Yan Chai Hospital Board Signs Memorandum of Understanding with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Providing Placement Opportunities for the First MSc Dietetics Programme Offered by a Local University

Yan Chai Hospital Board (Yan Chai) has signed a memorandum of understanding with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to officially establish a long-term partnership. This collaboration will provide placement opportunities at some of the Yan Chai's social service units for students of PolyU's upcoming first local Master of Science (MSc) in Dietetics programme*. This partnership marks the first instance of dietetic placements being conducted in nursing homes and care and attention homes in Hong Kong, establishing a new benchmark in dietetics education.

Yan Chai is honoured to partner with the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at PolyU to promote the development of local dietetics education. Dr. Cheung Man-ka, Marcella, Chairman of the Yan Chai Hospital Board, stated, "We intend that through placements at Yan Chai's service units, PolyU students will be able to apply the dietetics theories learned in the classroom to real-world settings. Through interactions with service users, students will gain insight into their actual needs. We hope that students will also develop independent thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills during their placements, laying a solid foundation for their future careers as professional dietitians."

PolyU students from the MSc Dietetics programme will have the opportunity to undertake placements at three elderly service units under Yan Chai, including the Yan Chai Hospital Artiste Training Alumni Association Care & Attention Home, Yan Chai Nursing Home, and Yan Chai Hospital - Family Love Connects Project. Placement activities will include providing nutrition counselling to service users, participating in the daily care operations of the facilities, designing diversified nutritional menus and organising health promotion activities.

This collaboration with PolyU will greatly benefit social services and dietetics education, providing higher-quality dietetic services for the elderly while also offering valuable on-site practising opportunities for students aspiring to pursue a career in dietetics. Yan Chai will continue to work closely with PolyU to make greater contributions to the health and well-being of the elderly.

*This programme is subject to approval.