The Fifth book in the GUNi World Report Series on “Knowledge, Engagement and Higher Education: Contributing to Social Change”, was launched in Hong Kong on the 2nd of December’2014. The event was organized by the Office of President, Library and Office of Service Learning of Lingnan University and the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi). The main speakers at the event were Dr Rajesh Tandon, Co-Chair, UNESCO Chair in Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education; Dr Francesc Xavier Grau, Non-Executive Director, GUNi and Dr Carol Ma, Associate Director, Office of Service Learning, Lingnan University. The world report contains contributions from 76 authors from around the world. The report aims to provide a vision for a new, more socially responsible relationship between universities and the communities they serve by suggesting ways in which higher education can help build a more equitable society. It also charts the progress of the movement for greater civic engagement by universities over the past 10 to 15 years. For Cristina Escrigas, executive director of GUNI, one of the most significant things about the report is the fact that it calls for a profound rethink of the way universities sees their mission.
The book launch event also served as an opportunity for University representatives from Hong Kong/China, Lingnan faculty members and students, to have an engaged interaction on University Social Responsibility and the Service Learning Model.’
