Dr David Fu-Keung Ip, associate professor at the Department of Applied Social Sciences of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, gave a lecture at UIC on the meanings of social work, social policy and social development as well as their relationships on 24 March.
Dr Ip illustrated that social work is a practice-based profession that can promote the well-being and welfare of society, family and individuals.
He pointed that social policy means a set of principles that are designed to solve the people’s problems, well-being, and needs. When some social problems such as poverty, social exclusion or discrimination and social mobility are solved with the help of social policy, then social development would be attained.
As for social development, it refers to processes of change that lead to the improvements in human well-being, social relations and social institutions in a sustainable and democratic manner.
Dr Ip highlighted that equality was particularly essential to the social aspects of development in terms of rights and entitlements in social policy according to the World Bank. The UN considered social developments as one of the major components in development besides economy and environment.
According to Dr Ip, studying social work could make students become professional practitioners so that they can help individuals and their families overcome problems and crises.
The lecture was co-organised by the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Social Work and Social Administration Programme (SWSA) as well as SWSA Academic Society.
Mr Ng Yiu-Fai (l), Acting Programme Director of SWSA, presents a souvenir to Dr Ip
Reporter: Zeng Kaishan (CELL, Year 2)
Photographer: Wang Keyan (ACCT, Year 3)
Editor: Yvette Zhang (ATS, Year 3), Samuel Burgess (MPRO)
(from MPRO)
