Media

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has received a HK$1.05 million donation from Meta (formerly known as Facebook) for supporting students’ research development on public policy, governance and sustainable development, in the form of a scholarship named “Facebook Scholarship in Public Policy and Sustainability Leadership” (the Scholarship). 

The Scholarship is part of the “Tech for Good Initiative” launched by HKU and Meta last September to strengthen institutional innovations in the aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ethnics, Big Data in Governance and the metaverse related policy research in a manner that is socially embedded, conducive to sustainability, and compatible with inclusive growth. HKU and Meta have also co-designed a new course “AI Policy Lab - Opportunities and Challenges in Digital Governance” (POLI8023 / SLGP7104), which is taught by HKU scholars from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Meta experts from different fields.

The Scholarship is administrated by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance of the Faculty of Social Sciences and supports students of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Social Sciences in the field of Sustainability Leadership and Governance (MSocSc(SLG)), on the basis of academic merit. A maximum of four scholarships will be awarded each academic year from the academic years 2021-22 to 2023-24, with HK$350,000 per year.

The nominated scholarship recipients for the 2021-2022 academic year are LIE Man Wa and LUI Rowena from MPA, and BROOMHALL Jessica Kate from MSocSc(SLG) respectively.

In congratulating the students, Professor William Hayward, Dean of Social Sciences of HKU, acknowledged the support from Meta and said, “We are grateful to Meta for supporting our students through these scholarships, which recognise the importance of sustainability and inclusion on the development of the Big Data economy.”

Mr George Chen, Managing Director of Public Policy for Greater China, Mongolia, and Central Asia of Meta said, “ At Meta, we value local knowledge and partnership. We also believe we should build the metaverse in a responsible way. We are excited to continue investing in policy research, educating the next generation in the field of sustainability leadership and governance, and building the next chapter of the internet together.”

The Scholarship shall be used to support the awardee’s study and research in public policy and sustainability with a focus on Artifical Intelligence (AI) ethics, Big Data governance, and the ecosystem of the metaverse. The Scholarship will also cover part of the costs of the student’s study trip to Meta’s Headquarters in Silicon Valley in the United States.

For details of the Scholarship, please visit the HKU Scholarships webpage:
https://www.scholarships.hku.hk/Scholarships/detail/678

To find our more about the two Master Programmes, please visit:
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
https://ppa.hku.hk/programmes/tpg/mpa

Master of Social Sciences in the field of Sustainability Leadership and Governance (MSocSc(SLG))
https://ccsg.hku.hk/slgp/

For media enquiries, please contact:
Centre for Civil Society and Governance, HKU
Ms Jamie Yuen (Tel: 3917 4767 / Email: jamiey@hku.hk)