Social work and social policy serve a clear purpose: to ensure that sound ideas and effective systems genuinely improve people’s lives. This is where policy meets people, and it remains the guiding ethos of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration (SWSA).

It is a privilege to lead a Department with such a distinguished history. SWSA was the first social work programme established in Hong Kong, and we continue to build on that legacy as an interdisciplinary, international team committed to impactful knowledge and innovative practice for individuals, families, and communities. I would like to thank Professor Amy Chow for her dedicated leadership and valued contributions in the past years, which have left the Department in a strong position for the years ahead.

At the heart of our mission are our students. We are committed to nurturing capable, compassionate graduates – many of whom will go on to become dedicated professionals and society’s future leaders – equipped to contribute meaningfully to the communities they serve. As we look to our next chapter, our focus is on strengthening what we do best: developing our people, advancing research that matters, and preparing our students for a changing world.

Our ambition reaches beyond Hong Kong. In step with the University’s vision as Asia’s Global University, we aspire to lead in social work and social policy through global presence, regional significance, and engagement with the rest of China – seizing the opportunities of the Greater Bay Area and the nation’s development to connect scholarship and partners across East and West.

This work is achieved together and begins with listening, shared purpose, and trust. I look forward to working closely with our colleagues, students, alumni, and partners, and to drawing on our collective strengths to advance SWSA with a shared commitment to excellence.

Be part of us!

Professor Vivian Lou
Head, Department of Social Work and Social Administration
The University of Hong Kong