Outstanding APSS Alumni Award 2024

The Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is delighted to announce the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award. This award serves as a testament to the exceptional leadership, commitment, and dedication of APSS alumni who have made significant impact in their professional fields and communities. This year, we congratulate Dr Chi Kong SIU as our 2024 Outstanding Alumnus.   Dr Chi Kong SIU obtained his Bachelor of Social Work in 1997 from APSS, prior to which he was named one of Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Hong Kong in 1992 by the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong, an international youth leadership organisation. In 2014, Dr SIU was awarded an honorary doctorate in pastoral studies from the Hong Kong Institute of Christian Counselors.   Dr SIU serves as the Director and Founder of Gideon Ministries Ltd, a Hong Kong-based charity organisation that offers training, coursework, and counseling services for youth and families. Dr SIU is a pioneer in adventure-based counselling in Hong Kong, an innovative approach that combines outdoor hiking, training, and counseling.   Drawing on his social work background, behavior therapy, reality therapy, reward-and-discipline system, and solution-focused therapy, Dr SIU’s adventure counseling approach integrates the five stages of social group work elements into adventure training. The adventure counseling approach has been shared widely with professionals and has proven highly effective in assisting marginalised youth.   In addition, Dr SIU has designed and implemented courses tailored for special needs students, specifically focusing on youth life orientation and addiction treatment. Recognising the growing concern of internet addiction and addictive behaviors among teenagers, he developed a comprehensive model for addiction treatment. This model offers life-oriented courses to assist students with marginal behavior, internet addiction, special educational needs, and school dropouts. Dr SIU has also conducted online and offline lectures, parent seminars, and training sessions for youth organisations, as well as participating in youth conferences and delivering training to social work students at Asia University.

APSSGA Elects New Chairperson and Held Inspirational Alumni Sharing Session

On 20 July 2024, APSS’s Graduates Association (APSSGA) convened its Annual General Meeting, and a new cabinet was elected. It is with great pleasure that Ms. Catherine YEUNG, alumni of BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Administration, has been nominated and appointed as the Chairperson of APSSGA for the term spanning from 2024 to 2026. Her leadership will guide alumni affairs throughout this tenure. Please find the new committee member list here.  In a highlight of the event, the APSSGA invited Dr Chi Kong SIU, selected as the Outstanding APSS Alumni of 2024, to share insights on entrepreneurship services and innovative practices within small and medium-sized social welfare organisations with the attendees.

Mindfulness Course Boosts Carers’ Mental Health

Dr Herman LO, Associate Professor of APSS, has developed a mindfulness course in collaboration with the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society for carers of elderly persons and parents who are under pressure. Participants have demonstrated significant improvements in both physical and mental health after practice. Online coverage: Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3zNN8b0 HK01: https://bit.ly/46iOW7L MyTV super: https://bit.ly/46odpbZ

APSSGA's Cuttlefish Fishing Night Unites Alumni and Graduating Students, Inspires Future Involvement

The APSS Graduate Association (APSSGA) organised a cuttlefish fishing night on 6 July 2024. This activity was held in Sai Kung, providing participants with a refreshing sea breeze and relaxing night during the hot summer days.  A total of 35 alumni, family members, and graduating students came together to participate in this activity. They enjoyed a fruitful evening of cuttlefish fishing, savouring delicious cuisine, and engaging in mutual sharing. The APSSGA successfully engaged 12 graduating students during this outing activity. The aim of this activity was to encourage more young alumni to become members of the APSSGA, with the goal of enhancing and expanding the network of APSS alumni in the near future.

APSS’s Healing Together Project Concludes Successfully

The “Healing Together – Building Positive School Mental Health in Post-COVID Hong Kong” project (the project) launched by the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) with the support from the funding of the Government’s Mental Health Project Funding Scheme - Phase 2 concluded on 6 July 2024. The project focused on creating a supportive and uplifting environment for students and teachers in Hong Kong's secondary schools in the wake of the pandemic.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/3VRoCgp CRHK - https://polyu.me/3xRkJ31; https://polyu.me/3xKXrfe Dim Sum Daily - https://polyu.me/3RZjaHf Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/4cUjmj7 Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/4eQoshX Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/3XTjdrS (subscription required) Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3RXKwxw (subscription required) Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/4cM72Bc Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/4cAAiLB Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3zxSUx9 Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3VVLZoV HK01 - https://polyu.me/4bx5VEE Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4cL5iZD Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3zsnecq Orange News - https://polyu.me/3RXhRZs Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3xMPJRG Hong Kong Economic Journal Monthly - https://polyu.me/4eSjDES Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3S2SHs9; https://polyu.me/45ZsiBp Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/45ZsSz5 Dr Angel LAI, Assistant Professor of APSS, was interviewed by CRHK’s programme “Beautiful Sunday” on the project which focusing on creating a supportive and uplifting environment for students and teachers in Hong Kong's secondary schools in the wake of the pandemic.  Online coverage: CRHK - https://polyu.me/3WdM5cY (the third and fourth parts) Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3VTIWh9

APSS Receives 11 Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme, General Research Fund and Early Career Schemes from the Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2024/25 Exercise

Congratulations to the following awardees in securing research funding from RGC in 2024/25 Exercise: Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS) Principal Investigator Scheme Project Title Fund Awarded ($) Dr Huijing LU HSSPFS Impact of Environmental Harshness and Unpredictability on Individual Development: A Comprehensive Analysis 305,000   Early Career Schemes (ECS) Principal Investigator Scheme Project Title Fund Awarded ($) Dr Vincent CHENG ECS Impact of Later Life Events on Criminal Trajectories Among Older Offenders in Hong Kong: A qualitative mixed-methods approach  685,000   General Research Fund (GRF) Principal Investigator Scheme Project Title Fund Awarded ($) Dr Julie ZHU GRF Parent–Adolescent Discrepancy in Perceived Parenting: Developmental Changes and Longitudinal Associations with Developmental Outcomes among Chinese Early Adolescents  1,171,390  Dr Camilla LO GRF Efficacy of a mentalization-informed motivational interviewing group intervention for concerned significant others of adolescents at risk of gaming disorder: A randomized controlled trial  1,106,500  Dr Xiang LI GRF Well-being of early career academics in Hong Kong: A longitudinal mixed methods study 1,015,028 Prof. Xue BAI GRF Integrating Motivational Interviewing and Photovoice to Enhance Future Care Preparation for Older Singletons and Doubletons: A Three-Arm Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial  1,107,212  Dr Bryant HUI GRF Prosociality as a Natural Sleeping Pill? Examining the Reciprocal Relationship between Acting Kindly and Sleeping Well 976,776 Prof. Sylvia CHEN GRF Leveraging Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence to Foster Cooperative Behavior: A Game Theoretical Approach  914,347  Dr Karita KAN GRF Frontiers of Rural-Urban Development: Land Politics and Agrarian Change in China  748,000  Dr Catrina LIU GRF The Impact of Home Literacy Environment on Chinese Children’s English Reading Literacy in Economically Disadvantaged Areas: The Roles of Family Risk and Protective Profiles  615,748  Dr Iris LO  GRF Does sexuality matter at work? A narrative enquiry into the negotiations between vocational identity and sexual identity among young LGB adults  424,164    The total funding awarded in RGC GRF/ECS 2024/25 Exercise is $9,069,165   APSS houses a large group of interdisciplinary professorial and teaching staff in the social sciences in Hong Kong. Our colleagues include world-renowned scholars and veterans in their fields, as well as young, promising scholars with tremendous talent and passion. We are dedicated to advancing knowledge for effective and humanistic social policies and services through education and research excellence.

APSS Study Tours 2024

APSS organised four study tours aimed at broadening students' global horizons, facilitating cultural exchange, and fostering knowledge sharing with university students, non-governmental organisations, and local communities. These tours offered students a comprehensive learning experience, merging academic knowledge with cultural exploration, thereby deepening their understanding of social work, social policy, counselling, mental issue issues and vibrant heritage.   Taiwan Study Tour (19-26 May 2024) A group of 30 students from the Master of Arts in Guidance and Counselling, Master of Social Work and Master of Arts in Mental Health (MAMH) programmes joined the department's exchange tour to Taiwan from 19 to 26 May 2024. The tour was led by Dr Herman LO, Associate Professor and Programme Leader of MAMH and Dr Yao FU, Research Assistant Professor of APSS. The students provided excellent feedback about the tour, which included visits to four sites in Taiwan: Taiwan Lourdes Association Choulu Farm - Therapeutic Community, Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, Concentric Circles Community Recovery and Wellness Centre, and Shi Yu Halfway House, and participation in four lectures on expressive arts, sexuality and relationships, and multidisciplinary collaborations organised by National Changhua University of Education.   Singapore Study Tour (27-31 May 2024)  Dr Herrick WONG (Lecturer of APSS and Programme Leader of Master of Applied Psychology), Dr Kevin CHAN (Lecturer of APSS), Dr Hannah TAI (Instructor of APSS) and Dr Algae AU (Research Assistant Professor of APSS) led a study tour to Singapore. A total of 37 postgraduate psychology students from APSS participated in this enriching experience. The study tour, centred around the theme of "Exploring Diversity in Human Service and Psychological Practice," and aimed to broaden students' perspectives, cultivate cultural sensitivity, and foster global mindsets. A key highlight was the visit to Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where students engaged in insightful presentations and discussions with postgraduate students from both universities. The tour also included a visit to the Project Dignity which is a social enterprise in Singapore that trains and employs a range of people with disabilities, intellectual and social challenges. Additionally, a Psychodrama workshop, co-organised with a psychotherapist from Promises Healthcare Singapore, provided students with first-hand experience and understanding of the practice of psychodrama, offering immersive exposure to diverse approaches in the field of human services and psychology.   South Korea Study Tour (27 May – 1 June 2024) Led by Dr Grace SEO and Dr Lin NIE, both Assistant Professors of APSS, 18 undergraduate students from BA (Hons) in Social Work and BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship (SPSE) joined the study tour to Seoul, South Korea. Students participated in engaging activities such as meetings with renowned institutions like Sogang University's Department of Sociology and Korea's social enterprise, Sosohan Sotong. The group also had the opportunity to tour the National Assembly, explore Seoul's social economy centre, visit historic sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace, and witness the innovative NANTA SHOW.   Thailand Study Tour (17-23 June 2024) 13 students from the BA (Hons) in Social Work and BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship (SPSE) programmes embarked on a fruitful study tour accompanied by Dr Raymond TAM, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader of SPSE and Mr Vincent YEUNG, Lecturer of APSS.  The tour encompassed various engaging activities, including a Chao Phraya River Cruise, visits to esteemed institutions such as Chulalongkorn University, and the Parliament House of Thailand. The students also had the opportunity to explore cultural landmarks like Wat Pho (The Reclining Buddha) and Museum Siam, as well as the Ayutthaya Historical Park (UNESCO). The tour concluded with visits to Chiang Mai University, participation in the Alpha Café & Future Entrepreneur Project, and a visit to Wat Chedi Luang, providing a well-rounded and enriching experience for the students. 

MoU Signing with Chiang Mai University

On 21 June 2024, the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) and Chiang Mai University (CMU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Thailand, solidifying our commitment to knowledge exchange, collaboration in service-learning programmes, student exchange initiatives, and joint research projects. The MoU marks a significant milestone for both institutions in establishing a close academic and research partnership.   On the same day, Prof. Eric CHUI, Chair Professor and Head of APSS, also delivered a talk at CMU on the topic of "Moving Education Forward: Building Sustainable Societies Through Innovation and Technology". The talk emphasised the importance of academic development and innovation in promoting sustainable communities.   Prof. CHUI expresses his sincere gratitude to the K. C. Wong Education Foundation for their invaluable support in making these collaborations possible.

“Bric-a-Brac” Premiere to Raise Awareness of Elder Abuse

With the generous support from Lee Hysan Foundation and C.F. & Nancy Tao Foundation (the Foundations), Project “Happy Edward: Preventing Elder abuse and Supporting Abuse Victims” led by Prof. Elsie YAN of APSS produced a 35-minute short film “Bric-a-Brac” to raise public awareness of elder abuse.   The film premiered at the Hong Kong Art Centre on the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2024. It was well received by more than 300 audience including LegCo members, Hon So-wai LAM and Dr Hon Chi-yuen TIK, SBS JP, former Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr Chi-kwong LAW, GBS, JP, and representatives from the Foundations. Prof. David SHUM, Dean of PolyU’s FHSS also attended the premiere screening.     Directed by Ms Yan Yan MAK, “Bric-a-Brac” has won a total of 10 awards including Best Senior Film, Best Actress (Ms Alice FUNG So Bor) and Best Supporting Actor (Mr Eric KOT Man Fai) at the Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles and the World Film Festival in Cannes.   APSS welcomes NGOs, schools and concerned parties to submit screening requests at https://www.bricabrac.asia/ to arrange for private screening.   Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOKZNPmbGKk

Eleven Outstanding APSS Students Honoured with Coveted HSBC Scholarships 2023/24

APSS is pleased to announce that eleven APSS students were selected as recipients of coveted HSBC Scholarships. A big congratulations from APSS to the winners for their achievements!   Awardee of HSBC Greater Bay Area (Hong Kong) Scholarship 2023/24 Selection criteria: This award prioritises individuals who have a clear career plan, relevant expertise, and a commitment to contributing to the growth and development of the GBA region. Award price: HK$80,000   Hei Man CHIU Year 1, BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences “It is a great honour for me to be awarded the HSBC scholarship. I am excited about the opportunity to expand my horizons and make a positive impact on society.”     Awardee of HSBC Hong Kong Scholarship 2023/24 Selection criteria: The selection is based on academic merit, involvement in extra-curricular activities and community service, as well as financial needs. Other key factors determining the success of nominees include English proficiency, leadership qualities, commitment to service as well as other personal qualities, including the overall potential of the nominees. Award price: HK$50,000   Cheuk Lam LAU Year 2, BA (Hons) in Social Work “Being the recipient of the HSBC Hong Kong Scholarship is an immense honour for me. During my studies in APSS, I have had many opportunities to acquire various skills and knowledge in social work, and I have received tremendous support from my teachers and classmates in APSS. I am very grateful to be part of APSS.”     Awardee of HSBC Social Work Scholarship 2023/24 Selection criteria: The selection is based on outstanding academic performance and strong commitment to the betterment of society. Award price: HK$25,000   Man Yuk CHAN Year 2, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “It is my honor to be awarded the HSBC Social Work Scholarship. I would like to thank APSS for providing me with valuable learning experiences that will allow me to become a reflective and skillful helping professional in the future.”   Cho Man FONG Year 3, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “This inspiring and humanistic programme has encouraged me to reflect deeply on my personality and the meaning of life, significantly enhancing my self-understanding and confidence. The unwavering support from the faculty has been invaluable, further solidifying my determination and enthusiasm to serve and uplift the community in the future.”   Sze Wan HON Year 4, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “It is a great honor for me to receive this award again, nominated by APSS. Studying social work has been my lifelong passion and dream since 2014. Receiving this prestigious recognition affirms my perseverance on this path. As I am about to graduate, I am committed to doing my best to give back to society and become a good and humane social worker.”   Maan Fu LAM Year 4, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “The past two years have been a rewarding learning experience for me. Not only have I benefited from the practical knowledge gained in the classroom, but I have also greatly appreciated the comprehensive support provided throughout my studies, such as the learning opportunities and the financial support. As a result, I have gained more confidence in exploring the diverse range of social and community services available.”   Ka Hoi LAM Year 3, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “I am deeply honoured to be the recipient of the HSBC Social Work Scholarship. I am passionate about working with maltreated children, and I am grateful that APSS has equipped me with various theories, techniques, and skills in a supportive learning environment. I will seize every opportunity to learn, both inside and outside the classroom, in the local community as well as through outbound exchanges.”   Cheuk Lam LAU Year 2, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “Being the recipient of the HSBC Social Work Scholarship is an immense honour for me. During my studies in APSS, I have had many opportunities to acquire various skills and knowledge in social work, and I have received tremendous support from my teachers and classmates in APSS. I am very grateful to be part of APSS.”   Pui Lam POON Year 3, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “It is such an honour to be awarded the HSBC Social Work Scholarship. APSS has provided me with many opportunities to explore and unleash my potential. With this scholarship, I can focus wholeheartedly on studying, developing the knowledge and skills needed to better serve vulnerable communities.”   Yuk Chun TSOI Year 2, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “I am honoured to be one of the awardees. As a social work student, I am grateful to be part of APSS, as the department provides us with opportunities to engage in active self-reflection and gain fruitful learning experiences.”   Tsz Yan WUN Year 3, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “My first year at PolyU has been incredibly enriching. The teaching teams have imparted abundant theoretical knowledge and have also provided practical opportunities for reflection. The insights and experiences gained through APSS have further solidified my interest in academic exploration and studies.”   Unzala Year 3, BA (Hons) in Social Work   “I am deeply honoured to have been awarded the HSBC Social Work scholarship after being nominated by APSS. Through their guidance and nurturing, APSS continues to support students, enabling us to reach our full potential, both for ourselves and society.”