Professor Reynold C.K. CHENG, Division Head of Computer Science at CDS, has received the Knowledge Exchange (KE) Excellence Awards 2024 as a member of the project “JC JoyAge: Jockey Club Holistic Support Project for Elderly Mental Wellness” (JC JoyAge).

The KE Excellence Awards is a university-level award to recognise outstanding KE accomplishments that have made significant economic, social, environmental or cultural impacts to benefit society.

JC JoyAge is led by Professor Terry Yat-Sang LUM of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Other team members include Professor Samson Shu-Ki TSE, Professor Paul Wai-Ching WONG, Professor Siu-Man NG, Professor Vivian Weiqun LOU, Dr Stephanie Ming-Yin WONG, Dr Dara Kiu-Yi LEUNG and Ms Angie Kwan-Yu SHUM of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the Faculty of Social Sciences; and Professor Wai-Chi CHAN of the Department of Psychiatry at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.

JC JoyAge, a territory-wide project launched in 2016, focuses on addressing the problem of elderly depression, enhancing the capacity of professional and non-professional manpower, and raising public awareness of elderly mental health. The project has established a community-based supporting network for senior citizens to improve their resilience in dealing with the challenges of ageing. Over 10,000 older adults at risk of or with depressive symptoms have experienced significant improvements in mental health and quality of life through this project.