I believe most people will agree that Hong Kong is facing very serious deep structural contradictions and is in a very critical period of social transformation; however, as to "what is deep structural contradictions" and "how to promote social transformation", everyone has been asking for a long time. There is a lack of consensus, and one of the crux of the problems is that the development of social sciences is far from sufficient to respond to social problems in Hong Kong.
"Social science" is an empirical study used to describe, explain and predict social phenomena. It is also an important tool for understanding and transforming society, and it is also a key force in historical development and social progress. However, in Hong Kong, although major higher education institutions All schools offer social science courses of a certain scale and publish a certain amount of social science research on a regular basis. However, on the whole, there are still problems such as unclear mission value, unclear development strategy, and unsound discipline system, so that the society is all over it. There are some misunderstandings in social science. For example, many citizens regard it as a "begging subject", and educational resources are also very limited - only 10% of students study social science, and the "Hong Kong Journal of Social Sciences" does not do much research on Hong Kong and the governance of Hong Kong. The elites will not answer the propositions of the times by promoting the development of social science, including analyzing the nature of the problem, resolving the source of contradictions, improving the level of decision-making, and strengthening the efficiency of governance.
The third in-depth report series on "Reshaping the Development of Social Sciences"
Hong Kong is at a very critical period of social transformation and needs professional and in-depth social science research to respond to the propositions of the times.
(file picture)
Zhao Zhiyu, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, believes that what social sciences learn is "worldly people's minds", and no matter what discipline it is, this is the goal of their joint research.
(Photo by O Jiale)
Zhou Yongxin, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong Kong, felt helpless about the lack of local social science research: "But that's how the 'game' is played, and there is no future for doing local research." (Photo by Wong Po Ying)
For details, please read the 317th issue of "Hong Kong 01" e-Weekly Newsletter (May 16, 2022) "
Going out of Central Values, Rebuilding Worldly People, Let Social Science Promote Hong Kong's Social Transformation
".
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Social Science Development 1｜Rebuild the world's morals and let social sciences promote the transformation of Hong Kong society