Programme Objectives

The HDSW Programme is designed to educate and train students who will pursue a professional career to serve in social welfare organisations and the social service sector with professional competence and Christian love. It aims to prepare students for professional practice in social work and to uphold the basic values, beliefs, principles and practices advocated by the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB). It equips students to work as registered social workers in various service settings, both in government-funded and non-government-funded settings.

The programme objectives of the HDSW Programme are as follows:

1. Students are inspired to develop academically and spiritually, discover complementation between knowledge and faith, think critically with clarity, act professionally with integrity, and work in teams effectively with humility.
2. Students are nurtured to be servant leaders to exemplify the “CHRIST”* values in various work settings.
3. Grounded by social work values in the local and global context, students are equipped with the most up-to-date theories, knowledge and skills to be competent social work practitioners in social welfare organisations and the social service sector.

* “CHRIST” values: Commitment, Humility, Resilience, Integrity, Service, and Teamwork

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes (PILOs)

Upon graduation, students should be able to:

1. Become competent social work practitioners who demonstrate a commitment to social work values, a solid foundation of general and field-specific knowledge and skills in social work, including language skills and personal qualities, appropriate for progressing to further study in social work and other relevant degree programmes;
2. Apply a wide range of knowledge and field-specific clinical, innovative and conceptual skills to solve individual, group or community problems, and perform tasks in social welfare organisations and the social service sector;
3. Develop the “CHRIST” values and commit with the spirit of servant leaders to the well-being of others and the betterment of the organisations they serve;
4. Apply critical thinking to understand, assess and analyze, and suggest solutions to social problems in various service settings and appreciate cultural diversity among service user groups;
5. Enhance self-awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, interest and aspirations and a sense of confidence, responsibility to others and commitment to life-long learning, and their life and career pursuit;
6. Develop an understanding of contemporary issues in both local and international contexts and discuss the possible connections amongst them and the implications on their practice; and
7. Become reflective practitioners to be aware of and evaluate their strengths and limitations in social work practice to various service target groups, in the application of theories into practice and the fitness of their roles in the social work field.

Entrance Requirements

The minimum entrance requirements of the HDSW Programme are as follows:

1. Level 2 in five subjects including Chinese Language and English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination. Up to two Applied Learning subjects may be counted for admission purposes. Non-Chinese speaking students may use alternative qualifications in Chinese Language; OR
2. Secondary school graduates from other education systems with results comparable to the above (for non-native speakers of Chinese, academic results in Chinese may not be required); OR
3. Students having successfully completed a foundation diploma or Diploma Yi Jin; OR
4. Mature applicants aged 21 or above when admission is sought; AND
5. Pass an admission interview.

Programme Requirements

1. completed and been assessed on all courses;
2. obtained an overall GPA of 2.0 or above across all courses in which they were assessed;
3. obtained a Grade C or better in both Fieldwork Placement I and II;
4. completed 20 hours of community service; AND
5. fulfilled an attendance requirement of not less than 80% in all courses and College Assembly.

Professional Recognition

The HDSW Programme is designed to meet the requirements of the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) for sub-degree social work training programmes. With the recognition of the HDSW Programme by the SWRB, graduates will be eligible for registration as Registered Social Workers (RSWs).