Lingnan University hosts the kick-off ceremony of the Mentorship Programmes 2024-25. (From left: Ms Yilia Xu, Chairman of Lingnan University Postgraduate Alumni Association (LUPAA); Prof Li Donghui, Associate Vice-President (Student Affairs) of Lingnan University; Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost; Ms Carrie Leung, Chairman of Career Development Committee & Council and Court Member of Lingnan University; Ms Irene Ng Wai-ming, Director of Student Affairs.)
Yip Ka-kit says that his mentor gives him valuable personalised advice, encouraging him to leverage innovation and technology and his strengths in the job market, seize development opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, compete effectively, and become an outstanding executive with a global perspective. (From left: Dr Kanny Chiu, Lingnan alumnus and Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Internet and e-Commerce Association, Yip Ka-kit, Year 3 undergraduate majoring in Contemporary English Studies.)
Themed 'Forging Connections, Cultivating Talents', the opening ceremony for the 2024-25 Lingnan University Mentorship Programmes was held at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel on 26 October 2024. The following five mentorship initiatives have been in place for long, and were kicked off for 2024-25 en bloc:
- Lingnan University Postgraduate Mentorship Programme
- Lingnanian Executive Mentoring Programme
- Lingnan University Banking & Finance Mentorship Programme
- Lingnan University Insurance Mentoring and Scholarship Scheme
- Police Mentorship Programme.
In light of the Government’s recent policy allowing full-time, non-local undergraduates in Hong Kong to work part-time from next month, this initiative is the first combined effort to support both undergraduates and postgraduates.These mentorship programmes aim to increase peer support and networking between local and non-local students. With nearly 600 mentors and mentees, this year boasts the highest number of participants to date, encouraging students to apply the innovative and creative thinking necessary for success in the digital era, while improving their networking and career competitiveness in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
This year’s mentors are successful Lingnan alumni and professionals in senior positions across a wide range of industries, representing well-known corporations from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas in accountancy, banking, advertising, education, and insurance. Organisations involved include China CITIC Bank International Limited, Ernst & Young, Citibank, China's leading food delivery group Meituan, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Forvis Mazars CPA Limited, Orbis Hong Kong, Morgan Stanley Bank Asia Limited, and the CMRS Group.
Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost opened the ceremony by saying the Government's temporary waiver of restrictions on part-time work will be extended from non-local postgraduate students to undergraduate students from next month. Lingnan will strengthen their support for students, and expects that more will benefit from these programmes, which will show them how to gain valuable work experience before graduating, plan their career paths early, and build resilience. He noted “I look forward to helping mentees and mentors to connect, learn, and grow with each other through the Mentorship Programmes, which will prepare them for contemporary challenges, and make a positive impact on their lives and careers.”
In her speech, Ms Carrie Leung, Chairman of the Career Development Committee & Council and Court Member of Lingnan University, said “Our Mentorship Programmes create a nurturing environment where undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Seasoned professionals can share their knowledge, insights, and experiences with students, and help them to stand out from the crowd in a fast-changing world.” Ms Leung thanked all the mentors for their valuable time and expertise in guiding the students and acting as role models. She advised the students to treasure this opportunity to work alongside their mentors and to actively seek guidance and support.
Prof Albert Ip Yuk-keung, former Council member and Chairman of the Career Development Committee and Fundraising Committee of Lingnan University, and a leading international banker, real estate professional and educator, was also a guest speaker at the ceremony. He encouraged the students to take risks, be more proactive, start planning their careers early on, and build up a relationship with companies and alumni, so as to better cope with the challenges of employment in today’s fast-changing and competitive society.
Running from now until August next year, the Lingnan University Mentorship Programmes give students access to targeted career counselling, where they can connect with influential alumni and industry leaders, and build up a strong, supportive network. Each mentor will advise up to three students, meeting them regularly, talking to them about their own lives and professions, and giving them practical information on their industry, as well as advice on career planning. This will enable the students to put what they have learnt into practice, improve their leadership skills, broaden their social networks, achieve personal growth, and realise their full potential.
In 2023-24, Yip Ka-kit, a Year 3 undergraduate majoring in Contemporary English Studies, and Fakoya Oluwatobi Emmanuel, a graduate of the Master of Cities and Governance Programme, took part in the Lingnanian Executive Mentoring Programme and the Lingnan University Postgraduate Mentorship Programme respectively. They were both mentored by Dr Kanny Chiu, a Lingnan alumnus and Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Internet and e-Commerce Association, with whom they stayed in close contact.
Yip Ka-kit says that Dr Chiu gave him valuable personalised advice, encouraging him to leverage innovation and technology and his strengths in the job market, seize development opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, compete effectively, and become an outstanding executive with a global perspective. “Over the past year, my mentor told me about how he had looked for jobs, and helped me understand the various career paths available after graduation. He also generously provided me with resources in order to apply for start-up funds on and off campus, as well as training opportunities at home and abroad, thus equipping me for the future.”
The Ceremony was organised by the Office of Student Affairs, together with the School of Graduate Studies, the Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs and the Lingnan University Postgraduate Alumni Association.
