Youth I.D.E.A.S. survey: Why a Global Perspective Matters to Young People
Key findings:
Up to 88% of young people surveyed see themselves as global citizens. The global economy, environmental pollution, and war/conflict are the top three global issues that concern young people, while the lack of resources to experience life outside of Hong Kong is the biggest obstacle they face preventing them to explore global connections. To mitigate these hurdles, suggestions include increasing multicultural activities, offering scholarships for further studies in emerging economies such as member countries of the Belt and Road Initiative, and promoting youth-oriented exchange programmes where young people bring innovative and feasible solutions to global issues to relevant international organisations within and outside of Hong Kong.
As an international hub, Hong Kong, with the relaxation of pandemic protocols, is reconnecting with the rest of the world. Young people too, agree with the city’s efforts and are open to engaging more with the global community.
The Youth I.D.E.A.S., established by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Group’s (HKFYG) Youth Research Centre, released a report on the Study on ‘Why a Global Perspective Matters to Young People’ today and 86% of the respondents considered having a global perspective to be important. In the overall opinion of the respondents, the most important value of having a global perspective was to appreciate/respect different cultures (34.1%); and the most important ability was to comprehend the current state of the world (31.4%).
87.7% of the respondents see themselves as global citizens. The top three global issues of concern were the global economy (37.4%), environmental pollution (29.1%) and war/conflict (23.2%). The average level of agreement with the statement ‘The world has no distance from me’ was 6.05 marks (from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest).
In conducting this study, data was collected between March and April 2023 through: an on-site survey of 522 young people (aged 15 to 34); parallel-case interviews with 18 similar individuals; and research-exclusive interviews with 6 academics and experts.
Recommendations:
As an international city with an ambition to further integrates with mainland China and grow into a centre of development in a number of key areas, the Study suggested expanding the talent pool of young people with cross-cultural skills. These skills include sensitivity to different cultural backgrounds, ability to adapt to different living and working cultures, understanding of the international markets and aspirations to serve the community and the country.
Hong Kong is a multi-cultural and diverse city. The Study suggested that the Government and civil organisations should take full advantage of this diversity and promote the culture and traditions of the different nationalities and people by facilitating exchanges, as well as organising regular traditional festivals that are celebrated in these communities. Only then will curiosity be inspired in young people as they learn and enjoy the different traditions that make Hong Kong so rich in its identity.
In recent years, many emerging economies have established closer economic and trade ties with China. It is suggested that the Hong Kong Government should actively consider offering scholarships to young people in Hong Kong who are interested and whose academic performance meet the requirements to study in emerging economies, including countries/regions along the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, to enrich their overseas experiences.
香港是公認的國際城市，隨著社會復常，本港重新連接海內外。香港青年協會青年研究中心成立的「青年創研庫」，今天（28日）公布有關「青年眼中的世界視野」研究報告。結果顯示，在受訪的522名本地青年中，八成八（87.7%）視自己為世界公民【表2】。首三項最關注的全球議題為全球經濟（37.4%）、環境污染（29.1%），以及戰爭／衝突（23.2%）【表3】；對「世界與我零距離」的認同程度平均有6.05分（0至10，10為最高）【表4】。
此外，八成六（86.0%）受訪青年視個人擁有世界視野為重要之事【表5】。另認為世界視野最重要的價值觀是欣賞／尊重不同文化（34.1%）【表6】；而最重要的能力是認識世界現況（31.4%）【表7】。
上述研究於今年3月29日至4月2日期間，以實地問卷調查方式，訪問522名15至34歲青年，了解年輕一代的世界視野；另訪問18名有海內外體驗的青年個案及6位專家和學者。綜合受訪個案的經歷，具備世界視野能增加不同發展的可能性、增強競爭力、提升身分認同，以及對本地社會的優點加以肯定等。
青年重視世界視野，有受訪個案認為，擁有充分的世界視野，能夠展現個人與世界的互動關係，透過觀察各地現況和預測未來的影響，從而建立觀點或行動，長遠改善個人和人類社會的福祉。有受訪專家和學者指出，世界視野強調同理心、尊重不同文化，以及共同解決問題等價值觀，有助建立和維繫更具人文素養的社會。
研究亦從受訪個案的經歷，綜合建立世界視野的重要元素，包括好奇心、有同行者互相分享和鼓勵，以及有深度體驗和反思的學習元素。最多受訪青年認為，日常留意國際新聞是提升世界視野最有效的渠道（42.0%），其次是上網搜集資訊（39.3%）【表8】。
然而，受訪青年自評世界視野的足夠程度，平均只有5.46分，剛略高於調查所設5分的一般水平【表9】。四成三（43.1%）表示最大的障礙是缺乏資源讓他們到其他地方體驗；其次是缺乏接觸不同文化的機會（31.2%）或缺乏應用／實踐機會（25.1%）等【表10】。有受訪專家則指出，世界視野涉及各地文化的接觸，個人在身分認同和國家歷史需有基本認識，從而認清自己的定位，才能進行有效的跨文化交流；惟本港青年在此方面的基礎較弱，窒礙跨文化交流。
青年創研庫青年發展組副召集人鄭煦喬引述研究指，香港作為國際城市，隨著進一步融入國家及發展多個重點領域發展中心，社會對具備跨文化能力、對服務社會和國家有熱忱，以及面向世界的人才的需求增加，世界視野對於本港青年未來的發展攸關重要。
該組成員杜丰杰表示，香港有來自世界各地的人士聚居，建議政府和民間組織善用這項有利條件，擔當橋樑的角色，向社會推廣不同族群的文化、促進交流，並定期舉辦各地聞名的傳統節慶，透過參與和策劃這些活動，啟發本港青年對不同地方文化的好奇心。這對於未能前往其他地方體驗的青年而言更實在；長遠有利促進本港多元文化的發展。
另一成員李昕君表示，研究反映青年關注全球議題，並重視互動及實踐，建議當局設立提案平台，讓青年就全球議題構思創新及可行的改善方案，並有機會獲資助前往海內外相關國際組織進行交流，開拓本港青年視野。
成員林曦認為，近年不少新興經濟體與國家建立更緊密的經貿關係，建議特區政府積極考慮以獎學金，資助有興趣和成績符合條件的香港青年到新興經濟體升學，包括「一帶一路」沿線國家和地區，進一步擴闊眼界。
成員何浩賢則建議推動以青年為本的深度參與交流項目，讓青年在行程設計、活動內容，以及活動後的反思等不同階段，有更多的主導和參與空間，並讓他們以多媒體形式分享特別體驗，與各地青年傳承交流經驗。
有關青年創研庫
青協青年研究中心自2015年起成立「青年創研庫」，是本港一個屬於青年的智庫。新一屆（2023-2025年度）創研庫成員由近80位本地青年專業人士與大專學生組成，平均年齡為27歲。透過以研究實證為基礎的討論、交流，創研庫成員提出政策建議，期望能為社會建言獻策。青年創研庫三項專題研究系列包括：「經濟就業」、「青年發展」，以及「社會民生」。6位專家、學者應邀擔任創研庫的顧問導師，包括張子欣博士、倪以理先生、張炳良教授、陳智遠先生、黃錦星先生，以及范寧醫生。
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