News & Events

Overview

In recent decades, Chinese societies have witnessed a surge in practitioners conducting research across education, social service, community development, healthcare and management. From “Action Research” in classrooms to “Clinical Reflection” in social services, practitioners are increasingly taking the lead in generating knowledge that is grounded in their unique cultural and professional realities.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for practitioners to share insights, practical knowing, practice wisdom and innovative methodologies developed in their practice. It also seeks to highlight how social work practitioners in Chinese contexts navigate the complexities of culture, policy and practice to promote more context-sensitive services, and strengthen reflective capacity and professional identity. The papers will reflect the distinctive landscape of research conducted by practitioners across Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and Chinese diaspora communities worldwide.

Why Submit?

• Visibility: Reach a global audience interested in the intersection of Chinese cultural contexts and professional practice. 
• Impact: Contribute to the growing discourse on how local knowledge from Chinese societies informs and enriches global theories. 
• Dialogue: Join a community of researchers dedicated to narrowing the gap between “ivory tower” theory and “frontline” reality. 

Key Themes

We welcome original research articles, case studies, and methodological reflections on topics including, but not limited to: 

• Cultural Nuances: How Chinese culture or local values shape practitioner inquiry. 
• Educational Innovation: Teacher-led research in higher education settings, fieldwork supervision, and continuing professional development.  
• Children, Youth and Family Practice: Practitioner inquiry into child welfare, youth development, family support and intergenerational care. 
• Ageing and Elder Care: Practitioner-led research on gerontological practice and family caregiving. in Chinese societies.  
• Social & Healthcare Practice: Practitioner-led interventions, service improvements and social-health integration in Chinese communities.    
• Diversity & Social Inclusion: Practitioner inquiry into diversity, social exclusion, marginalised populations and inclusive practice across Chinese societies. 
• Methodological Challenges: Navigating power dynamics and ethics in “insider” research within Chinese organisations. 
• Policy & Professionalism: The role of practitioner conducting research in professional development and policy reform.

Submission Guidelines 

• Abstract Submission (Deadline: 15 August 2026) 
  • Interested authors should submit an abstract of 200–250 words via email to the Editorial Office at [email protected]. Please ensure the email subject line is formatted as: Special Issue Abstract Submission: [Social Work Practitioners Conducting Research in Chinese Societies]. 
• Full Paper Submission (Deadline: 15 November 2026) 
  • Manuscripts should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words in length and must be submitted electronically via the journal’s official submission portal at https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rcsw20.
• Formatting and Style 
  • Detailed formatting instructions are available under the Instructions for Authors section on the journal’s website - https://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?show=instructions&journalCode=rcsw20.
• Publication schedule: November 2027; Volume 20, Issue 3

Guest Editors  

Prof. Hok Bun KU 

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University 

Email: [email protected]   

Dr Mandy LAU 

Changi General Hospital 

Email: [email protected]  

Contact Us 

For general enquiries, please call +852 2766 7725, or send an email to [email protected].