Asia Pacific Social Work Student Conference 2024
Asia Pacific Social Work Student Conference 2024
01
Jul
01/07/2024
The Asia-Pacific Social Work Students’ Conference 2024, themed “Fighting for Wisdom: Wisdom of Social Workers and Creative Intelligence” was organised for students to gain insight into the current landscape of social work services.
The Asia-Pacific Social Work Students’ Conference 2024, themed “Fighting for Wisdom: Wisdom of Social Workers and Creative Intelligence”, co-organised by the Department of Social Work of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), the Macau Social Workers Association, the Hong Kong Social Workers Association Foundation Limited, and the Hong Kong Social Workers Association, was held in the form of an exchange seminar and a visit to local service organisations. The event was organised for students to gain insight into the current landscape of social work services.
Visits were arranged to local service organisations for social work students to gain a deeper understanding of their service development. Meanwhile, the seminar was held at the Macao Vocational and Technical Education Activity Centre from 5th to 8th June. Around 100 social work students from Macao, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan, attended the conference, which facilitated academic exchanges among social work students in the Chinese region, broadened the learning experience of young students, and enhancing the professionalism of Macao’s social work students and trained young leaders.
On the first day of the event, participants visited the cultural attractions in Ka Ho Village – Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Lar de Cuidados de Ká Hó da Federação das Associações dos Operários de Macau and the Hold On To Hope Cafe opened by the Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau (ARTM), followed by a welcome activity and a welcome dinner. This allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding of the local social service landscape, setting the stage for further discussion and exchange
On the second day, the seminar was officiated by the representatives of the organisers, including Prof. Jacky Ho, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences of USJ, Mr Poon Chi-ming, Executive Director of Caritas, Miss Annie Tam, President of the Hong Kong Social Workers Association, and Professor Lam Ching Man, Advisor to the Organising Committee, who gave the opening speeches.
In the afternoon, a series of experiential workshops on the use of smart technology in social work services were held through interactive sessions to enable participants to experience what tools can be scientifically and effectively used in social services in the world of AI technology. Participants were very engaged in the workshop programme. In the evening, a “real dialogue” with scholars and experts was also arranged. Participants were able to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the current status and future development trend of smart technologies in social services, as well as the ethical and value issues that need to be considered when applying them. Participants were able to experience first-hand the application of smart technologies in real-life social services to enhance their understanding and awareness of the relevant technologies. The “Real Talk” with academics and experts provided participants with an opportunity to have direct exchanges and discussions with industry experts, which helped to inspire ideas and broaden their horizons.
In the afternoon, a series of experiential workshops on the use of smart technology in social services were held through interactive sessions. The objective was to enable participants to experience what tools can be scientifically and effectively used in social services in the context of AI technology. Participants were highly engaged in the workshop programme. In the evening, a “real dialogue” with scholars and experts was also arranged. The event enabled participants to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the current status and future development trend of smart technologies in social services, as well as the ethical and value issues that need to be considered when applying them. It also allowed them to experience first-hand the application of smart technologies in real-life social services, thus enhancing their understanding and awareness of the relevant technologies. The “Real Talk” with academics and experts provided participants with an opportunity to engage in direct exchanges and discussions with industry experts, which helped to stimulate ideas and expand their knowledge.
On the third day, participants visited local service providers, including Caritas Wah Fai Rehabilitation Integrated Services Centre, The Salvation Army Jubilee Elderly Integrated Services Centre, Fu Hong Society Pou Kok Training Restaurant and CRC. On the final day, students were divided into groups to report on their exchanges over the previous few days. They all summarised the insights they had gained from the conference, which would help them to continue developing their professional knowledge in the field of social work in the future and to utilise technology effectively as social workers. The event facilitated communication and interaction among the participants, stimulated new ideas and thoughts, and provided a good conclusion to the conference.
The symposium provided students with the opportunity to gain insight into the advantages and challenges of balancing innovation and intelligence in social services. It also equipped them with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their future social service roles. The evemt was a comprehensive and multifaceted programme that enabled participants to gain valuable experience and inspiration through a holistic approach to understanding and reflecting on the application of IT in social services and the ethical and moral issues involved.
