- 7 November 2024
On 7 November, Graduate School (GS) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), in collaboration with the Consortium of Social Change, Well-being, and Social Policy Studies, co-organized a postgraduate seminar titled Reforming China's Social Welfare System: Addressing Disparities and Embracing Change. The seminar was delivered by Dr. QIAN Jiwei, a Senior Research Fellow at the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore, and Secretary of the East Asian Social Policy Research Network (EASP). The event attracted 33 participants, including postgraduate students from the collaborative programme between HSUHK and Lingnan University, as well as faculty members from HSUHK.
At the beginning of the seminar, Prof. MOK Ka-ho, Provost and Vice President (Academic & Research) cum Dean of Graduate School of HSUHK, warmly welcomed Dr. Qian.
In Dr. Qian's presentation, he examined the development of China's social welfare system, focusing on the urban and rural reforms initiated since the 1990s. His presentation explored key policy shifts that have expanded social programmes and significantly increased government spending, supported by a more robust regulatory framework. Major themes included the decentralization of social welfare management, primarily handled by local governments, and the resulting system fragmentation, which presents challenges in interagency coordination. Dr. Qian also addressed critical issues such as financial sustainability and the limited capacity for effective policy implementation. Additionally, he highlighted the inadequate protections for informal sector workers and the restricted scope of unemployment insurance coverage.
The seminar concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where attendees raised questions on various topics, from policy implementation challenges to comparative welfare studies. The engaged audience appreciated Dr. Qian's expertise and his comprehensive approach to tackling complex social issues.
This seminar fostered academic dialogue and provided a platform for postgraduate students and researchers to explore pressing social issues. Through such seminars, the university continues to encourage scholarly engagement and meaningful discussions on the transformative role of social policy in contemporary society.