Joint capacity-building seminar in the field of social work with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

On October 4, 2024, a joint seminar on capacity building in practical social work research was held, organized by the Department of Sociology and Social Work at KazNU in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The seminar brought together researchers and practitioners from Kazakhstan and Hong Kong to exchange knowledge and experiences. The main goal of the event was to deepen the understanding of contemporary challenges and prospects in social work, as well as to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.

The head of the department, Professor Gulmira Serikovna Abdiraiymova, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of the seminar for the development of social work in the region. One of the keynote speakers was Professor Ben Hok Bun Ku from the Department of Applied Social Sciences at PolyU. In his speech, he presented scientific achievements, promising approaches, and original ideas in the field of social research, paying special attention to the development of professional identity among social work students at all levels. Professor Ku also shared his experience in conducting research in rural areas.

The presentation by Professor Cara Zhu also attracted significant attention. She discussed the method of action research as a key approach to addressing the problem of low professional identity among social work students. Professor Zhu emphasized that action research focuses on change and problem-solving through the participation of all stakeholders and the co-creation of knowledge. This method is especially important in social work, where learning from experience, reflection, and interaction are critical for achieving educational goals. Professor Zhu described the stages of action research in detail: problem diagnosis, action plan development, implementation, evaluation of results, and lessons learned. Special emphasis was placed on creating a community of practice, which fosters the development of students' cognitive, emotional, and behavioral identity through collective learning and participation in practice.

The seminar also served as a platform for discussing long-term strategies, such as strengthening the integration of science and practice and enhancing cooperation among Central Asian countries in research aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Organizers: Akmadi M.A., Aryn D.