The Social Work Alumni Homecoming Reunion (Lunch) was held on 2 November 2024 at the campus Chinese restaurant. Some 100 alumni, students, and staff attended.
Professor Sylvia Kwok, Associate Dean of Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies and the Discipline Leader (Social Work and Counselling) of the SS Department kicked off the event with a welcome and some introductory remarks. The Head of the Department, Professor Matthew Manning and the Dean of CLASS, Professor Alfred Ho, also graced the proceedings, and they spoke, which was well received.
The Associate Head, Professor Cherry Tam, gave a liberating presentation on the strategic development of the SS Department for Social Work Discipline. The audience was excited to hear that the SS Department will launch two new streams for the master degree programme: Master of Arts in Applied Social Sciences - Family Conflict Resolution and Mediation Stream and Master of Arts in Applied Social Sciences - Clinical Mental Health Practice Stream.
Two distinguished alumni, Mr Wilson Chan, Deputy Executive Director of HKFYGs and Ms Joel Chen, Supervisor (Pre-school Social Work Service), BGCA, provided valuable insights into what areas social work education can do better to meet the challenges of Hong Kong society and the social work profession.
During the open discussion, teachers and alumni were fighting for the mic to get the chance to share their experiences and stories!!
Staff members and student volunteers combined to create a stimulating atmosphere in which participants were able to connect, communicate, and reminisce. Unsurprisingly, it was “long-time-no-see” for many, and mobile ’phones were clicking busily as the participants recorded the moment for posterity.
As one alumnus put it, appositely, it was a lovely day.
The overarching objectives were for alumni to reconnect to the department and meet current students. Mission accomplished!
