

Session 2 :

FEB 3 (FRI) 2:30pm-4:30pm
Chit-chat with Community Partners

Chit-chat Sessions
via Miro

Interactive dialogues for students to learn more about expectations and requirements of specific placements.

Session 1 :

FEB 3 (FRI) 12:00pm-2:00pm
Chit-chat with Experienced SIGCers*

*Experienced SIGCers are past interns consist of current students and alumni who are now the supervisors of our Community Partners

Session 2 :

FEB 3 (FRI) 2:30pm-4:30pm
Chit-chat with Community Partners

Job-seeking Skills Workshops

Technical training on various topics to assist students in preparing the application.

FEB 6 (MON) 5:30pm – 7:00pm

CV and Cover Letter Writing [In-person]
Venue: CPD-LG.08, LG/F, Centennial Campus
Speaker: Ms. Connie Tsui-Burchfield, Executive Coach & Founder, Radix Consulting Ltd.

FEB 8 (WED) 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Interview Skills [In-person]
Venue: Social Sciences Chamber, 11/F, The Jockey Club Tower

Speaker: Ms. Connie Tsui-Burchfield, Executive Coach & Founder, Radix Consulting Ltd.

FEB 7 (TUE) 11:00am – 12:30pm

LinkedIn Profile Writing [Online]
Co-organised by CEDARS (Careers and Placement Section) on Zoom

Individual Consultation Sessions

Personal coaching provided by teachers from the Experiential Learning Team.

With EL Team @ Zoom/ @Experiential Learning Hub (Walk-ins are welcome)

  • FEB 2 (THU) 3:00pm-5:00pm
  • FEB 6 (MON) 1:00pm-3:00pm
  • FEB 9 (THU) 11:00am-1:00pm

Internship Opportunities & Options

This summer we will offer over 480 internship opportunities with more than 150 Community Partners in Hong Kong and around the world. There will be non-local internships in Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Mainland China, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Taiwan, the USA and the UK.

Before choosing an internship, students should first know the SIGC requirements of their curriculum — whether they are required to fulfill SI or GC, or both. Please review the SIGC requirements of your degree programme if you are not sure.

We understand there are many considerations in choosing an internship. There is no perfect internship to apply for but you can figure out which one aligns best with your interest, career goals, skills, language requirements, and experience. And we encourage you to be curious and to venture out of your comfort zone. Here are some possible criteria you may consider for making a wise choice –
  • By Types of Projects – Specialised project-based internships that match your unique learning experience
  • By Social Issues – Exploration of specific problems categorised under the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that match your interest
  • By Job Categories – Industry nature that fits your career aspirations, skills, and knowledge 
 
Visit the Experiential Learning Application System to view the internship topics with detailed job descriptions.

Types of Internships

Placement-based Internships

Local and Non-local Internships

Placement-based internships offer students off-campus, work-integrated learning opportunities to work at local or non-local organisations, including NGOs, social enterprises, think-tanks, startups, business corporations etc., in a variety of posts and on topics ranging from education, sustainability, communication to policy research and community services.   

In this summer, we have non-local placement opportunities in Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Mainland China, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Taiwan, the USA and the UK. 

Global Citizenship@Home (GC@Home)

The GC@Home programme provides a pathway for students to achieve global learning via internship placement in Hong Kong. Students have the opportunity to work with international NGOs and/or local partners in Hong Kong to address global issues, such as migrant workers, refugees, global poverty, and ethnic minorities, with local engagement.

Project-based Internships

Social Innovator: The IDEA Incubator

Social Innovator offers opportunities for students to learn the entrepreneurial process, create out-of-the-box solutions from first-hand work experience in innovative social enterprises, interact with changemakers and understand how the system works for social innovative startups. 

GLoCal Projects: Social Business in Africa and Asia

GLoCal Projects provide project-based/cross-disciplinary learning opportunities to work with international NGOs and/or local Community Partners addressing global issues with local engagement. In the past, we worked on issues such as human trafficking in Nepal, fair trade issues with tea pluckers in Sri Lanka and coffee farmers in Indonesia, and quality education issues in Vietnam by building libraries, swimming pools, toilets and classrooms in the rural areas. In the summer of 2023, we will work with small social business owners in Kenya and social problem solvers in Singapore and Mainland China to document their success stories. 

Community-engaged Research Internships

In the Community-engaged Research internships you will apply your research skills to the evaluation and assessment of the performance and progress of a real community project. You will submit a project report to the management of the organisation for their consideration. Please see the project details under Local Internships.

Types of Internships

Placement-based Internships

Local and Non-local Internships 

Placement-based internships offer students off-campus, work-integrated learning opportunities to work at local or non-local organisations, including NGOs, social enterprises, think-tanks, startups, business corporations etc., in a variety of posts and on topics ranging from education, sustainability, communication to policy research and community services.

In this summer, we have non-local placement opportunities in Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Mainland China, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Taiwan, the USA and the UK.

Global Citizenship@Home (GC@Home) 

The GC@Home programme provides a pathway for students to achieve global learning via internship placement in Hong Kong. Students have the opportunity to work with international NGOs and/or local partners in Hong Kong to address global issues, such as migrant workers, refugees, global poverty, and ethnic minorities, with local engagement.

Project-based Internships

Social Innovator: The IDEA Incubator

Social Innovator offers opportunities for students to learn the entrepreneurial process, create out-of-the-box solutions from first-hand work experience in innovative social enterprises, interact with changemakers and understand how the system works for social innovative startups.

GLoCal Projects: Social Business in Africa and Asia

GLoCal Projects provide project-based/cross-disciplinary learning opportunities to work with international NGOs and/or local Community Partners addressing global issues with local engagement. In the past, we worked on issues such as human trafficking in Nepal, fair trade issues with tea pluckers in Sri Lanka and coffee farmers in Indonesia, and quality education issues in Vietnam by building libraries, swimming pools, toilets and classrooms in the rural areas. In the summer of 2023, we will work with small social business owners in Kenya and social problem solvers in Singapore and Mainland China to document their success stories.

Community-engaged Research Internships

In the Community-engaged Research internships you will apply your research skills to the evaluation and assessment of the performance and progress of a real community project. You will submit a project report to the management of the organisation for their consideration. Please see the project details under Local Internships.

Social Issue (SDGs)

Placements are categorised under the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to assist you in filtering the options by social issues that match your interest. Please visit the Experiential Learning Application System to view the full list of placements with SDGs.

Job Categories (7 Categories)

The internship opportunities are grouped under the 7 categories below based on the nature of the job task and the job sector. You can filter the placements by category in the Experiential Learning Application System :

  • Communication, Media and Culture (CMC)
  • Corporate Sustainability (CSR & ESG) (CSR)
  • Community or Social Services (CSS)
  • Learning and Educational Services (LES)
  • Mental Health and Social Well-being (MHW)
  • Research and Policy Analysis (RPA)
  • Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SEI)

Application Tips

Application and Selection Procedures

How to Secure an Internship Offer

Step-by-step Guide on the Online Application System (Video)

Application

Application Schedule

Activity Date
Application Period
February 1, 2023 (12:00 noon) - February 10, 2023 (12:00 noon)
Announcement of 1st round results
March 2, 2023
Announcement of 2nd round results
March 23, 2023
Announcement of 3rd round results
April 13, 2023

* Students from BPsych should only apply for SIGC internships starting from Term-time in their second year of study, which application will start in June 2023. Applications made before then will not be processed.  
* For non-FOSS students, applications will only be processed in a later round, subject to quota availability. Applications by non-FOSS students in their first year of study will not be processed. 
* We will continue to observe the development of COVID-19 and make any necessary adjustment in internship arrangements according to the situation.  
* Visa requirements: Students should be responsible for their own visa application and checking the visa requirements of their country of origin.  

Before your application submission, please note the following important regulations about internship application: 

  • For non-local internships, some of the placements may be cancelled or switched to remote work if travel restrictions are imposed. Students should pay attention to the Faculty’s announcement on the latest update(s), if any. 
  • According to the Regulation, students are not allowed to take courses over the maximum study load of 72 credits in one academic year. In this connection, you are reminded to reserve 12 credits for Social Innovation / Global Citizenship Internship in the 20222023 academic year.
  • Non-acceptance of internship offers will be penalised and your entire application will be withdrawn. Your next application for internship placement will only be processed from the second round in that exercise.
  • Once you have accepted the internship offer, your withdrawal or failure to complete the internship will result in a FAIL grade for the internship course. 
  • As stipulated from the above Regulation (3), for students who did not accept the internship offer in the previous exercise but wish to apply for Summer Internship 2023, your application will only be processed from the second round in March 2023 as a penalty. However, you will still need to submit your internship application before the deadline at noon time on February 10, 2023.

Apply Now

Application Tips

Application and Selection Procedures

How to Secure an Internship Offer

Step-by-step Guide on the Online Application System (Video)

Contact Us

Academic Advice:

Ms Elsa Lam

lamelsa@hku.hk

Ms Winky Wu

winkywmt@hku.hk

General Enquiries:

Tel: (852) 3917 1212
Email: socii@hku.hk

Address:
11/F, Faculty of Social Sciences,
The Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus,
The University of Hong Kong

Office hours:
Monday – Friday
9:00am – 1:00pm; 2:00pm – 6:00pm

Copyright © Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong. All rights reserved.


Partnership for the Goals
Community Partners:

  • American Club Foundation
  • Bilby
  • Bridge to China(Wu Zhi Qiao) Charitable Foundation
  • Garage Society
  • Intellisia Research Institute
  • The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society
  • The French Centre for Research on Contemporary China
  • Transitional Justice Working Group 


Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Community Partners:

  • ALPHA Education
  • Central and Western Branch, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong
  • Civic Party x Station 202
  • Community-Engaged Research Internship
  • Human Asia
  • Human Rights League Slovakia / Liga za ludske prava
  • Lui Che Woo Prize for World Civilisation
  • MWYO Limited
  • Our Hong Kong Foundation
  • Path of Democracy
  • Roundtable
  • The Democratic Party
  • The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups 


Life On Land
Community Partners:

  • Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
  • Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre
  • SPCA


Life Below Water
Community Partners:

  • Ocean Park Hong Kong


Climate Action
Community Partners:

  • Carbon Care Asia
  • Civic Exchange
  • Rooftop Republic Urban Farming 


Responsible Consumption & Production
Community Partners:

  • Alaya Consulting Limited
  • Allianz Global Investor
  • Chopsticks Company Limited
  • Feeding Hong Kong
  • Food Angel
  • Tithe Ethical Consumption Movement 


Sustainable Cities & Communities
Community Partners:

  • Across U-hub
  • Agile Group Holdings Limited
  • Asia Society Hong Kong Center
  • Asian Academy of Family Therapy
  • Business Environment Council
  • Centre for Civil Society and Governance
  • Chou, Ta-Kuan Cultural & Educational Foundation
  • CTY (Philosophy) Limited
  • EmpowerU
  • Gobeyond
  • HandsOn Hong Kong
  • HK Artion
  • HKSKH Welfare Council
  • Hok Yau Club
  • Hong Kong Arts Centre
  • Hong Kong Policy Research Institute- Hong Kong Vision Project
  • Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute
  • Hulu Culture Limited
  • Institute of Social Science Survey
  • Inter Cultural Education
  • Korea Gap Year
  • KPMG
  • KPMG China (BJ)
  • KPMG China (GZ)
  • KPMG China (SH)
  • MTR Corporation
  • Non-Profit Incubator (Shanghai)
  • NWS Holding Limited
  • PCCW
  • Public Bank (Hong Kong)
  • Resolve Foundation
  • Saint Barnabas' Society and Home
  • Shanghai Film Comment Society
  • Shanghai United Foundation
  • Shunde Foundation For Innovation And Entrepreneurship
  • SIFL Institute
  • Social Innovator in China
  • Strategic Financial Relations Limited
  • Urban Spring Co Ltd.
  • Vision Youth Leadership Development Centre
  • Walk in Hong Kong Limited
  • Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation 


Reduced Inequality

Community Partners:

  • Branches of Hope
  • Caritas Rehabilitation Service
  • Cultural Infusion
  • Equal Opportunities Commission
  • Fair Employment Agency
  • Fullness Social Enterprises Society (FSES)
  • Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF
  • MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS
  • Oxfam Hong Kong
  • PathFinders Limited
  • RUN HK
  • Sany Foundation
  • Save the Children
  • Social Enterprise Business Centre under the Hong Kong Council of Social Service
  • South China Morning Post - Operation Santa Claus
  • Sowers Action
  • UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) 


Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

Community Partners:

  • Archiparti
  • Edvanced
  • LuTech
  • Mint Asia Ltd
  • Shoaling Limited
  • Star of Social Innovation 


Decent Work & Economic Growth
Community Partners:

  • Action for REACH OUT
  • Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
  • Black Ant Capital
  • Financial Times
  • Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs
  • Hong Kong Women Workers' Association
  • The Federation of Hong Kong & Kowloon Labour Unions 


Affordable & Clean Energy

Community Partners:

  • Blue Sky
  • CarbonCare InnoLab


Gender Equality

Community Partners:

  • The Women’s Foundation


Quality Education

Community Partners:

  • Autism Partnership
  • Capala Limited
  • Edge Development Centre
  • JEMS Character Academy
  • Kids4Kids
  • La Violet Charity Foundation
  • Link Education Limited
  • Mini Mandarins
  • OneMoreStep Development
  • Pad for Hope
  • Peer Experience Exchange Rostrum (PEER)
  • Playright Children’s Play Association – HSBC Playright Playscope
  • Principal Chan Free Tutorial World
  • Race for Education Accessibilities for Every Child
  • Teach for Hong Kong
  • The Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum
  • The Sprouts Foundation Limited
  • TREATS


Good Health & Well-being

Community Partners:

  • Harbour Sport
  • Hong Kong Eating Disorders Association
  • Inner Edge
  • InspiringHK Sports Foundation
  • Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation
  • Neurum
  • Prenetics
  • Project Orbis International, Inc
  • Psychological Services Unit, Fire Services Department
  • TreeholeHK
  • Vision Laboratory, Tohoku University
  • Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service Bradbury Day Activity Centre
  • Youth Outreach



Zero Hunger

Community Partners:

  • RECUP
  • Feeding Hong Kong

 

No Poverty
Community Partners:

  • Amity Foundation, Hong Kong
  • ELCHK Communion Lutheran Elderly Health Centre
  • End Poverty
  • Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor
  • Operation Blessing
  • World Vision Hong Kong