APSS and Harbin Institute of Technology Strengthen Strategic Partnership in Social Sciences, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence

On 20 July 2026, APSS hosted a delegation from the School of Social Sciences at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) to advance institutional collaboration after the signing of Memorandum of Understanding. The delegation was led by Prof. Bo WANG, Dean of the School of Social Sciences at HIT, and included Prof. Shuying BAI and Prof. Li SHAO, both Professors in the Department of Sociology. The delegation was received by Prof. Lu YU (Associate Head & Associate Professor), Prof. Tin-yuet TING (Associate Professor), and Prof. Lin NIE (Assistant Professor) from APSS. The visit provided a platform to align their strategic priorities and progress joint initiatives in education, research, and talent exchange. The discussion focused on refining the existing academic agreement, particularly to clarify student articulation pathways, as well as enhancing student and staff mobility and co-organising an annual research forum. The exchange marks a significant step in strengthening collaboration and promoting innovation in social science and technology education and research through the application of AI between two institutions.

APSS Deepens Collaboration with the University of the Philippines Baguio through Service-Learning Programme

APSS conducted a nine-day service-learning programme in Baguio City, Philippines, from 23 to 31 May 2026, focusing on building resilience among children, youth, and older adults. The programme was led by Prof. Crystal KWAN, Associate Professor, and Dr Jet Uy BUENCONSEJO, Research Assistant Professor, together with colleagues from PolyU’s Service-Learning and Leadership Office. The programme commenced with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PolyU and the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio, represented by Prof. Joel M. ADDAWE, Chancellor, and Prof. Leah E. ABAYAO, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. APSS partnered with the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Community Service Office at UP Baguio, headed by Mr Joao Paulo D. REGINALDO, Instructor in History, to implement the initiative. A total of 41 undergraduate students from various programmes, supported by over 20 UP student volunteers, delivered resilience-building activities developed over 13 weeks of preparation. Situated in a disaster-prone context, the programme provided students with valuable opportunities to develop their own resilience, leadership, and civic responsibility through APSS’s credit-bearing Service-Learning curriculum.

APSS Secures Major Large Grants and Donations to Advance Social Sciences Research and Community Impact (April to June 2026)

We are pleased to report that APSS has achieved strong performance in the Research Grants Council (RGC) exercise, securing funding under both the General Research Fund and Early Career Scheme. In addition, the Department has successfully attracted substantial donations and external research funding between April and June 2026. Among the five funded projects, APSS secured one RGC Strategic Topics Grant (HK$18,478,000); one grant from Keswick Foundation Limited (HK$10,708,900); and three grants from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (HK$46,410,000). Award/ Funding Scheme Principal Investigator/ Awardee Project Title Awarded Amount (HK$) RGC Strategic Topics Grant Prof. Xue BAI, Professor and Director of the Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies Empowering an Inclusive, Age-Friendly Silver Economy in Hong Kong: From Longitudinal Evidence to Intergenerational Multi-stakeholder Action 18,478,000 Keswick Foundation Limited Prof. Hok Bun KU, Professor and Director of China and Global Development Network Educational Action Research for Building Capacity of Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Students from Chinese Mainland: A Collaborative Approach   10,708,900 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Prof. Eric CHUI, Head, Co-Director of PReCIT, ADoRCESGA and Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology   Uplifting Life Trajectories of Young Parents and Their Children - Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan 21,100,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Prof. Eric CHUI, Head, Co-Director of PReCIT, ADoRCESGA and Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology Early Detection and Intervention for Children and Youth in At-Risk Families 21,330,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust   Prof. Angel LAI, Assistant Professor Jockey Club Badges: Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Phase Two 3,980,000 Warmest congratulations to Xue, Ben, Eric, Angel and their teams on this outstanding achievement!

APSS Facilitates Exchange with Beijing and Keswick Foundation Delegations on Social Service Innovation and Interdisciplinary Practice

On 15 July 2026, APSS hosted a strategic meeting with delegations from Beijing and the Keswick Foundation to advance integrated community services and indigenous developments in social work, education, health, and rehabilitation practices across the Chinese Mainland. The delegation included representatives from the Society Work Department of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, and the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, alongside partners from the Keswick Foundation. During the meeting, Prof. Juan CHEN, Associate Dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies (CUS) and Professor of APSS, presented APSS’s recent academic achievements and extensive national and global research collaborations. Prof. Ben KU, Director of the China and Global Development Network (CGDN), Programme Leader of Doctor of Social Work, and Professor of APSS shared progress in practice-oriented research contributing to the development of indigenous social work theories and community-responsive models in the Chinese Mainland. An interdisciplinary exchange featured Mr Kin-Chung TANG and Mr Tony WONG from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS), who presented innovative occupational therapy initiatives. Prof. Angelina YUEN-TSANG, Honorary Professor of APSS and Executive Committee Member at The Keswick Foundation and Dr Max WONG, Executive Director at the Keswick Foundation, shared insights into Hong Kong’s social service landscape and discussed future collaboration with Mainland partners. The Beijing delegation engaged in in-depth discussions on integrating social work within education, healthcare, and community systems. The meeting established a strong foundation for future collaboration. APSS, in partnership with RS and Beijing authorities, will advance interdisciplinary practice research in Beijing communities, aiming to enhance professional standards, strengthen community well-being, and drive sustainable community development. Online coverage: CGDN: https://polyucgdn.com/article/507  

Prof. Eric Chui and Team Present Impact Assessment of Targeted Poverty Alleviation Initiatives at LegCo Panel on Welfare Services

On 13 July 2026, Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS, Co-Director of PReCIT, ADoRCESGA and Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology, Dr Raymond TAM, Associate Head and Senior Lecturer of APSS, and Prof. Jacky NG, Assistant Professor of APSS, presented impact assessment reports on three major government initiatives under the Targeted Poverty Alleviation Scheme (TPAS) at the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Welfare Services meeting. The presentation highlighted APSS’s contribution to evidence-based policy evaluation. The first evaluation examined the Strive and Rise Programme. Findings confirmed its positive impact on broadening the horizons of underprivileged youth, fostering a more positive life outlook, and enhancing financial literacy, while also underscoring APSS’s role in supporting ongoing scheme refinement. The second report focused on the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room, which aims to support households living in subdivided units. The APSS assessment revealed a high level of effectiveness, with over 90% positive outcomes across four key areas: improving living conditions, expanding living space, strengthened sense of community belonging, and enhanced interpersonal networks. The programme was particularly effective in reducing social isolation and fostering mutual-help networks and meaningful social connections. During the session, Prof. CHUI provided strategic recommendations, emphasising the need for deeper integration of social resources and further optimisation of resource allocation. The final report evaluated the School-based After-School Care Service Scheme, presenting clear and quantifiable key performance indicators. The programme achieved an overall effectiveness rate of 85% in supporting families, and largely met its intended targets. It provided students with essential academic and social support while enabling parents to spend more quality time with their families. Notably, the initiative also yielded measurable economic benefits, including increased household income and the successful re-entry of 21% previously unemployed parents into the workforce, facilitated by the availability of reliable childcare. In his concluding remarks, Prof. CHUI emphasised that the three programmes provide clear evidence of the Government’s effectiveness in targeted poverty alleviation and community support. While measurable progress has been achieved immediate outcomes, cross-sector coordination, and service refinement, the APSS team noted that sustained impact will require a robust, forward-looking strategy that prioritises continuous innovation to address the evolving needs of underprivileged groups in Hong Kong.  Online coverage: LegCo of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China: https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2026/english/panels/ws/agenda/ws20260713.htm LegCo Webcasting System: https://webcast.legco.gov.hk/public/zh-hk?meetingid=M26070030 Minutes of the Meeting on Monday, 13 July 2026 (立法會CB(1)903/2026號文件): https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2026/chinese/panels/ws/minutes/ws20260713.pdf

PolyU–KazNU Joint Centre Launches Global Youth Leadership and SDG Study Tour in Kenya

From 18 to 25 June 2026, the Global Youth Leadership and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Nairobi Study Tour took place in Kenya, led by Prof Ben KU, Professor of APSS and Director of the China and Global Development Network (CGDN) and the PolyU–KazNU Joint Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia, together with Dr Kan YIP, Assistant Director of CGDN (Partnership and Development), and comprising postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and Kazakhstan; this international initiative was co-organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development (KISWCD) as the local partner, and aimed to enhance participants' knowledge of sustainable development practices, expose them to real-world applications of the SDGs, and foster cross-cultural understanding. To explore social work education, national SDG implementation strategies, youth empowerment, child and elderly care, and community-based initiatives, the group visited several key local organisations and sites, including: The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Kenya, Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development (KISWCD), Soweto Youth Initiative and Christian Best Camps of Kenya (CBCK), Alzheimer’s Dementia Organisation Kenya (ADOK), and Nairobi National Museum, Nairobi National Park, and the Wildlife Conservation Facility (Animal Orphanage). Through these visits, participants gained firsthand insights into dementia support, faith-based social services, social protection, and informal settlement development. The study tour deepened academic dialogue and fostered profound cross-cultural learning among researchers from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Kazakhstan, and Kenya, underscoring CGDN’s dedication to international exchange and paving the way for future collaboration across Belt and Road countries. Online coverage: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University: https://farabi.university/news/106217?lang=en CGDN: https://polyucgdn.com/article/504

APSS Secures 17 Awards under the Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund and Early Career Scheme in the 2026/27 Exercise

Congratulations to the following awardees in securing research funding under the RGC General Research Fund (GRF) and Early Career Scheme (ECS) in the 2026/27 Exercise. Early Career Schemes Principal Investigator Scheme Project Title Fund Awarded (HK$) Prof. Daisy HUANG ECS "Hurddle together to stay warm": Social identification and positive adaptation among parents of disabled children in China's economically disadvantaged areas 753,831   General Research Fund Principal Investigator Scheme Project Title Fund Awarded (HK$) Dr Jet Uy BUENCONSEJO GRF Promoting AI Literacy through Positive Youth Development: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Investigation among Social Science Undergraduates in Hong Kong 636,700 Prof. Xue BAI GRF PREP-ME: PREParing Pre-retirees for Retirement and Later Life with Motivational Interviewing-Enhanced Education—A Three-Arm Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial 1,460,668 Prof. Edward CHAN GRF Trajectories of Family Victimization and Polyvictimization in Hong Kong: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study 1,154,800 Prof. Hoi Wing CHAN GRF Climate change threatens my culture: Investigating the influences of perceived symbolic threats of climate change via the threat response x construal level perspectives 710,060 Prof. Juan CHEN GRF Youth Mental Health Service Delivery in China: Navigating Organizational Complexity in Social Work Practice 876,000 Prof. Qiqi CHEN GRF AI-Enhanced, Game-Based Cyberbullying Bystander Intervention for Preadolescents, with Parent and Teacher Modules: App-Based versus Face-to-Face Delivery in a Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial 660,000 Prof. Shing CHENG GRF Structural Barriers, Life Events, and the Everyday Life: An Ethnographic Study on Older Offenders’ Crime Trajectories in Hong Kong 692,800 Prof. Christian GREIFFENHAGEN GRF Robots in Public Places: The Emergence of a New Interaction Order 884,400 Prof. Karita KAN GRF Life-making on the land: Gender and generational dynamics in China’s agrarian transformation 780,000 Prof. Ben KU GRF Capital Pursuer or Peasant Protector? A Study on Local Agricultural State-owned Enterprises in Western China 804,870 Prof. Herman LO GRF A randomized controlled trial on the effects of a mindfulness-based professional training programme on improving occupational health and professional competence 1,040,880 Prof. Camilla LO GRF Unpacking parent-child dynamics in gaming disorder: A dyadic ecological momentary assessment study 654,400 Prof. Jacky NG GRF Moderated Mediation vs. Mediated Moderation: Resolving the Confusion with the Two-Level Regression Approach 497,242 Prof. Judy SIU GRF Understanding and overcoming colorectal cancer screening disparity in Hong Kong: A qualitative investigation of the voices of the socially disadvantaged for an equitable healthcare. 915,000 Prof. Qiaobing WU GRF Identity Reshaping, Psychological Wellbeing and Future Life Planning of Children with Cross-border Migration Experiences in Hong Kong: A Multisystemic Resilience Framework 983,400 Prof. Yin WU GRF Investigating the effects of human chemosensory signals on prosocial learning 342,512 The total funding awarded to APSS under RGC GRF/ECS 2026/27 Exercise amounts to $13,847,563. APSS brings together a strong and diverse community of interdisciplinary professorial and teaching staff in the social sciences in Hong Kong. Our colleagues include internationally renowned scholars and experienced leaders in their fields, as well as promising early-career academics with tremendous talent and dedication. We are committed to advancing knowledge and promoting effective, humanistic social policies and services through excellence in research and education.

APSS Signed MoU with Department of Psychology at Sun Yat-sen University

On 25 June 2026, APSS signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Psychology at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). This agreement marks a significant step forward in strengthening collaboration in psychology education between the two institutions. The MoU focuses on several key areas of cooperation, including student and staff exchanges, joint training programmes, collaborative research initiatives, and co-organised academic activities and events. The signing ceremony was held at SYSU. Prof. Eric CHUI (Head of APSS, Co-Director of PReCIT, ADoRCESGA, and Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology at PolyU) and Prof. Bin ZUO (Head of Department of Psychology at SYSU) signed the MoU. Witnesses to the ceremony included Prof. Sylvia CHEN (Associate Dean of FHSS, Chair Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology, and Director of the Yan Oi Tong Au Suet Ming Child Development Centre) and Party Secretary Yingqun CHEN from the Department of Psychology at SYSU. Following the ceremony, representatives from both institutions engaged in discussions on potential areas of collaboration, including scientific research, academic programmes, and staff exchanges. Participants included Prof. Yin WU (Associate Professor of APSS), Prof. Bryant HUI (Assistant Professor of APSS) and Dr Melinna MEI (Research Assistant Professor of APSS), and Prof. Jing PAN, Prof. Xiaowei DING, Prof. Guomei ZHOU, Associate Prof. Zijing HE, and Associate Prof. Yanping LIU from the Department of Psychology at SYSU. The visit concluded with a tour of the psychology laboratories at SYSU. Online coverage: APSS: https://polyu.hk/ccTNc SYSU: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sQIPb-eDKGMVYhZY2Np5_Q Weixin: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sQIPb-eDKGMVYhZY2Np5_Q https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kHiYQCab0nZYmD935SOTxw  

APSS–IFEC Joint Study on Virtual Asset Investor Behaviour: Insights for Global Regulators

The Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS), in collaboration with the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), has completed the 2025 Behavioural Science Study on Investor Behaviour in the Virtual Asset Markets. As part of APSS's ongoing commitment to integrating academic research with professional service, the study’s key findings were recently presented to international counterparts at the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Virtual Workshop on Investor Resilience. This engagement highlights how APSS faculty translate empirical evidence into actionable, behaviourally informed strategies that promote social well-being and real-world impact. Tailoring Education Through Behavioural Insights Building on baseline research conducted in 2022, the study surveyed 1,000 retail virtual asset investors between November and December 2025. Using 13 distinct heuristic measures, the research examined how retail participants navigate volatile virtual asset markets through mental shortcuts and latent behavioural patterns. Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS, Co-Director of PReCIT, ADoRCESGA and Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology, noted, “Virtual assets, as a relatively new investment product, are often influenced by market sentiment and information from social media and other emerging channels, which can significantly affect investors’ emotions. The study indicates that behavioural biases remain among retail investors, underscoring the importance of building investor resilience and self‑awareness. As investor behaviour does not follow a single fixed pattern, integrating behavioural insights into tailored investor education can help individuals reflect on their attitudes towards investing, stay grounded amid market volatility, and make informed decisions. PolyU is honoured to present these findings to the global regulatory community, in collaboration with IFEC, and to share our experience with international counterparts.” Ms Dora LI, General Manager of IFEC and member of the IOSCO Committee 8, said: “The study reveals positive changes in the behaviour of Hong Kong virtual asset investors, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance a more regulated market environment, strengthen stakeholder collaboration, and advance investor education. IFEC is pleased to collaborate with PolyU on this innovative research and to share the findings with IOSCO counterparts. The study provides valuable evidence to support global regulators in strengthening investor resilience, contributing to more effective investor education and enhanced protection for retail investors worldwide.” The study has received wide coverage from local and international media, highlighting both key findings and practical guidance to support more informed investment decision-making. The full report, 2025 Behavioural Science Study on Investor Behaviour in the Virtual Asset Markets, is available via the IFEC official publication page.   Online coverage: Now TV - https://polyu.me/4eSjSRl Metro Radio - https://polyu.me/4xFMVQG Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/4oABsO6 Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/4uG19xW Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/4a5B3x9 Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/4xvSbpT Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/4uRXWvC Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/4oySE6k HK01 - https://polyu.me/4vYvQQf etnet - https://polyu.me/4eeIO6i aastocks - https://polyu.me/3S5Zogb Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/4oySGuY Stockfisher - https://polyu.me/4eMnGV8 Sing Tao Canada - https://polyu.me/4fS1pGA Business Times - https://polyu.me/4gyzKuo

PolyU’s Social Sciences and Public Health Ranked 19th in the 2026-2027 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities Rankings

According to the 2026-2027 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) was the 52nd in the Best Global Universities. In the subject rankings, PolyU placed 19th globally in the Best Global Universities for Social Sciences and Public Health category, ranking second in Hong Kong. Find out more: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/hong-kong-polytechnic-university-500421