The Power of Cross-Sector Collaboration in Promoting Education Equity
What is lacking in low-income students’ educational experience? Arguably, their biggest disadvantage lies in the non-academic learning. And This is where cross-sector collaboration offers highly fertile possibilities.
What is lacking in low-income students’ educational experience?
Arguably, their biggest disadvantage lies in the non-academic learning - in their lack of access to exposure, the significant gap in their experience horizon.
90% of grassroots students face difficulties in affording supplementary learning resources. Often, their families cannot afford extracurricular activities and tutoring. Their overburdened teachers lack cross-sector connections.
This is where cross-sector collaboration offers highly fertile possibilities. Still an under-exploited area, we can utilize it better to solve access inequity. An essential part of our mission is to make these collaborations bear fruit.
During the Fellowship, our Fellows get to work closely with corporates to create projects that give their students transformative professional experiences, Extra-Curricular Activities as well as Life and Career Education. Our industry network spans all sectors. Based on their project vision, talents and desires, Fellows can collaborate with global investment banks (Credit Suisse, UBS, Goldman Sachs), tech giants (Sony, Microsoft, Facebook), private equity firms (Baring Private Equity), consulting firms (Rockhampton Management), retail & hospitality leaders (Dorsett Hospitality International, Bossini), and more.
Concrete Impact on Students - In Their Own Words
How does cross-sector collaboration yield change in students’ lives?
Although the duration of the Extra-Curricular Activities that involve externals may not be long, the impact is huge, opening a gateway to a bigger world. When students go on company visits, they interact with multinational staff members who share their career advice, industry knowledge and life stories. Mentorship Programs and Skills Workshops help them learn about sales, marketing, business and social networking strategy, but beyond these solid skills, what’s more valuable is how they show students the connection between real-world problems and academic knowledge. For the first time, students experience the relevance of learning English and other subjects at school - the possibilities that it brings. They see many more potential careers, interests and roles for themselves.
These really bolster students’ learning motivation, and significantly inspire their career and life planning.
Coming from a modest background, Tomy (Fellow 2019-20) with the circumstances of his students. He initiated “Future Leaders” program in collaboration with UBS to facilitate the life and career planning of the students. 8 UBS staff to share their working experiences with 20 students online, in a personal and intimate interaction.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students even asked to extend the activity time and for Tomy to arrange more similar activities in the future.
Sidharth, a Form 3 student from Pakistan, connected with Mark, a Chinese employee from UBS, over their common academic interest of Chemistry and Economics right off the bat. Sidharth said,
“Mr. Mark [an employee from UBS] listened to my experience and told me how I can explore my career with what I was interested in. While other speakers I met at school talked about their career, Mr. Mark talked about interesting things like how he studied Economics when he was a student. I feel that and that is interesting. I couldn’t really ask him a lot of questions on the Zoom call, but I wished to talk longer with Mr. Mark in person.”
What’s really important about these activities is creating a “What-If” for the students.
Recalling his own journey, Tomy said, “I didn’t know what options I had until I went to university...But by then it was too late to chase for the opportunities. Others were way ahead of me on what they wanted to do and prepared as early as before they went into university.”
His goal was to open their eyes and horizons sooner, see what they can pursue, so they didn’t have to repeat his experience. “If I didn’t have an early start, I hope I could use my exposure to create a jumpstart for my students. What I think my students need is a clear destination to run towards.”
At Teach For Hong Kong, we believe that creating systemic change in education requires innovative cross-sector partnerships and strategies that engage the strengths and assets of the private and social sectors. We strive to build a stronger network across all sectors that direct more diverse resources and experiences to unprivileged students in Hong Kong and promote education equity in a long run.