Message from the Department Head

Since the founding of Hong Kong Baptist College in 1956, social work has been a unique educational programme of the College, and later, the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), to train critical and committed social workers with a focus on intellectual and professional vigour, addressing personal suffering and structural inequalities, and to advocate for the well-being of people in society. A strong relationship with the social service field has been the hallmark of the Department of Social Work. For over 60 years, we have been fully engaged in social work education through collaborative efforts with social service organisations in Hong Kong, advancing in many frontiers, including research, professional training and consulting, and supporting social policy changes. In recent decades, we have made significant progress in internationalisation by strengthening cooperation with scholars from renowned universities in different parts of the world, developing academic exchange opportunities and overseas fieldwork placements for colleagues and students.

Social Work at HKBU is informed by the mission of promoting the welfare of people, in particular the underprivileged. The Department offers the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) programme and three taught postgraduate programmes, namely, Master of Social Work, Master of Social Sciences in Counselling and Master of Social Sciences in Social Work. In addition, the Department offers a self-financed 2-year Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Social Policy and a self-financed 2-year Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Psychology. Post-graduates can also follow the research-based Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes with the Department. Our graduates gain knowledge on updated theories, research methodologies and models and methods of intervention required for a career in social work. The students are exposed to the challenges of developing social work and counselling knowledge, research, practice and most important of all, embracing the mission and passion for working with various clients, including young people, older adults, people with mental health issues, and disadvantaged groups based on disability or gender, in the globalising world.

The Faculty is composed of scholars with vigorous research and academic backgrounds and experienced practitioners from the field, who offer updated knowledge about professional practice. The research interests of the faculty members reflect the diversity of and commitment to issues that shape people’s lives, such as in the area of youth, ageing, mental health, gender and sexuality, housing policies, children and family planning, migrants and community development.

The Department is striving to sustain its dynamism through expanding the frontier of international collaboration, quality scholarly work and it will continue to adhere to its pledge to provide a learning environment that is intellectually exciting, professionally enriching and socially rewarding for our students. We shall continue our efforts to advance social work education and knowledge development through delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, facilitating research endeavours and academic and professional exchanges of faculty and students with their counterparts in Hong Kong and overseas.

Professor Hung Suet-lin Shirley
Department Head