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APPLY FOR placement
selection PROCESS
Students cannot enrol in the Impact Lab course automatically but need to be selected by a partner company through a selection process. Students wishing to apply to be part of the Impact Lab course should read carefully through the selection process information below and understand the course requirements before applying. Please visit the About & FAQ sections on this website to get the answers to the most common questions and read the Impact Lab Course Syllabus.
The Impact Lab is a highly competitive course and not all students who apply are accepted. Students who apply earlier will be given preference.
Selection Process Timeline
Eligibility
Reasons for Applying
Application & Enrolment Process
If Deadline for Applications Passed
The Number of Companies Students Can Apply to
Content of a Motivation Letter
NOTE: If the above does not answer your questions regarding the course, please visit the FAQ and About pages for more information. If that still does not help, contact us.
PARTNER COMPANIES
GREEN Hospitality
GREEN Hospitality's mission is to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and bring about innovative solutions to the sustainability challenges of the hospitality industry. We are a nonprofit platform dedicated to working with hotels, restaurants, supply chains, start-ups, civil society organisations, and the government to catalyse the transition into sustainability for the hospitality industry in Asia and beyond.
Placement Opportunities:
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Digital Marketing & Communications (2-3): Our communications team is key to bringing awareness of sustainability and our impact to the general public and our industry; research content, craft newsletters, develop campaigns, and monitor the performance of our campaigns through data analytics.
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If you are passionate about photography, videography, design, editing or creative writing, we want you! We are always looking to engage young creatives who can bring real impact through storytelling in many different forms.
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Business Development & Membership (~2): Help us make a greater impact through business development activities that fundraise the necessary resources to continue our work. Research potential customers and do market research; manage and improve our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database; craft messages to invite our stakeholders to events and coordinate workshops; prepare business proposals and source sponsorships.
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Fundraising & Project Development (~2): In order to move the needle on sustainability, we need to run projects and trials to develop new programs and innovative approaches. To gather resources to run these initiatives, we continuously seek support from the government and private organisations through fundraising efforts. Help us develop projects from conceptualisation to identifying funding opportunities, writing, recruiting partners and writing grant proposals.
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Project Management & Research/Consulting (~2): With a couple of new projects where we support the hospitality industry in the transition to sustainable business practices, we will offer talented students an opportunity to contribute their excellent research skills, critical analysis and communication to meaningful client-facing projects. This role is extremely competitive, and we are looking for superstars who are very committed and willing to go the extra mile, as we will be working with some of the most prominent hospitality brands. Cantonese speakers are desired as one of our projects might require this language capability but we will interview all candidates with relevant skills/experience.
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Other Positions (IT Development & Automation) - we are not actively recruiting, but if you have an IT background and are looking to use it for a good cause, please reach out. We have some interesting, innovative projects you might be a good fit for!
Address your applications to:
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Digital Marketing: Ms Erika Makino/Ms Lucia Loposova
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Finance & Accounting: Ms Luciane Zanella, Manager
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Business Development, Fundraising, Legal + others: Ms Lucia Loposova, Executive Director
WEAVA
Weava is a productivity and research platform that helps professionals, students, and teams capture, organise, and synthesise information directly from the web. We are currently in a deliberate revamp phase -refining our product, positioning, and internal systems - ahead of an accelerated growth push. We are looking for driven, high-calibre students who want hands-on exposure to building and scaling a real technology company, not just observing from the sidelines.
Placement Opportunities:
Product Marketing Intern: This role focuses on shaping how Weava is positioned, communicated, and taken to market. Interns will work on user personas, messaging frameworks, launch content, and growth experiments across channels such as LinkedIn, Reddit, threads, product pages, and onboarding flows. You’ll gain direct exposure to early-stage go-to-market strategy and product-led growth.
Product Research & Product Management Intern: This role sits at the intersection of users, product, and strategy. Interns will conduct user research, analyse usage data, synthesise feedback, and help translate insights into clear product requirements and prioritised roadmaps. You’ll learn how real product decisions are made in a scaling SaaS environment.
Technology / Software Development Intern: This role supports the core development of the Weava platform. Interns will work alongside the founding and technical team on feature development, performance improvements, bug fixes, and experimentation, depending on skill level. This is a hands-on engineering role with real production impact, not a sandbox exercise.
Address your applications to Pushkal Mehrish, Director.
Soap Cycling
Asia's first and largest soap recycling charity. Soap Cycling is a charity that works with the hospitality industry to collect, process, and distribute lightly used soap bars and bottled amenities. These life-saving items are then distributed to disadvantaged communities around the world, particularly in Asia.
Soap Cycling combines its environmental mission to reduce waste and promote recycling with a strong social focus. New programs focus on creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups in Hong Kong, focusing on increasing the local impact.
Soap Cycling offers a great combination of allowing students to take over the regular operations and training their entrepreneurial sense when developing new projects.
Students who are motivated and interested in building something real and long-lasting are highly desired.
At Soap Cycling, we encourage teamwork, and we want student interns to become an essential part of our operations!
Placement Opportunities can be found here.
Address your applications to Ronald Ho, General Manager.
EmpowerU
EmpowerU’s mission is to provide high-quality education to those on the margins, so they can find their voice and use it to create a better future.
By combining technology, community, and award-winning educators, we have created a unique impact-based learning pedagogy that aims to empower ethnic minority students and migrant domestic workers to create a generation of leaders who'll usher in sustainable social impact in their communities.
Learn and engage with some of the over 380,000 domestic workers in Hong Kong. Make your university life more productive by helping these workers understand their culture and share your knowledge with them through direct interaction. Here is your unique chance!
HKU students will embark on a journey to experience leadership through an administrative managerial role in the creation and management of different educational programs and activities for domestic workers and ethnic minorities. Students will help advocate and promote cultural understanding, inclusion, and respect for these populations in Hong Kong.
Placement opportunities can be found here!
Address your applications to Joshua, Operations Coordinator.
hall sustainability & special projects
Shape an impact right here on the HKU campus!
Are you passionate about sustainability and ready to turn ideas into action? Join our student-led sustainability initiative working directly with HKU halls and colleges (SCSH and New College) - to drive real change in waste management, sustainable building practices, stakeholder engagement, and everyday eco & community living.
This isn’t just theory - you’ll gain hands-on experience by helping implement practical projects like our successful Hall Donation Program, which champions circularity by giving pre-loved items a second life. Other projects we are looking to develop are about sustainable sourcing, energy reduction, food waste and impact reporting for the places where we study and live. Whether you’re auditing resource use, co-designing green spaces, or engaging fellow students in sustainable habits, you’ll build professional skills while making your campus more resilient.
We’re looking for proactive, solution-oriented students with strong interpersonal skills, solid time management, and a genuine drive to make a difference. While on-site activities mean hall residents have a logistical edge, you don’t need to live in a college to join - all motivated students are welcome!
As part of the team, you’ll receive mentorship from sustainability professionals and embark on a dynamic learning journey that blends innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact.
Be the change. Build the future. Start now!
Gowld Art Centre
Gowld Art Centre ("GAC") is a social enterprise founded in 2017 that aims to become the mediator of arts in Hong Kong. GAC aims to act as the bridge between creativity and people by providing arts education and art events to students and the general public, supporting local artists, and building broad and diverse art communities. We want to foster personal growth, creative confidence, and community engagement through a wide range of customised artistic experiences.
We are looking for candidates with strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, who are interested in below fields and tasks.
Placement Opportunities:
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Social Media and Marketing: Best for someone with design skills and savvy with using tools such as Canva, Photoshop, Wix, Illustrator, and video editing software. Managing the social media account and sending monthly newsletters to customers to promote our services as well as our artists. Build strategies to broaden the audience groups. Managing our website and expanding the e-commerce channels.
Sales & Outreach: Developing collaboration opportunities with schools, corporations, and NGOs for facilitating events and programs. Researching potential funding partners and grant opportunities aligned with collaborations.
Product/ Program Development: Best for someone with design or artistic skills. Designing and executing new art products or services. Assisting in developing our educational curriculums planning for fundraising events, and building strategies for expanding social impact.
Operations and Studio Management: Enhancing the look of the studio space and developing an effective inventory system
Address your applications to Vivian Seo, General Manager.
Novatrek
(Lidea Workshop Limited)
NOVATREK AR aims to provide environmental education and engagement through innovative augmented reality experiences. We are seeking student interns from social science and sustainability programs to help develop our Interactive AR Trail Platform, which transforms outdoor exploration into an engaging educational adventure that emphasises social impact and community connection.
Placement opportunities:
Over a 10-week period, the student interns will collaborate with the core and technical team to contribute to technical enhancements, content creation, user testing, and community outreach, gaining practical skills in AR technologies, GPS integration, and environmental project management while supporting the platform's expansion. Some of the tasks will be as follows:
● Review project documentation, pilot results from Kowloon Park, and key technologies (AR via mobile apps, GPS tagging, etc.).
Conduct market research:
● Analyze similar AR outdoor apps for features like gamification and user engagement.
● Compile a research report with recommendations for NOVATREK AR enhancements and functionalities.
Assist in trail content development:
● Document existing AR tags (e.g., tree species in Kowloon Park pilot) and brainstorm 10-15 new interactive elements (e.g., educational quests or virtual collectables) aligned with environmental themes.
Create educational content:
● Design and script AR overlays (e.g., storytelling audio/narratives for trails, tied to HK literature or nature conservation); collaborate with advisors like Dr. Chau Man Lut for cultural relevance.
Community outreach:
● Draft promotional materials (e.g., social media posts, flyers) for expanding the platform to new trails.
● Research partnerships with local NGOs.
Address your applications to Colin Luk, Founder.
Foundation for Shared Impact
The Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) is a foundation dedicated to fostering social innovation and entrepreneurship. It is an exciting new venture that will, among others, create unique fundraising events and programs tailored for social enterprises, work on social business incubator aspects, develop unique overseas experiential programs, and more.
You will be responsible for providing practical business solutions for social impact organizations and small businesses run by ethnically diverse entrepreneurs, including outreach, consulting, and developing a database of resources. This opportunity is suitable for individuals who want to utilise their skills in Marketing, Data Management, and other areas to gain hands-on experience in helping small businesses reach their full potential.
If you are willing to work in a dynamic environment, ready to take up challenges, and eager to join an energetic team, then FSI will be your choice. It is especially suitable for highly entrepreneurial and proactive students who excel at taking an idea and bringing it to life.
Placement Opportunities:
If you're open to multiple opportunities within FSI, submit ONE application addressed to the supervisor of your first choice and clearly indicate your priorities in your cover letter. You do NOT need to submit multiple applications for different placement opportunities at FSI.
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Community Engagement & Program Management - Youth Empowerment: In this role, you will build a stronger community of impact leaders by working alongside the Impact Lab Alumni Network Committee, taking a leadership role in coordinating, driving and improving the Mentoring Program and assisting with other alumni/committee activities as a Student Representative. You will be responsible for program management, from updating dashboards, preparing presentations, creating submission forms, and crafting messages or emails, to taking care of events and preparing content for social media. There will be an opportunity to get your hands on creating digital automation, and you may have an opportunity to learn how to manage a website and social media channels (no experience required, but welcome).
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Program Development & Execution - Youth Empowerment: You will be working alongside FSI’s Youth Empowerment Program Manager to develop exciting experiential learning programs for youths aged 15-22 in Hong Kong. You will assist in designing curricula to support youths’ career exploration, personal development, and skills development during their school-to-work transition. There will also be opportunities to participate in the delivery and execution of select program workshops on topics such as social impact, entrepreneurship, and professionalism in the workplace.
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Communications & Marketing: You will be responsible for creating interactive and impactful digital marketing campaigns as you learn to generate engaging social media content and discern the data analytics behind successful social media content marketing. You will also be tasked with media outreach to increase the visibility of FSI and our partners of social impact organisations, as well as the planning and coverage of events and workshops held by FSI for the individuals we serve. Apply for this position if you have good writing, communication, photography, graphic design, video production, and/or web management skills!
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Community Connections: Students will help organize and execute corporate events that connect employees with social impact organizations. Key responsibilities include identifying and engaging non-profits and social enterprises to participate, as well as coordinating resources and logistics to ensure the events run smoothly. The students will also work with community partners and the Communications team to build and promote our Corporate Events listing. This internship offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while gaining hands-on experience in event planning and community engagement. Advanced communication, writing, and organization skills are required.
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Hub for the Future: You will be responsible for assisting with the day-to-day operations of the Hub for the Future program that nurtures young professionals and students, providing community engagement activities for them to act as a force for good. Your work will range from managing and running impactful events and programs for the Hub community to impact reporting and storytelling. You should have excellent written and verbal communication skills; attention to detail, and proficiency in data management and stakeholder management are preferred.
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Shared Data Project: You will be responsible for helping us create a database of all charities in Hong Kong, which will be shared with the public to create a more efficient and transparent industry. This early-stage project entails everything from research, Python/information scraping, website building, marketing matters, volunteer engagements, and more. Students with Python scraping experience will be heavily favoured.
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Community Business Support: You will work on hands-on projects to support grassroots small businesses, social impact organizations, and ethnically diverse entrepreneurs. We are looking for students with strong skills in digital marketing, communications, and content creation (photography, videography, social media design).
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You will work on FSI's GuideFong project to list and create content to promote HK's under-resourced entrepreneurs, and you will have the opportunity to directly engage with entrepreneurs to help them solve real business challenges through consultations. During your internship period, you will also participate in and coordinate a series of workshops for entrepreneurs through our Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, sometimes together with our corporate partners. You should have excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience in digital marketing, social media, photography/videography and/or design is preferred. We hope to attract students who are genuinely interested in supporting small businesses. Read an interview with the previous CBS Impact Lab interns about the experience here.
Address your applications to:
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Community Engagement & Program Management - Youth Empowerment: Lucia Loposova
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Program Development & Execution - Youth Empowerment: Veleda Tam
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Communications & Marketing: Tung Ching Li
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Shared Data Project & Operations: Jon Pedersen
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Community Business Support: Vivian Seo, Adnan Riaz
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Community Connections (Hub for the Future): Leontine Chuang, Mandy Yeung
If you're open to multiple opportunities within FSI, submit ONE application addressed to the supervisor of your first choice and clearly indicate your priorities in your cover letter. You do NOT need to submit multiple applications for different placement opportunities at FSI.
Migrasia Global Solutions
Migrasia is a think-and-do tank that fosters solutions to a broken migration system. Our approach is holistic; we work across data, technology, enforcement, research and education to end forced labour and support fair labour.
Placement Opportunities:
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AI/ML: The technology team is focused on building technology solutions/applications and analysing large data sets. Migrasia is building an AI-powered disaster early warning and evacuation guidance system that combines real-time climate and hydrological data, geospatial mapping, and ML/DL models (e.g., CNN-LSTM) to predict flood risks and deliver hyperlocal alerts to vulnerable migrant communities in the Philippines. If interested, apply now.
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Research: The research team conducts primary research to address information gaps in migration literature and identify anti-trafficking intervention points for action. If you are interested in research based on qualitative and quantitative data, apply now.
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ESG & Supply Chain Due Diligence: The investigations team is focused on manufacturing supply chains, looking into labour supply chain violations. If you are interested in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives and labour recruitment in the manufacturing sector, apply now.
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Migrant Worker Support: The migration specialist team is focused on providing support to current and prospective migrant workers from developing countries in Asia, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. If you have native language skills for one of these countries and want to support migrants, apply now.
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Digital Marketing and Social Media Communications: This role will require the intern to create digital content for Migrasia's programs and publications. The intern will create a wide range of content, including educational materials, impact reports, social media promotional materials, simple animations, and short videos to support the overall mission of Migrasia. This role will require the intern to work on content creation for social media, primarily LinkedIn. The intern will be executing marketing strategies and creating social media posts to further organisational outreach and online presence.
Address your applications to Paras Kalura (Chief Operating Officer) and Isla Wilson (Chief Program Officer).
District Development Unit
The world’s climatic future hinges on how developing regions grow. How we build in these areas will determine how we consume energy and emit carbon for generations. District Development Unit (DDU) is an impact enterprise that delivers climate-resilient housing and community infrastructure in emerging markets grappling with rapid urbanization. DDU integrates research and analysis to deliver evidence-based high-impact projects demonstrating improved health and well-being, access to education, and reduced carbon emissions. We’re currently active in Mongolia, Nepal, Hong Kong and the Philippines, collaborating with NGOs, local government, construction professionals, and academics.
Placement Opportunities:
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Business Development: As an early-stage startup, we’re looking for motivated students to help us develop and diversify our business strategy.
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Communications and Marketing: Students will help build out our social media strategy to reach a broader audience.
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Corporate Outreach: Students will assist in sourcing new possible partners and funders to extend our current network.
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ESG/Impact: Students will help develop impact performance criteria and measurement tools.
Address your applications to Joshua Bolchover, Director.
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vidi labs - Seekr
Vidi Labs is a Hong Kong-based AI startup developing Seekr, an AI wearable technology that helps visually impaired people (VIPs) and the elderly with a way to regain independence. Our technology allows our users to navigate new spaces, read texts, identify objects, and more with a click of a button. Come work with our diverse, dynamic, award-winning team and our amazing community of visually impaired users, and contribute directly to making the world a more inclusive place!
Placement Opportunities:
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Social Media & Marketing: You will create engaging social media content and manage daily posts to enhance brand visibility. Your role includes analyzing metrics to evaluate campaign success and conducting market research on industry trends. Additionally, you will assist in planning and executing promotional events. Strong writing, communication, and creativity skills are essential. Candidates with experience in photography, videography and content creation are preferred. A portfolio showing previous work with be encouraged but not mandatory.
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Business Development: You will support the identification of potential clients and assist with outreach efforts to drive growth. Your tasks will include developing tailored proposals and attending networking events to build relationships. Proficiency in written communication, attention to detail, and a keen understanding of market conditions are preferred.
Address your applications to Lamia Sreyia Rahman, Co-Founder & COO.
start an impactful business
For exceptionally entrepreneurial and independent students, separate projects dealing with brand-new social enterprise ideas may be possible.
If interested, please email us.
HIATUS PARTNER COMPANIES
The following partner companies/projects are currently put on hold (not seeking students). However, should you have a burning desire to revitalize or be a part of these entities then you may express your interest by emailing us and you might get the chance to do so.
852 Designs/HKU Apparel
852 Designs is a student-run social enterprise that offers creative students a chance to design and sell apparel and merchandise for the HKU community (and beyond).
NOTE: This is a pre-incorporation project; only very entrepreneurial students should apply. Students with photography, video editing, Photoshop, Illustrator, or other design/creative skills are preferred. Also, we are looking for students with computer programming and web development skills.
