The various Colleges, in conjunction with the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), offer a wide range of non-formal education initiatives to complement the formal curriculum, targeting at the whole person development of the students. An extensive package of student activities, such as orientation camps and social service projects, adds rich colour to campus life. In striving to instil in students the spirit to serve the community, the University launched the I‧CARE programme in 2011 to engage students in social services. Steeped in a tradition of social service and supported by colleges, service-learning has become an integral part of general education. A variety of student exchange programmes and experiential learning opportunities are offered by the University. As far back as 1965, the trend of student exchange was set through signing its first student exchange agreement with the University of California. Student exchanges with universities on the mainland, which began in the 1980s with formal agreements being signed beginning from 2003, have been actively promoted. In line with national and global developments, the University has also launched specially designed exchange programmes, collaborating with university partners in areas of complementary strengths, and developed multilateral educational platforms. In August 2020, the University made an unprecedented move to launch a virtual student exchange programme alongside members of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities.
