SWSA at a Glance

Currently, the Department has a total of 25 professorial teachers, 10 Lecturers and 12 Assistant Lecturers. The history of social work education at HKU reflects both the growing importance of the social work profession and public recognition of the contribution social work makes towards building a more prosperous and harmonious Hong Kong society. For more than 70 years, our commitment to improving the quality of life of the Hong Kong people has kept our social work education at the forefront of the changing social welfare landscape. We teach students professional knowledge and skills, so that they can make social change possible.

For the Department, the next decade will be an exciting period to crystalize our aspirations and make further progress in terms of our achievements. The completion of the new Centennial Campus and the switch to a four-year undergraduate curriculum in 2012 marks a new opportunity for the Department to move ahead and reach new heights. The new campus provides us with the required space and improves our teaching and learning facilities and environment.

SWSA History

The Department is the first social work training institute in Hong Kong’s history of professional social work education. The following chronology shows the evolution of the Department from 1950 onwards up to the recent years.

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Chronology of evolution of the SWSA Department
1950s
  • Training of social workers in HKU began in 1950 at the postgraduate Diploma and post-secondary Certificate level
1960s
  • Establishment of the Department of Social Work in 1967
  • Bachelor of Social Science (Social Work) programme launched to replace the certificate programme in 1967 to meet urgent community need for qualified professionals
1970s
  • Diploma program was converted to Master of Social Work in 1972
  • Graduation of the first PhD student
  • Continuous consolidation of social work curriculum and fieldwork training
1980s
  • Expansion of various programmes to meet the increasing demand for social workers and to provide advanced training for social work practitioners
  • Master of Social Work (MSW) programme extended to part-time mode
  • Commencement of China placement projects in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou
  • Master of Social Sciences (MSS) part-time programme launched in 1981
  • Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) full-time programme launched in 1986
1990s
  • Continuous curriculum improvement and innovation
  • Provision of top quality social work training in HK and Shanghai
  • Active involvement in social work and welfare development in China
  • Master of Social Work (MSW) programme launched in Shanghai Fudan University in 2001
  • Part-time Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programme launched in 2004
2010s
  • Celebration of 60th Anniversary of social work education in HKU
  • Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) 4-year curriculum implemented in 2012
  • Relocation of Department office to the Centennial Campus in 2012
  • Master of Expressive Arts Therapy (MExpArtsTh) programme launched in 2013
  • Advanced concentration curriculum introduced in the Master of Social Work (MSW) programme since 2014-15
  • Master of Non Profit Management (MNPM) programme launched in 2015
2020s
  • Celebration of 70th Anniversary of social work education in HKU

Vision and Mission

Vision

As a leading academic department in social work, behavioural sciences, social policy and social development in Asia, we strive to build impactful knowledge and practice to create a better world through promoting social justice and interdisciplinary collaboration, empowering vulnerable populations and improving the quality of life for all.

Mission

  • To cultivate leadership and commitment to promote justice, equity, social development, sustainability and multicultural inclusion with high levels of integrity and professionalism
  • To produce graduates with competence to serve individuals, families and communities through evidence-informed practice, strategic research, policy advocacy, social innovation and entrepreneurship
  • To foster a pluralistic, inspiring and creative research environment for nurturing state-of-the-art research, blending east-west practices and integrating art and science of clinical and policy studies
  • To empower the community and social service organizations through collaboration and knowledge exchange

Leadership

Welcome to the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, the first social work training institute in Hong Kong’s professional social work education history!

Social work is a profession and an academic discipline to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Our Department, which consists of a committed and competent interdisciplinary and international team, is dedicated to building impactful knowledge and innovative practices for improving the quality of life for all.

Our qualifying programmes of Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work cultivate proficient social work leaders and practitioners through our quality and state-of-the-art education. These degrees are recognized locally and internationally. Our Department offers sought after major and minor programmes in the Bachelor of Social Sciences degrees introducing social work and social administration, counselling, and social policy and social development to those planning to join the profession in a later stage. In addition, our eight Taught Master of Social Sciences and Master of Expressive Art Therapy Programmes offer specialized post-qualifying learning experiences for those who want to excel with a new horizon in knowledge and practice. 

Research provides us with information and knowledge for decision-making, problem-solving, planning and implementation. Our Department has five research clusters carrying out cutting-edge research in Evidence-based Clinical Social Work Practice, Mental Health, Population Studies, Ageing, and Arts Therapy. Moreover, our team nurtures a big group of research postgraduate students. Many of them are now professors in leading universities around the world. 

The value of research is to make a positive impact on society. Therefore, our team is actively engaged in knowledge exchanges with NGOs and research partners. 

I hope you will join us in our teaching, research and knowledge exchange and concertedly contribute to the benefit of all. 

Be part of us!

Amy Yin-man Chow
Head of Department

Alumni

The Hong Kong University Social Work Alumni Association (香港大學社會工作畢業同學會)  is established in accordance with the Societies Ordinance, Chapter 151, Laws of Hong Kong and shall be governed by the present Constitution. The HKUSWAA pursues no profit-making aims and is registered under the Societies Ordinance.