Four HKBU students from the Department of Computer Science and the School of Chinese Medicine together with 2 students from the University of Hong Kong proposed a business plan of Barrier-Free School which recently won the Champion at the 2013 Hong Kong Social Enterprise Challenge (HKSEC 2013) together with the Best Social Mission and Best Presentation Awards. They are the first team which wins all three awards since the Challenge started 7 years ago.
The team "Barrier-free School" mainly aims to provide training to People with Disabilities (PWDs) via e-Learning Platform. Starting from Hong Kong, through "Barrier-free School Courses + Barrier-free Job Coaching + Barrier-free IT Technology Promotion ambassador", three services "Training + Job Matching + Career Supporting" can be provided to PWDs. The team‘s mission is making Hong Kong as a science and technology park of harmonious communion.
Among 746 contestants for the Hong Kong Social Enterprise Challenge (HKSEC) 2013, 98 students (24 teams) were selected for the semi-final, and 6 teams moved on and joined the Grand Final. The HKBU representatives are Li Yuanxi (Computer Science, PhD candidate), Chan Sheung Wai (Computer Science, PhD candidate), Dr. Zou Wai Wen (Computer Science) and Chen Lijun (Chinese Medicine, MPhil candidate).
Team leader Li Yuanxi said, "We wish I.T. can bring more changes and benefits to People with Disabilities, also our knowledge could be shared to more underprivileged people. We would like to express our sincere thanks to our supervisors Prof. Clement Leung, Prof. Jiming Liu, Prof. P.C. Yuen, Dr. Alfredo Milani (Department of Computer Science), Dr. Mark Li (Department of Social Work), Mr. Li Haipeng (University Head Librarian) and many other faculty members, as well as some professors from the University of Hong Kong."
Since 2007, HKSEC is the foremost inter-collegiate business plan competition to help turning creative business ideas into meaningful and sustainable ventures that promote social good. Through a series of seminars, training workshops and mixer gatherings, students can be inspired and equipped to develop social venture ideas by integrating commercial operations into social needs, and interacting with business professionals during the whole campaign.
Details on the team’s project can be found at:
http://www.bfschool.hk
