FLASS public policy scholars' research work rated outstanding in RAE 2020

In the 2020 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) conducted by the University Grants Committee, all eight publicly-funded universities submitted their best research impact cases to take part in the disciplinary area of political science (including public administration, public policy, and international relations). Research impact cases submitted by two FLASS public policy scholars—Professor Chou Kee-lee and Dr Alex He Jingwei—were unanimously given the top score of "outstanding" (4 stars) by the international expert panel. This significant accomplishment affirms the strength of our scholars in making a social impact with their cutting-edge policy research.

Professor Chou Kee-lee, Chair Professor of Social Policy of the Department of Asian and Policy Studies and Associate Vice President (Research) of EdUHK, is an internationally renowned scholar in social policy. For many years, he has been constantly ranked among the top 1% all over the world in the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) based on number of citations. Professor Chou’s research has contributed significantly to social welfare reforms in Hong Kong and informed social policy making in the territory.

Supported by many prestigious policy research grants, Professor Chou has conducted a series of important research projects related to income protection, poverty alleviation, and elderly care. Besides generating wide impact on policy formulation, these projects have also increased public awareness and promoted social justice. Many of the policy ideas he passionately advocated have been translated into reality, benefiting numerous disadvantaged individuals. His research well epitomizes the valuable passion and social responsibility of a seasoned policy scholar.

Dr Alex He Jingwei, Associate Professor and Associate Head (Research and Development) of the Department of Asian and Policy Studies, specializes in health policy and social welfare reforms, with a particular focus on Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the rest of East Asia. Dr He not only disseminates his research insights through conventional academic publications, but also actively participates in policy advocacy. His research has gained wide recognition in both Mainland China and Hong Kong.

Six of Dr He's research works were heavily cited in a high-profile report titled "Healthy China: Deepening Health Reform in China, Building High-Quality and Value-Based Service Delivery" jointly published by the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the Chinese Government in 2016. The heavy citations made him one of the very few international scholars recognised in such a high-level study. His research on health care financing reform in Hong Kong also offered useful insights to inform the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) scheme.

For more information on RAE 2020, please refer to this feature story.