Bridging practice, research, and professional identity
When I joined CoA two years ago, I was a new MSW student with little knowledge of research; as graduation now approaches, I have been reflecting on how this journey in CoA has shaped not only my skills, but also my sense of direction.
I was asked a question I could not answer at the time: after graduation, would I continue in research or return to frontline practice? Today, I have found my answer: I will stay in academia, not because I want to leave practice behind, but because the experience in CoA has shown me another way to stay connected to it.
This journey has not always been easy. Over the past two years, balancing the identities of student social worker and researcher has sometimes felt like an internal tension. Social work is grounded in lived realities, relationships, and immediate service needs, while research asks us to think in terms of concepts, evidence, and systematic inquiry. Yet over time, I have come to realise that these roles do not compete with one another; instead, they complement and strengthen each other.
My social work training has also taught me to approach community partners with humility and responsibility. One of my major learning in CoA is that, we are not there to add to practitioners’ burdens, but to learn from their experience, support their work, and help bring their valuable efforts to a wider audience.
For me, academia offers a meaningful way to carry practice forward. It allows those who have engaged with the field to interpret its realities, communicate its value, and contribute to its future. I sincerely hope more social work students will consider this path.
(Photo: Demonstration during social work class)
By: Heman LEUNG, Research Assistant
Email: hemanl@hku.hk