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Two-Year Journey

LEAD9001 Lead for Life is a two-year 6-credit, free elective course open to all full-time undergraduates who are not in their final year. It is offered by the Faculty of Arts through a collaboration between Faith and Global Engagement and the Centre for Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS). Here, students can find a vibrant, safe and respectful community for exploring character and leadership growth. We empower students to develop practical skills, build resilience and explore meaningful career pathways in alignment with our commitment to whole person development.  

Lead for Life begins later than other courses at HKU, starting in October with a compulsory weekend launch. Applications for the course open between August and September. 

Beyond the mandatory weekend launch, we offer multiple opportunities and flexible pathways that integrate smoothly with the academic calendar for fulfilling the remaining course components. Students planning an exchange abroad can arrange to complete the core in-person requirements while at HKU, and many of the Modules and Assessments may be done regardless of location. 

3
Core
Modules

In-Person Requirements: These taught modules are designed to strengthen the bonds of your mentor teams; deepen your understanding of character leadership and help you discover who you are as a leader. These learning components require in-person attendance at HKU.

1 Orientation 

Weekend Launch

Duration
2 days
Overview
Lead for Life begins with the Weekend Launch, which all students MUST attend in person because how we introduce the course cannot be learned from a textbook. It is Interactive — not just taught but caught. You will join a mentor team with students from various faculties, bond with your team as a community and end with a high table dinner to celebrate the start of your journey.
Completion
Attendance of both days is compulsory. If you cannot attend the launch, you cannot take the course. So prioritise the dates. 
2 Workshop

Leadership Experience

Duration
2 days
Overview
Engage in a two-day workshop with integrative learning sessions and team challenges. Guided discussions and reflective sessions will help you bridge theory and practice, equipping you with essential character leadership skills for your life at HKU and beyond.
Completion
Offered multiple times throughout the two-year journey, with sessions scheduled during the reading weeks and the summer. You just need to take this at any one time. Attendance of both days is compulsory.
3 Gatherings

Activity Days

Duration
2 half days
Overview
Choose from a variety of practical learning activities ranging from personal growth to character leadership and career development. These will be attended with your mentor team.
Completion
Group learning activities will be held once per semester on a Saturday. Students should attend at least two of these throughout the two-year journey.
3
Practice
Modules

The Practice Modules provide flexible, customisable elective learning experiences to foster deeper exploration and practice of character leadership in everyday life.

1 Mentor Team

Encouragement Check-Ins Encouragement

Check-Ins

Overview

These check-ins help you stay connected with your mentor team. Enjoy fun activities, spark meaningful conversations, cultivate lasting friendships, and share support as you navigate life’s challenges. Our Lead for Life mentors are volunteers who generously give their time and effort completely for free. What they give in investing in your life is invaluable. We ask that you honour them by bringing something equally important to the mentoring relationship — your wholehearted participation.

1Mentor Team
Lead for Life
The University of Hong Kong
2 Community Project

Leadership PracticeLeadership

Practice

Overview

This is a service-learning component that allows you to engage with real-world community issues, both locally and globally. You can contribute to service initiatives that help others thrive, make a positive impact as well as a meaningful difference in the world.

2Community Project
Lead for Life
The University of Hong Kong
3 Enrichment

Personalised LearningPersonalised

Learning

Overview

You can enrich your journey with tailored opportunities that support your personal, academic, and professional growth. Benefit from mentoring connections with our Lead for Life Friends Community — which may include HKU faculty, alumni, staff, community leaders, and global partners. You can access our curated library of self-learning resources to inspire deeper reflection and growth.

3Enrichment
Lead for Life
The University of Hong Kong
3
Assessment
Modules

Receive feedback from your team mentors regarding your participation in the mentor team, along with character testimonials from nominated community leaders on your engagement in community leadership practice. Submit a Creative Portfolio that showcases your growth as a leader of character.

Course Grading

The course adopts a pass/fail grading system. The credits and grade (pass/fail) shall be shown on your transcripts but shall not be included in the calculation of GPA and honours classification. Assessment is based 100% on coursework. Note: For credit load calculation, the 6 credits will be distributed as 1.5 credits per semester over four semesters. Upon successful completion of the course, the credits will be reflected on your transcripts.

1 Mentor Team

Engagement Feedback

Overview
Team mentors will provide feedback on your engagement with the team, categorising it as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Satisfactory engagement is demonstrated by attendance of events, promptly responding to check-ins and mentor team discussions, and meaningfully contributing to a thriving mentor community.
2 Service

Character Testimonials

Overview
You will nominate two community leaders to provide character testimonials on your role in community leadership during your service projects. These testimonials should highlight your leadership initiative, impact, and character in enhancing community wellness.
3 Reflection

Creative Portfolio

Overview
You are required to submit two reflection assignments, one at the end of each academic year, that integrates what you have learned and how you have grown in your Lead for Life journey. This can be presented in a variety of creative formats that demonstrate the integration, application and communication of learning in real-world contexts.