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On a bright and sunny morning in November, eager students flocked to the auditorium of a local primary school to take part in a series of scholarship interviews. This happy scene was the result of Link’s decision to resume physical interviews this year for the Link University Scholarship, the company’s flagship youth empowerment programme. Students who took part especially valued the opportunity to meet directly with the judges, which resulted in cordial and rewarding exchanges.
On the interview day, more than 70 judges from diverse sectors such as government, public service, business, NGOs, social enterprises and media, formed 19 panels to interview the 340 candidates who had been shortlisted. The students’ reactions and ability to think on their feet were put to the test through ice-breaking games, self-introductions and group discussions. Additionally, their skills in teamwork, logical reasoning and public speaking were carefully assessed.
Patrick Yeung, the CEO of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, took on the role of a judge for the first time. Sharing his experience, he remarked, “I was very impressed overall. The students presented many insightful viewpoints, and their performance surpassed my expectations. Many people believe that Hong Kong students are indifferent to societal concerns. Quite the contrary! I saw their passion today – they’re thoughtful, perceptive and logical.”
Among the individuals being interviewed were previous recipients of the Link University Scholarship. Helen Lee, a translation major at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, was applying for the scholarship for the third time. Her goal was to once again impress the judges with her hard work and accomplishments. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “The last two interviews were conducted online. This time, I had to speak in front of the judges, which made me a little nervous.” Helen evaluated her performance and gave herself a score of 80. “I think I did well collaborating with fellow students, but I didn’t make enough eye contact with the judges. This is something I need to work on moving forward.”
Adrian So, a medical student at the University of Hong Kong, was pleased with his performance. “I believe that every opportunity should be cherished and that opportunity favours the prepared.” He appreciated that the Link University Scholarship emphasises not only character and academic excellence, but also enthusiasm for social welfare and active participation in social service. “In the past, I used a portion of my scholarship to organise an exhibition for an NGO. I hope to keep doing so in the future.”
Teresa Ma, one of the judges and the founder of Peace Generation, an NGO, brought her significant experience in social services to the panel. Through the self-introductions of previous scholarship recipients, she observed that students enjoy a considerable degree of autonomy in utilising their Link University Scholarship. She noted, “Students can use the funds in accordance with their needs or interests. They can pay for their tuition, continue their education or carry out personal projects. In this way, the scholarship both encourages and enables students to go further and pursue their dreams.”
The Link University Scholarship this year welcomed a host of new participants, among them Ivor Au-Yeung, pursuing accounting at the City University of Hong Kong. “I believe in the effectiveness of interview techniques. Every finalist demonstrated their exceptional qualities. I see my strength in consolidating the group’s perspectives and presenting systematic recommendations to the judges.”
Patrick Yeung, leveraging his extensive business background, brought valuable experience to his role as a judge. He explained that he evaluated the feasibility and sustainability of the students’ proposals from the standpoint of business operations and against the backdrop of the broader business community. Patrick offered an example, saying, “When students discussed initiatives like promoting tourism and consumption, I considered how their ideas could contribute to the broader economic growth of Hong Kong.”
Commenting on the overall performances of the students, Teresa praised the students for their clear articulation of their aspirations and the depth of their discussions on social issues. She offered a piece of advice for these bright and young minds: “As much as voicing your opinions, listening broadly is equally crucial. This event has given you a chance to find people who share your interests and passions. You can explore what the world needs and work to address it together.”
This year’s Link University Scholarship attracted more than 1,700 applications and shortlisted 340 finalists for interviews. In the end, 220 students will each be awarded a $20,000 scholarship.
