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.  

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)