Successful Conference Explores Practice Research and Social Capital Development in Social Work

The conference “Practice Research - The Process of Developing Social Capital by Social Workers’ Conference: Consolidation and Looking ahead” (實踐研究 - 社工建立社會資本的過程」: 總結與展望研討會) was successfully held on 3 November 2023. It brought together researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders who were involved in a three-year project, funded by the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF), titled “Evaluation as Learning Tools: Practice Research for the PRH (Public Rental Housing) Projects”.   The event commenced with speeches by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS, and Dr. Ning FAN, committee member of CIIF, who shared heartfelt insights and their vision of fostering strong community connections. Prof. Ben KU, Professor of APSS and Centre Director of China and Global Development Network, and the APSS research team then presented their research findings and underscored the importance of practice research in the field of social work. Also, social workers from Methodist Centre, Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association, St. James’ Settlement, and The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council took to the stage to share their strategies and wisdom in forming social capital in estate communities and their involvement in practice research with APSS.   The conference was well received. Around 200 attendees participated, including professional social work practitioners, educators, students, and experts from various disciplines. The resounding success of the conference reflected the dedication and commitment of all participants in advancing the field of social work and promoting practice research. 

PolyU Information Day 2023

PolyU Information Day was successfully held in-person on 21 October 2023. Three APSS Information Seminars were very well received by prospective students and their parents. Our staff were very grateful with their overwhelming interest in our Undergraduate programme – BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences (JS3250) and Taught Postgraduate Programmes. During the Information Day, prospective students asked our current staff and students questions about studying at APSS.  They were keen on learning how our programmes would equip them with the essential knowledge, values and skills needed for social work and human services professionals. An appreciation lunch with student volunteers and administrative staff who have supported the PolyU Information Day 2023 wholeheartedly was organised on 24 October 2023.

Simultaneous Pursuit: Advancing Technology and Nurturing Student Wellness

PolyU magazine Excel x Impact recently featured an insightful dialogue with Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) Prof. Daniel T.L. SHEK who is also the Chair Professor of APSS. The interview explores the simultaneous pursuit of advancing technology and nurturing student wellness in higher education. By bridging the gap between technology and student wellness, Prof. Shek advocates for a comprehensive educational approach that prepares undergraduate students for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. He highlights the importance of cultivating resilience, critical thinking skills, and ethical values alongside technological literacy.  He further emphasises the need to strike a balance between leveraging technological advancements and fostering students' mental, emotional, and physical well-being. For further details, please visit the links below: English Version: https://polyu.hk/LEzVQ Chinese Version: https://polyu.hk/KSbjY  

PolyU Entry Scholarship Awardees: Embarking on a New Journey in APSS

A selected number of the first-year APSS students who received the PolyU Entry Scholarship 2023/24 (the Scholarship) joined this warm welcoming gathering with Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS, Dr Kong YAM, Programme Leader of BA (Hons) in Social Work and Ms Beckie LI, Assistant Programme Leader of BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship on 16 October 2023.  During the meeting, Dr YAM extended a warm welcome to the students and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence in their both academic and non-academic pursuits. On behalf of APSS, Prof. CHUI and Ms LI took this opportunity to congratulate on their scholarship awards!   The scholarship was offered in recognition of their admission results or outstanding performance in sports or leadership and community services sectors. Let’s hear what some of them said about their new journey at APSS and PolyU (in alphabetical order): Mr Yun Tung CHAN BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences STARS Scholarship   “Studying in PolyU allows me to explore beyond the knowledge in class, expands my vision of analysing different aspects of the world and also helps me understand myself more. Special thanks go to all those who have supported me in this journey. I look forward to learning more in the future.”   Miss Janice KWOK Cheuk In BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences STARS Scholarship   “Thank you PolyU for this award. Sometimes I doubt my belief and determination but this award is indeed a recognition for my hard work. In the future, I will do my best in both studying as well as leadership and community services.”   Miss Wing Yan LIU BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences Entry Scholarship (Academic)   “I am deeply grateful to PolyU and APSS for the Entry Scholarship (Academic). This award has not only recognised my academic achievements, but also inspired me to continue my pursuit of knowledge in social sciences, with the aim of becoming a social worker. The exceptional curriculum and nurturing environment at APSS have been instrumental in my academic journey. I firmly believe that PolyU and APSS can guide and educate me to become a professional social worker, enabling me to give back to the community.”   Mr Ngo Tin NGAN BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences  STARS Scholarship   “I am honoured and excited to receive the award. Thank you PolyU for the support and recognition to student athletes. I also want to thank my family for their endless support. In the coming years, I will try my best to achieve better results in both academic and sports.”   Miss Hiu Ying TAI BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences Entry Scholarship (Academic)   “I am immensely grateful to have been awarded the academic scholarship at APSS. This recognition not only validates my hard work and dedication but also serves as a testament to the exceptional educational opportunities provided by the university. I will strive to make the most out of this scholarship, both academically and personally. Thank you for your faith in my abilities.”   Mr Justin YIP BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences STARS Scholarship   “I am very grateful to PolyU for this award. I would also like to thank my secondary school and APSS for their support. In the future, I will do my best to study and contribute to PolyU Fencing Team. I hope to bring positive influence to the university in the future.”   Miss Nicole YIU Yi Yan BA (Hons) Social Policy & Social Entrepreneurship STARS Scholarship   “I am honoured to receive the STARS Scholarship. The support and opportunities provided by the university's athletic programme have greatly assisted me in my new journey at PolyU. I am sincerely grateful for the recognition and publicity offered by APSS, enabling me to highlight my talents and accomplishments.”  

IFEC and APSS Jointly Release the Results of the “Behavioural Science Study on Investor Behaviour in the Virtual Asset Markets” on 11 October 2023

The Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC) commissioned the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) to study the factors that influence investors’ decision-making in the virtual asset market. Data was collected through a questionnaire from October to November 2022 with 501 respondents aged from 18 to 69 who have traded or held virtual assets in the past twelve months.   Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS and Co-Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT), reported that the investors used habitual mental shortcuts (known as "heuristics" in behavioural economics), including: Availability – tendency to rely on information that is readily available, easy to recall and highly familiar Anchoring – pay too much attention to past information, such as prices of initial coin offering Overconfidence – overestimate personal investment intuition and the ability to achieve high investment returns, etc. These mental shortcuts, in one way or another, are vulnerable to different cognitive biases.   Ms Dora LI, General Manager of the IFEC, opined that the IFEC is dedicated to educating investors. It encourages the public to embrace opportunities presented by financial digital technologies and be prepared for emerging trends. Educational resources on virtual assets can be found through accessing its website and social media platforms.   Online coverage: Now TV - https://polyu.me/46Ki4nv SCMP - https://polyu.me/3Ff2LYw (subscription required) Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3QbvHXv Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/45sUQBa Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/46pdifz Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3QbnZwn Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/45mmKPq Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/3RVIRsN Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3FeT1NM; https://polyu.me/3LYDVzP Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3QcFzjF Economic Digest - https://polyu.me/48LJGdL ETNet - https://polyu.me/3LUusJL Money 18 HK01 Business Times Fortune Insight Quamnet Infocast The Standard am730 Lion Rock Daily Sina HK (Facebook) Business Times (Facebook) Ta Kung Pao (Facebook) 財經茶餐廳 (Facebook) Infocast (Facebook) Online Interview:  Now TV - https://polyu.me/3FcURi3 (part 1); https://polyu.me/3RXOwik (part 2)

APSS Mid-Autumn Festival Gathering for Inbound and Outbound Students

On 26 September 2023, APSS welcomed our inbound and outbound exchange students with a Mid-Autumn Festival gathering. Similar to last year, the gathering featured traditional lanterns, mooncakes, and discussions about the legends of these iconic objects.   Our outbound students led the discussions about the festive season and meaning behind Mid-Autumn Festival. They were also actively involved in listening to the inbound exchange students about their experiences so far of living and studying in Hong Kong, as well as sharing tips and ideas on how to make their stay in Hong Kong more enjoyable.   Overall, it was a wonderful cultural exchange, as our inbound exchange students enjoyed a taste of the festive season and made new friends. APSS hopes that our inbound exchange students would enjoy all that Hong Kong has to offer and make the most out of their journey with PolyU!

A Warm Welcome to our New Cohort of Research Postgraduate Students

The Research Postgraduate Programme Orientation was taken place on 14 September 2023. As Orientation begins, Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS, Dr Christian GREIFFENHAGEN, Associate Professor of APSS, and several colleagues welcome all new research postgraduate students who have just started their journey with us. As always, our colleagues look forward to helping our students achieve and succeed, and wish them all the very best during their time with APSS!

Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2023

  The Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2023 celebrates the remarkable contributions of dedicated faculty members in the areas of teaching, research and scholarly activities, and knowledge transfer. The Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) team has received recognition in all three award categories.   Faculty Awards in Teaching:   Name and Post Title of the Award Winner Category (Individual or Team) Dr Rodney CHU, Senior Teaching Fellow, APSS Outstanding Teacher - Individual “I am immensely honoured to have won this award. My role as the Chair of Departmental Learning and Teaching Committee for the past ten years has given me the responsibility and determination to plan and try out different L&T endeavours. I will continue to walk and work with my colleagues, in hopes of bringing the L&T achievements of the department to new heights.”   Faculty Awards in Research and Scholarly Activities:   Name and Post Title of the Award Winner Category (Individual or Team) Prof. Juan CHEN, Professor, APSS Outstanding Researcher - Individual “The key issues that I address through research are the ways in which structural disadvantages contribute to individual disparities and the means by which such disadvantages could be eliminated through policy and practice interventions. I am grateful for all the support I have received at PolyU, which enabled me to carry out various research programmes and advance my research agenda! ”   Faculty Awards in Knowledge Transfer:   Name and Post Title of the Award Winner Category (Individual or Team) Promoting Family Resilience among Hong Kong Families during the COVID-19 Pandemic Dr Janet LEUNG, Associate Professor, APSS (Team Leader) Prof. Daniel SHEK, Chair Professor, APSS Prof. David SHUM, Chair Professor, RS Prof. Frances WONG, Chair Professor, SN Ms O'Nes LAI, Senior Training Officer, APSS Mr Wally NG, Training Officer, APSS Ms Winnie TSE, Training Officer, APSS Society - Team   Dr Janet LEUNG: “In response to the deep schism among family members in 2019 and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, PolyU, in collaboration with four non-governmental organisations, received sponsorship from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for a three-year Jockey Club "Promoting Family Resilience" Project. The project aimed to enhance family resilience in overcoming external challenges, by utilising a family resilience model tailored to Chinese culture. Primary and secondary prevention strategies were prioritised, along with a focus on university-industry partnerships. Innovative services, such as online workshops, e-learning courses, and community-based family intervention programmes, were developed. The project emphasised knowledge transfer through professional training workshops and public lectures. Additionally, an indigenous measure of family resilience was created and validated for practical and research purposes. The project actively disseminated knowledge and research findings through press conferences and social media channels, ensuring widespread public access. ”     The award recipients have been nominated by the Faculty for further competition for the President Award. The awards serve as a celebration of the exceptional achievements of our department members and their invaluable contributions to teaching, research, and knowledge transfer within the department.   In addition, APSS has also been honoured with the Faculty Prizes in Teaching, led by Prof. Xue BAI, Professor of APSS, for their project titled "Nurturing age-friendly university students with the Infusion Active Ageing Education (IAAE) model." Congratulations to all the awarded teams on their well-deserved recognition!  

Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme 2023 Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony of the Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme 2023 organised by Global Engagement Office (GEO) was successfully held on 18 August 2023. This programme provides secondary school students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of a chosen research topic and to nurture their analytical and research skills between April and August 2023.   Our colleagues have been mentors for six individual projects, more details could be found below: Topic Mentor(s) Evaluation of a Positive Youth Development Program for Chinese Adolescents Prof. Daniel SHEK, Chair Professor of Applied Social Sciences Dr CHAI Wenyu, Research Assistant Professor Dr TAN Lindan, Postdoctoral Fellow Our "Jie Jie" Warrior: Finding Strengths of Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong   Dr Angel LAI, Assistant Professor Miss Cynthia LEUNG, Project Assistant The Difference in Olfactory Discrimination, Olfactory Learning Ability, and Interoceptive Ability among People with Different Wine Expertise   Dr Yin WU, Associate Professor Dr Mimi LI (SHTM), Associate Professor A Safe Home Environment in the Ageing Society Dr Grace SEO, Assistant Professor Dr Raymond TAM, Teaching Fellow Prof. Eric CHUI, Professor and Head of APSS Department    Family Resilience of Hong Kong Low-income Families with Adolescent Children: The Role of Positive Youth Development Attributes   Dr Lu YU, Assistant Professor Dr Xiaoqin ZHU, Assistant Professor Understanding the Association Between Family Factors and Adolescent Development   Dr Xiaoqin ZHU, Assistant Professor Dr Diya DOU, Assistant Professor   Group photo of “Evaluation of a Positive Youth Development Program for Chinese Adolescents” led by Prof. Daniel SHEK, Dr CHAI Wenyu and Dr TAN Lindan   Group photo of “Our "Jie Jie" Warrior: Finding Strengths of Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong” led by Dr Angel LAI (the second one from the right-hand) and Miss Cynthia LEUNG   Mentee photo of “The Difference in Olfactory Discrimination, Olfactory Learning Ability, and Interoceptive Ability among People with Different Wine Expertise”   Group photo of “A Safe Home Environment in the Ageing Society” led by Dr Grace SEO (the second one from the right-hand side), Dr Raymond TAM and Prof. Eric CHUI   Group photo of “Family Resilience of Hong Kong Low-income Families with Adolescent Children: The Role of Positive Youth Development Attributes” led by Dr Lu YU (the second one from the right-hand side) and Dr Xiaoqin ZHU   Group photo of “Understanding the Association Between Family Factors and Adolescent Development” led by Dr Xiaoqin ZHU and Dr Diya DOU   Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3sDBgEL Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3PnFLfB Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/3PpOPQY Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3Ep5ldL HK01 - https://polyu.me/3sCcxkn

Warm Welcome to APSS Freshmen

APSS held the Undergraduate Programme (Ug) Orientation for 150+ freshmen who joined the APSS family in the new academic year on 24 August 2023. Prof. Eric CHUI, Head and Professor of APSS, and his colleagues warmly welcomed all freshmen. He emphasised the trend of interdisciplinary communication and global citizenship, and highlighted the impressive average HKDSE score of the newly launched BA (Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences programme this year.   Programme Leaders and Academic Advisors were delighted to meet with new students in the break-out sessions. Furthermore, colleagues from the Office of Undergraduate Studies and the Global Engagement Office joined the occasion to introduce information necessary for their university life. Representatives of the 30th APSS Student Association also shared their experiences and learning tips with the participants.   The Orientation for students of Taught Postgraduate programmes (TPg) was also held on 29 August 2023. Prof. Eric CHUI, Dr Qiaobing WU, Associate Head, Associate Professor and Postgraduate Programme Leader, and other colleagues welcomed all freshmen as they embark on their postgraduate journeys at APSS. A total of 223 students attended the TPg orientation.