News & Events

The “Building a Better Life: First Yunnan-Hong Kong Social Sciences Forum” was successfully held at Yunnan University from 16 to 18 September 2025. Co-hosted by the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Yunnan University’s Center for Studies of Chinese Southwest Borderland’s Ethnic Minorities and School of Ethnology and Sociology, the forum was supported by the China and Global Development Network of APSS, PolyU, and the Peking University – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University China Social Work Research Centre.  

Prof. KU Hok-bun (Director of CGDN), Prof. Ruby CHEN, Prof. CHEN Juan, and Prof. ZHAN Yang from CGDN, APSS, PolyU, shared insights and experiences on a range of social issues at the Yunnan–Hong Kong Social Sciences Forum. 

The forum brought together over 100 experts, scholars, students and practitioners from both regions to engage in in-depth exchanges on the theme of building a better life. 

Prof. Crystal KWAN, Prof. Angel LAI, and Prof. Judy SIU from APSS, PolyU, shared insights on retirement challenges, ethnic minority students’ well-being, and long COVID illness experiences in a Chinese community during the forum. 

Following the opening ceremony, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS at PolyU, and Prof. HE Ming, Dean of the School of Ethnology and Sociology at Yunnan University. The MoU lays the foundation for future collaboration in academic research, seminars, faculty and student exchanges, and related areas.      

A MoU was signed by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS at PolyU, and Prof. HE Ming, Dean of the School of Ethnology and Sociology at Yunnan University. 

On the final day, the forum featured specialised sub-forums. Prof. ZHAN Yang chaired the Teaching Research Forum, where Prof. Ruby CHEN and Yunnan University scholars discussed social work talent development and teaching methodologies. The Social Services Forum, chaired by Prof. CHEN Juan, featured Dr LI Bo, a PolyU postdoctoral researcher, who presented research on constructing a comprehensive intervention framework for children in families with mental disorders in rural Yunnan.

The forum effectively fostered in-depth exchanges and intellectual dialogue in disciplines such as social work, sociology, ethnology and anthropology between Yunnan and Hong Kong, while elevating the collaboration between PolyU and Yunnan University to new heights.