Honours Academy: Building Wisdom and Unity at New Student Orientation Days 2024
The New Student Orientation Days 2024 held on 20 & 22 August 2024 at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) were a vibrant celebration of unity and wisdom, the core themes for this year’s event. With over 1,800 new students—comprising first-year, senior entrants, and exchange students—joining the HSUHK community, the Honours Academy (HA) students played a significant role in making the event both memorable and impactful, from thought-provoking on-stage sharing to captivating performances and engaging activities.
Redefining Freedom: HA Students Share Their Vision
(refer to the photo album here for more highlights)
Date: 20 & 22 Aug 2024
HA representatives Berrie Chim and Season Tsang inspired new students to see ‘freedom’ at university as the choice to grow and learn through challenges.
One of the standout moments during the Orientation was a thought-provoking discussion on-stage led by two HA representatives, Berrie Chim from the second cohort and Season Tsang from the fourth cohort. The two explored the concept of “freedom” at university in one of the most witty and impactful ways.
“Freedom at university isn’t just about what you can or cannot do—it’s about your own choice,” one of our HA’s future leaders insightfully remarked. “It’s the liberty to chart your own course, to explore new ideas, and to redefine your boundaries.” The other HA representative echoed, “Freedom here isn’t just a right; it’s a challenge. It’s about the freedom to fail, learn, and rise again.”
Their words resonated deeply with the new students, inspiring them to view their time at HSUHK as an opportunity to grow not just academically, but personally and socially as well. This aligns perfectly with the university’s “Liberal + Professional” education model, together with HA’s mission, which nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative skills—qualities that are essential in today’s fast-changing world.
Interactive Engagement: The HA Booth Experience
(From left) Group photo of the HA student leaders with Dr Holly Chung, Head of HA and Professor Jeanne Fu, Vice-President (Learning and Student Experience) and Founding Head of HA.
The HA booth thrives with excitement, offering interactive games, a lucky draw for exclusive merchandise, and a popular snap-shot station that welcomes new students into the community.
The HA booth, among many other student societies and academic support units, was a hub of excitement, drawing in crowds of new students eager to learn more about what the HA has to offer.
The booth featured a variety of interactive games designed by HA students, each one aimed at introducing the new students to the leadership qualities HA is helping our students to develop. One of the standout features was the lucky draw, where participants had the chance to win exclusive HA merchandise. Additionally, the snap-shot station became a social media sensation, with new students capturing memories with HA-themed props and sharing them online. This not only increased the visibility of the HA but also created a sense of belonging among the new students, many of whom were engaging with the HA community for the first time.
A Warm Welcome
Throughout the event, HA students went above and beyond to ensure that new students felt welcomed and excited about joining the HSUHK community. Their efforts were not only about showcasing what the HA is all about, but also about creating a friendly and inclusive environment where every student could feel at home.
As the new academic year begins, we look forward to seeing how these new students will embrace the freedom, unity, and wisdom that our University offers, just as our HA students have done so brilliantly.