Recent Publications from APSS Teaching Track Faculty

Journal Articles Published in 2023 and 2024 Dr Lucas SCRIPTER, Teaching Fellow of APSS, has recently published an article titled “The achievement gap thesis reconsidered: artificial intelligence, automation, and meaningful work” in AI & Society. The article delves into the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of meaningful work, with a specific focus on workplace achievements. Dr SCRIPTER also discusses the concept of automation, highlighting the autonomy gap and achievement gap within the workplace. Read the article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00146-023-01828-5 For further insights into Dr SCRIPTER's work, please refer to his previous article titled "Meaning in Life and the Vocation of Teaching" published in Studies in Philosophy and Education in 2023. This article illustrates the significance of teachers and education in guiding students towards meaningful lives. Read the article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11217-023-09889-1   A Chapter Published in 2024   Dr Kong YAM, Senior Lecturer of APSS, Dr Rodney CHU, Senior Lecturer of APSS, and Prof. Eric CHUI, Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology and Head of APSS have recently published a book chapter titled "The Making of the "New" Social Work Education in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong" in Social Work Education and the COVID-19 Pandemic: International Insights toward Innovation and Creativity (Routledge, 2024). This chapter discusses how social work educators in the APSS at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) responded to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the importance of departmental support, virtual teaching methods, and the use of technology like Padlet and e-learning. The chapter emphasises the benefits of incorporating practice-based elements and community service in social work education. It also presents a vision for the future, including the use of immersive technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality to enhance social work pedagogy. Read the article: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003414445-15/making-new-social-work-education-wake-covid-19-pandemic-hong-kong-kong-yam-wai-chi-rodney-chu-wing-hong-chui

Prof. Daniel Shek Urges Government to Prioritise Mental Health and Family Resilience

The "Family Happiness Index" survey was organised by HK.WeCare under Wofoo Social Enterprises, with the School of Nursing of Tung Wah College as the research partner. The results showed that the Family Happiness Index had declined, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years. Prof. Daniel SHEK, Chair Professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Associate Vice-President (Undergraduate Programmes) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Adviser for HK.WeCARE, Research Consultant and former Chairman of the Family Council, said that during and after the pandemic, mental health issues are on the rise, and the government needs to reflect on cultivating personal resilience and family resilience.   Online coverage: SCMP - https://polyu.me/3xhkUDY (subscription required) The Standard - https://polyu.me/3U1he2t Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3TMnWZP Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/3VBE4yD   Other references: Shek D. T. L. (2021). COVID-19 and Quality of Life: Twelve Reflections. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 16(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-020-09898-z Shek, D. T. L., Leung, J. T. Y., & Tan, L. (2023). Social Policies and Theories on Quality of Life under COVID-19: In Search of the Missing Links. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 18(3), 1149-1165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-023-10147-2 Shek D. T. L. (2024). Do Student Mental Health Problems Disappear over Night in the Postpandemic Era? Journal of Adolescent Health, S1054-139X(24)00088-0. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.01.037

Presentation Ceremony for Outstanding Student Award and Presidential Student Leadership Award 2023

The Presentation Ceremony was held on 26 March 2024 in the Jockey Club Auditorium at PolyU.  At the departmental level, Ms Cheuk Lam LAU, BA (Hons) in Social Work was selected for the Presidential Student Leadership Award while Ms Wanzi SONG, BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship was selected for the Outstanding Student Award. Congratulations to Cheuk Lam and Wanzi on their remarkable achievement!

International Scholar Talk on Practice Research – Not Just Does It Work? But for Whom? RCT and CDM Meet and Have a Baby Together

An International Scholar Talk on Practice Research was held on 26 March 2024. Prof. Eric CHUI, Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology and Head of APSS, gave a warm welcome to Prof. Irwin EPSTEIN, Professor Emeritus of City University of New York. Prof. EPSTEIN shared his views on the birth of a new clinical research paradigm parented by Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) and Clinical Data-Mining (CDM). He pointed out that the two research approaches can be recursively combined. In a CDM study, Dr Herman LO, Associate Professor of APSS, discussed his study of 600 adults to assess the impact of Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy (GCBT) for service users with mild to moderate emotional symptoms. Prof. Siu Man NG, Professor at The University of Hong Kong, shared his research experience of using RCT and CDM methodologies with the participants. 

APSS and PPAC organised a Workshop on the “Use of Emotions as Change Mechanism”

On 25 March 2024, the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) and Professional Practice and Assessment Centre (PPAC) had the privilege of hosting Dr Ting LIU for a captivating talk on the use of emotions as change mechanism. Dr LIU is a certified EFT trainer, supervisor and therapist. She is licensed in Pennsylvania as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She maintains a Private Practice in Wayne, PA.

The 12th Lam Woo Distinguished Social Work Awards Presentation Ceremony and “Chinese Modernisation and New Development of Social Work in the New Era” Symposium successfully Held

The 12th Lam Woo Distinguished Social Work Awards Presentation Ceremony, co-organised by the Lam Woo China Social Work Training and Development Fund and Peking University – PolyU China Social Work Research Centre was held on 23 March 2024. The awards aim to recognise distinguished social work students, service projects and scholars.    The Lam Woo China Social Work Training and Development Fund was co-founded by the Department of Applied Social Sciences at PolyU and Peking University in 2009 with the support of the Lam Woo Foundation, aiming to nurture social work talent in China.   Online coverage: qq - https://polyu.me/3x3aec2 Sohu - https://polyu.me/3PCncnz

Chinese New Year Basin Feast Brings APSS Community Together

On 9 March 2024, the APSS Graduates Association successfully organised a memorable "Chinese New Year Basin Feast" at PolyU Alumni Atrium. This event attracted an impressive turnout of over a hundred APSS alumni, staff, and students. In addition to sharing delicious basin dish, activities, such as signing performance, lucky draw and alumni sharing, helped fostering a strong sense of connection and camaraderie among all participants. Both the APSS Graduates Association and APSS took this opportunity to express our gratitude to all participants’ enthusiastic support in making this gathering a resounding success and full of joy. To apply for a member of the APSS Graduates Association, please click this link: https://www.fhkpuaa.org.hk/Join-Us To apply for PolyU Alumni eCard, please use this link: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/apss/experience-and-opportunities/alumni/graduates-association/

Long Service Awards 2023

The Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) extends sincere gratitude to the recipients of the Long Service Awards 2023. Thank them all for their hard work, commitment, passion, and unwavering dedication to APSS and PolyU.   A total of eleven colleagues are honoured with the Long Service Award 2023 and their length of services range from 5 to 35 years. They are: (In alphabetical order of the surname) Dr Wenyu CHAI Miss Helen CHOW Ms Winnie HUI Dr Crystal KWAN               Ms Beckie LI Ms Florence LIU Dr Camilla LO Ms Betty MOK Dr Grace SEO Dr Raymond TAM Dr Emma ZHAN Congratulations to all the recipients!

Prof. Sylvia CHEN elected as Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities

The APSS department would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Sylvia CHEN, Associate Dean of FHSS, Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre, and Chair Professor of APSS, on her election as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities (HKAH). The HKAH is a cross-institutional body of scholars in the humanities based in Hong Kong. It strives to foster and advance knowledge of the humanities in Hong Kong, support and promote scholarship and research in the arts and humanities, and assist Hong Kong humanists in scholarly engagement and collaboration in Asia and other international communities. Fellows in the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities are recognised by their peers as senior scholars of the highest academic distinction, or eminent practitioners of the arts, and honoured for their lifetime contribution to the humanities. Please find Prof. CHEN’s profile on HKAH website : Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN 陳曉華 (Fellow) – HKAH (humanities.hk)

PolyU Igniting Social Innovation Competition

We are delighted to announce that our department will be organising the PolyU Igniting Social Innovation Competition (香港理工大學點亮社會創新比賽2024), which is open to all secondary school students (S.4-S.6). This project aims to increase student participants' awareness of pressing social issues experienced by communities in Hong Kong and globally. By leveraging cutting-edge CAVE/HiVE facilities, among other resources available to participants of the competition, we provide an exceptional platform for proposing and advocating for creative and viable solutions to these issues. Winning teams get a chance to win HK$70,000 in prizes! Do not miss out on this incredible opportunity to make a difference! For more information, please visit our webpage at https://polyu.hk/gssPk. Let's ignite social innovation together!