A Successful Collaboration with the Hong Kong PHAB Association to Evaluate the Service Impact of “Project LEGEND”

Commissioned by the Hong Kong Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied (PHAB) Association, a research team from APSS (including Prof. Eric CHUI, Dr Yammy CHAK, Dr Herrick WONG, and Dr Kong YAM) conducted an evaluation study on the service impact of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's "Project LEGEND". This initiative aimed to support the personal and career development of young individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or Specific Learning Disabilities (SpLD). A press conference was held on 26 August 2023 at PolyU to disseminate the findings from the evaluation study. The study results showed that Project LEGEND was well-received by various stakeholders. Both the quantitative and qualitative findings clearly suggested that the Project had significant and constructive impacts on young people with ADHD and/or SpLD. Almost all of the participants in the programme reported experiencing positive changes at both the individual and interpersonal levels. The knowledge and skills gained from the programme will better prepare them for the future, both in the workplace and in real-life settings. Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3QZ2m3g Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3OZL8QW  HKPHAB: https://hkphab.org.hk/archives/10207  

APSS Signed a MoU with Vietnam National University and Held a Successful International Conference on Social Work Without Barriers on 1st and 2nd August 2023

The international conference "Make a Difference – Social Work Without Barriers" successfully took place in Hanoi, Vietnam on 1st and 2nd of August 2023. It was organised by the China and Global Development Network (CGDN) of the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Faculty of Sociology at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University (VNU).   The event attracted over 150 attendees from more than 20 countries, such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand South Korea, and Vietnam. The discussions revolved around advancing social services for social development, with a focus on the ASEAN region. During the conference, the two universities signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research and student activities in social work.   In the presence of witnesses from both universities, Prof. Eric CHUI, Professor and Head of APSS, and Dr Dao TRUONG, Vice-Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Hanoi, signed a MoU. Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Mr Nguyen Van HOI also witnessed the signing ceremony. Prof. Hoang Anh TUAN, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, highly appreciated the partnership with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the field of social work, thereby benefiting individuals and communities in the ASEAN region and beyond.   Amongst other distinguished speakers, Prof. Mona KHOURY from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Prof. Annamaria CAMPANIMI, President of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), and Prof. Ben KU, Professor of APSS and Director of CGDN, gave their presentations on sustainability and social work education. The conference featured four plenary sessions and twelve parallel sessions. Over 50 presentations were made, covering various topics such as sustainable development in social work training, the role of social work in addressing social issues, managing change in high-risk societies, regional cooperation and development, and social development and welfare worldwide. The impact of climate change on vulnerable groups and the role of social work in promoting sustainable development were also discussed.   Online coverage: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University: https://ussh.vnu.edu.vn/en/news/characters-events/cooperation-between-vnu-ussh-and-polyu-a-new-development-in-international-research-in-the-field-of-social-work-20638.html Dan Sinh - https://polyu.me/3YgxrBh Nhan Dan - https://polyu.me/4599ttQ Giao Duc Thoi Dai - https://polyu.me/3DHiUoO Dan Tri - https://polyu.me/3KpyzwD

APSS Graduates Association Annual General Meeting 2023

The APSS Graduates Association Annual General Meeting is an essential event for the alumni. It allows graduates to come together, discuss and learn from each other's professional experiences. On 29 July 2023, Mr Johnny IP, Chairperson of the APSS Graduates Association, welcomed all new members and reported on its events and activities from last year, as well as issues that the Association has been facing. One of the event’s highlights was the sharing by Ms Yvonne CHAK, Director of Hong Kong Christian Service and the APSS Outstanding Alumnus of 2023. Ms CHAK shared her insights on social innovation, which is becoming increasingly important today. The Association looks forward to organising more activities to bond APSS alumni together in the near future.

APSS Delegation Visits Peking University and Tsinghua University

Prof. Eric CHUI, Head and Professor of APSS and Co-Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT), Prof. Ben KU, Professor of APSS and Director of China and Global Development Network, and Mr Peng WU, a PhD student of APSS visited Peking University and Tsinghua University on 4 July 2023 to discuss potential dual degree collaborations and exchange views on institutional development.   APSS delegates were warmly welcomed by colleagues from Peking University, including Prof. Neng LIU, Prof. Fengzhi MA, Dr Shengming YIN, Prof. Yuegen XIONG, Dr Suo DENG, and Dr Lijuan WU, and colleagues from the Peking University - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University China Social Work Research Centre in Beijing. Prof. CHUI and Prof. KU also met with Prof. Hairong YAN, former APSS colleague and currently Professor of Tsinghua Institute for Advanced Study in Humanities and Social Sciences, to discuss closer collaboration between PolyU and Tsinghua University.

Collaborative US-China Forum with University of Chicago and Peking University

In collaboration with the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the Department of Sociology at Peking University, APSS hosted a US-China Forum on Social Problems and Social Welfare Responses in Comparative Perspective from 27 June to 29 June 2023.   The Forum featured two panels of presentations and discussions, one on 27 June 2023 and the other on 28 June 2023, respectively. The first panel, titled "Social Housing, Governance, and Responses to Urban Poverty in Comparative Perspective," was moderated by Prof. Ben KU, Professor of APSS and Director of China and Global Development Network, with speakers including Prof. Robert CHASKIN, Faculty Director of Kiphart Center at the University of Chicago, Prof. Juan CHEN, Professor of APSS, and Dr Grace SEO, Assistant Professor of APSS. The second discussion, titled "Migration, Migrant Incorporation, and Responding to the Needs of Migrants," was moderated by Dr Angel LAI, Assistant Professor of APSS, with speakers including Dr Aimee HILADO, an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago, Dr Qiaobing WU, Associate Head of APSS, and Dr Liqi HOU, Postdoctoral Researcher at Peking University.   In addition to the two panels, students from the three universities also paid field visits to transitional housing, sub-divided flats and Chungking Mansions to understand the housing, refugee and ethnic minority issues in Hong Kong. They shared at the final reflection session that the panels and visits were an extremely fruitful exchange experience for them all.    Thanks to the support of the University of Chicago and Peking University, the Forum was a great success. We are honored to have hosted this event and provided a platform for international academic exchange on social problems and social welfare. We hope that this Forum will inspire and contribute to the society.

Teaching Development Grant 2022-25

The Department is pleased to announce that the following teams of APSS colleagues have succeeded in securing the funding from the “Teaching Development Grant 2022-25” (2nd Round):   Category B: Small-to-medium-scale projects Project Title: Using gamification to engage students for more effective studies in the post-pandemic general education class. Team Leader: XIAO Chung Zoe (APSS) Team Members: CHAI Wenyu (APSS), SHEK Veronica (APSS), CHENG Mable (APSS), HE Rui (SD) Funding from LTC: $99,410.00 Matching fund from Department and/or Faculty: $32,800.00   Category A: Projects on deepening VTL adoption Project Title: Edu-Metaverse: an interactive virtual learning place fostering collaborative and experiential learning in interdisciplinary subjects. Co-Team Leaders: LI Richard (APSS and COMP), NG Peter (COMP), ZHOU Laura (EDC) Team Members: LI Ping (COMP & SD), TANG Jeff (COMP) Funding from LTC: $500,000.00 Matching fund from Department (COMP): $37,500.00   Congratulations to Zoe, Richard, and their teams!   As such, APSS has a good performance in this 22-25 round of TDG funding application, getting 4 out of 6 submissions supported with a successful rate of 66%: Category A [Projects on Deepening VTL Adoption] 50% successful rate (1 out of 2 submissions) Category B [Small to Medium Scale Projects] 100% successful rate (2 out of 2 submissions)   Category C [Sustaining and extending the impact of past projects] 50% successful rate (1 out of 2 submission)      

Saying Goodbye to One of the Longest Serving Academics, Kun Sun Sir

We bid farewell to one of our serving academics, Dr Kun Sun CHAN (Teaching Fellow in Sociology, Anthropology and Philosophy).  He has worked at APSS for 17 years.   Thank you to Kun Sun Sir – you’ll be sorely missed.  Keep in touch and enjoy your retirement!

APSS Shines Bright at the Learning to Learn (L2L) Showcase cum Award Ceremony 2023

In response to PolyU’s departmental L2L strategy, the Educational Development Centre (EDC) launched the ‘Goal Beeyond’ event series this year. The L2L Showcase cum Award Ceremony 2023 was successfully held on 12 June 2023 at the Global Student Hub to conclude the series. APSS is honoured to be the recipient of the L2L Champion Award, an award given to the department with the highest number of students and teachers who participated in events of the ‘Goal Beeyond’ campaign.   Apart from receiving the grand award, APSS also received recognition through awards won by some of its faculty members and student. Prof. Daniel SHEK, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) and Chair Professor; Dr Rodney CHU, Senior Teaching Fellow; and Dr Paul KHIATANI, Research Assistant Professor, received the ‘Enlightening Moments’ Award for their reflections, insights, and wisdom on L2L. Their submissions were included in a booklet printed by EDC titled Enlightening Moments: An Anthology of Reflections, Insights and Wisdom on L2L by Teachers.   Last but not least, Miss Mengning Ivy DUAN, a student of Master of Applied Psychology, participated in the L2L Mini Learning Portfolio Contest. The contest required students to set a goal and work towards achieving it over the course of a semester. Students were also required to reflect on their learning experiences and tell their stories through a mini-portfolio. Mengning’s portfolio, “Find a Good Job”, won The ‘Water’ Award. This Award is given to the mini-portfolio that best makes viewers reflect on their own learning. Congratulations to Mengning for being an inspiration to others! For more details about the L2L Mini Learning Portfolio Contest, please click here.   A round of applause for the award winners! APSS will continue to give its best to support our colleagues and students in their learning to learn journey.

Brown School Professor Visits APSS to Foster Academic Collaborations in Social Work and Social Policy

The Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) was honored to host Prof. Shenyang GUO, the Frank J. Bruno Distinguished Professor of Social Work Research from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, on 8 June 2023.   During his visit, Prof. GUO received a warm welcome by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head and Professor of APSS, Prof. Angelina YUEN-TSANG, Honorary Professor of APSS, and other senior staff members of APSS including Prof. Juan CHEN, Dr Qiaobing WU, Dr Lu YU, Dr Karita KAN, and Mr Ken WAN.   The primary purpose of the visit was to update the collaboration status between the two universities and to discuss the ongoing partnership in offering a dual degree program. This program includes two master's degree programs offered by APSS, namely the MA in Social Policy and Social Development (MASPSD) and the Master of Social Work (MSW), and the Master of Social Policy (MSP) program from the Brown School.   Discussions also encompassed topics such as student exchange programs, faculty exchange initiatives, research collaborations, and other scholarly opportunities of mutual interest.   APSS eagerly anticipates further collaboration with the Brown School to strengthen the partnership between the two universities and foster academic collaborations in the fields of social work and social policy.

Learning Outside Classroom – Overseas Study Trips Broaden Social Work and Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship Students’ Horizon

Taiwan Study Trip (from 27 April to 2 May 2023) A group of five students from the BA (Hons) Social Work and Master of Social Work programme were led by Dr Angel LAI, Assistant Professor of APSS, on a study trip to Taiwan between 27 April and 2 May 2023. The trip aimed to create research impact based on a GRF-funded project – “School Ethnic-Racial Socialization, Ethnic Identity, and Psychological Health in Context: Indigenous Adolescents in Taiwan”, in collaboration with Dr Ciwang TEYRA at the Department of Social Work at National Taiwan University. Dr LAI met with leaders in the indigenous community, shared her research findings, and delivered a lecture on the toll of COVID-19 on the mental health of Hong Kong young people. The group also attended an academic conference on indigenous well-being and participated in cultural exchange workshops. Participating students expressed that they learned about discrimination and oppression and reflected on their cultural identity and relationship with Hong Kong.   Singapore Study Trip (from 22 May to 27 May 2023) Twenty-six students from the BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship (SPSE) programme, led by Dr Raymond TAM, Programme Leader of SPSE, and Dr Herbary CHEUNG, Research Assistant Professor of APSS, undertook a study trip to Singapore from 22 May to 27 May 2023. The tour was designed to improve students' understanding of social development, social entrepreneurship, and multiculturalism in Singapore. Students under the guidance of Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS, visited various organisations, such as the Housing and Development Board, the Singapore International Foundation, and Dignity Kitchen Singapore. The aim was to understand public housing policies, international collaboration, community development, and empowerment of disadvantaged populations in Singapore. Additionally, they attended guest lectures by policy research scholars at the East Asian Institute and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, both at the National University of Singapore. Apart from academic activities, students enjoyed sightseeing at Little India, Kampong Glam, and Chinatown, exploring Singapore's multiracial, multicultural, and multi-religious society. They also visited Marina Barrage and Garden by the Bay to learn about urban planning and development.   These overseas study trips offer students’ valuable international exposure and study opportunities while fostering potential collaborations between APSS and international partners.