Connect Ambassador for Community Engagement (Connect ACE) 2025-26

Connect ACE is a development program that fosters peer-to-peer advocacy and community engagement—demonstrating that positive changes can be driven by students through empathy and people-oriented service initiatives. The program equips civic-minded students with essential leadership and project planning skills. Through hands-on collaboration and trainings, participants gain valuable service experience addressing genuine social needs within the local community.

Starting from September 2025, 13 ambassadors attended a series of intensive workshops to gain essential insights and tools through specialized training in design thinking, service idea development, activity planning, and volunteer management, preparing themselves to explore and address complex social issues.

During the program, the ambassadors split into small groups to identify specific service targets. They conducted research and site visits to deeply understand the needs of their chosen target groups, subsequently designing tailored service proposals and pitching their ideas to collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In Spring Term, the ambassadors implemented their projects directly with their partner NGOs. They took the lead in recruiting and managing HKUST student volunteers to assist in their service. The ambassadors learned to conduct on-site community interventions, gain first-hand experience in implementing service initiatives and deliver meaningful impacts to the service users.

This program not only equipped students with essential skills and experience in project design and delivery but also encouraged them to foster deep empathy and care for the community. By mobilizing their peers and advocating for a strong service culture on campus, the ambassadors turned their ideas into tangible services and led to positive changes. Their work and contribution inspired a collective commitment to social good.