Walking side-by-side: how FLASS connects with tomorrow’s social sciences students

Keeping aspiring students informed of our academic programmes and supporting them to achieve their academic dreams remains a key priority in of FLASS’s outreach efforts. On 3 February, Professor Stephen Chiu Wing-kai, Associate Dean (International Engagement) of FLASS, led three programme leaders from the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) to deliver an admission talk to around 80 students from the Social Sciences Division of HKU SPACE at its Admiralty Learning Centre.

Professor Chiu began the engaging 1.5-hour presentation by briefing the audience on key information about EdUHK, such as its rising international rankings, tuition fees, accommodation arrangements, average income earned by graduates, and admission requirements including English language proficiency. In his overview of the senior-year entry undergraduate programmes offered by SSPS, he highlighted overseas exchange opportunities designed to enrich students’ international experiences, as well as the strong mentoring support available to help students succeed.

EdUHK strongly encourages its students to gain global exposure through semester-long or four-week programmes. “By providing various financial schemes to fund overseas exchanges, the University strives to make exchanges affordable to our students. Funding is generous. Whether students enrol in a full four or five-year programme for first-year entry or a two-year senior-year admission programme, they are entitled to apply,” he added.

At the admission talk, Professor Chiu also emphasised the University’s commitment to walking side-by-side with its students in their academic journeys. “Through reviewing data like marks, attendance and participation, we proactively identify potentially struggling students. Our academic mentors will then approach them to understand their difficulties and provide them with all-round support until improvements are made,” he remarked.

He further noted that all undergraduate students at FLASS are required to complete a two-month 200-hour internship before graduation. “Internships not only sharpen practical skills, but also familiarise students with workplace culture and help them build their own professional networks, all of which are crucial for career advancement. The faculty has a highly professional team to handle internship arrangements, including matching students with appropriate organisations, midway evaluations by academic advisors, and more,” Professor Chiu explained. He also shared insights into the promising career pathways available to graduates from EdUHK programmes.

After Professor Chiu’s introduction, the three programme leaders of the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sociology and Community Studies (BSocSc(SCS)), the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Social Entrepreneurship and Development Studies (BSocSc(SEDS)), and the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Personal Finance (BA(PF)) gave separate talks about their programmes.

Programme Leader Dr Izzy Jian Yi told aspiring students that the BSocSc(SCS) programme is designed to teach them how to use qualitative and quantitative methods to address community issues and phenomena from a sociological perspective. To arm students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, the programme employs a three-pronged approach: sociology-based, community-driven and experiential learning. “A ‘grounded learning’ approach is used to ensure that theoretical concepts are firmly connected to real-world examples. To achieve this, the programme is embedded with much fieldwork and students are expected to design and run a community-based project,” Dr Jian said.

Dr Echo Shang Liang, Programme Leader of BSocSc(SEDS), noted that Hong Kong has over 540 commercially-run social enterprises that provide services to the community and promote environmental initiatives. “Our programme is dedicated to training students to become social entrepreneurs who are knowledgeable in public policy and governance, have good business sense and project management skills, and possess a strong sense of social responsibility. We strive to instil in our students the spirit of “Be a doer. Be yourself” so that they are motivated to take actions and stay true to their values and beliefs as they address social issues such as poverty, unemployment, and unfair trade,” Dr Shang said.

In the last part of the admission talk, Programme Leader Dr Jason Yi Long gave an overview of the BA(PF) programme, the first personal finance programme in Hong Kong. “As the government develops Hong Kong into a wealth management and family office hub, the demand for professionals in asset and wealth management has been steadily increasing. The programme encompasses a wide range of subjects, including FinTech, green and sustainable finance, ESG investments, risk management, financial advisory, professional ethics, and decision-making. The programme structure ensures that graduates will be highly competitive in the job market,” Dr Yi said.

After the admission talk, two interview sessions were organised for HKU SPACE students who had already submitted their applications. The session for applicants to the BSocSc(SCS) programme was hosted by Professor Stephen Chiu and Dr Izzy Jian. The session for applicants to the BSocSc(SEDS) and BA(PF) programmes was chaired by Dr Echo Shang and Dr Jason Yi. A total of 39 students who met the respective admission criteria of these programmes were interviewed in the two sessions.

“The talk is very successful with many students enquiring about the structure and admission requirements of our programmes. Overall, our senior-year curriculum designs—including final-year Honours and Capstone projects, internships, and financial support for overseas exchanges—attracted much attention,” said Professor Chiu. He emphasised EdUHK’s dedication to high-quality teaching and close mentoring, and affirmed that FLASS’ senior-year admission programmes effectively prepare students with the skills and knowledge essential for their chosen careers.

Earlier in January, Professor Chiu was invited by the Division of Economics and Business of the HKU SPACE to deliver an admission talk giving an overview of the BSocSc(SCS), BSocSc(SEDS), and BA(PF) programmes. The event was warmly received, attracting students and faculty members across the business administration, economics, and marketing programmes under the division of the college. Dr Martin Lam Ho-wai from the Department of Education Policy and Leadership at EdUHK, and Associate Programme Leader of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Executive Management, also gave a briefing on the Executive Management programme during the session.

Professor Chiu expressed his gratitude to HKU SPACE for the invitation and for organising the events. “Hong Kong has a vibrant network of community colleges offering sub-degree programmes to many students. Many of these learners seek to ‘top up’ their qualifications to a full bachelor’s degree. By strengthening collaborations with institutions like HKU SPACE, we can continue supporting these students to make informed decisions about their academic futures,” he concluded.

FLASS currently offers six UGC-funded undergraduate programmes available to students holding an associate degree / higher diploma or equivalent qualifications. Alongside the two-year BSocSc(SEDS) and BSocSc(SCS) programmes tailored specifically for senior-year admissions, the BA(PF), Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence and Educational Technology, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Integrated Environmental Management, and Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sports Science and Coaching offer both a standard four-year curriculum and an alternative two-year route for those entering directly into the third year.

Click here to learn more about the senior-year admission undergraduate programmes offered by FLASS.