In the nearly 20 years since he first came to Hong Kong to work, Professor William Hayward, who took over as Dean at the start of the academic year, feels that Social Sciences have become better understood in the city as making a real and necessary contribution to society. “While two decades ago there was demand for a Social Sciences degree, you had the feeling some students had to persuade their parents that this was a good subject to do,” he said.

“Now people recognise that there are social elements to so many aspects of life, including our current challenges – climate change, immigration issues, racial and economic inequality. Yes, there are technological solutions to climate change, but the fundamental problem is one of persuasion and political influence. Fundamental issues affecting societal harmony and/or discord – including Trump and Brexit, and relations between Hong Kong and Mainland China – these are all social issues. Our Faculty has an important part to play in addressing these issues.”

A New Zealander, Professor Hayward completed his initial degree at the University of Canterbury, did his Masters and PhD at Yale in the United States, then spent five years at Wollongong University in Australia as a lecturer in Psychology.

His professional association with Hong Kong began in 1999 when he became Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he stayed for seven years, also cultivating his specialist research area of visual perception. He joined HKU in 2006, encouraged by a former colleague from Australia Dr Tony Hayes, along with Professor Terry Au Kit-fong, who were senior leaders in the Psychology Department at the time. Starting as Associate Professor, Professor Hayward became Head of Department after two years.

At the end of his second term in the role, he was invited to take on a similar position at the University of Auckland at a much bigger department which he felt would bring its own challenges and rewards. “I’d been away from New Zealand for 20 years, and by then had children of my own. So it seemed right to go back there for a while. But when the opportunity came up this year to be Dean of Social Sciences at HKU, one of the world’s leading universities, it was simply too great an opportunity to miss.”

Global outlook, top in Asia

“HKU has both a global outlook and a leading position in Asia,” said Professor Hayward. “Within that, the Faculty of Social Sciences has a strong history and is respected in terms of its teaching and research expertise. It benefits from substantial community backing – particularly from supporters like the Hong Kong Jockey Club and HSBC – and it gives back by training practitioners in various fields and through its dedication to knowledge exchange.”

While acknowledging the strengths of the Faculty, he feels there is room for further development. “In research for example, there is a lot of individual achievement within the Faculty, but it is also quite uneven. I would like to build upon existing strengths to create a small number of truly world-class research clusters.

“In areas such as mental health, urbanisation, sustainable development, China studies, and migration, we have opportunities to be among the best in the world, but it requires us to build scale in a few areas, rather than trying to do everything. We are starting the process now by looking at which areas can bring us together in interesting ways, and then seeing who is doing similar work in other departments and institutions that can complement our own. One of the main goals here is to grow the pie, to find new sources of funding for our work.

“Ultimately, we want to achieve critical mass and aspire to international excellence. When experts overseas are looking for knowledge and excellence in the Social Sciences in Asia and around the world, I want HKU to be one of the first places on their search list.”

Professor Hayward said his transition into deanship has been made easier by the already strong leadership in the Faculty: “There are people in senior roles who lead in different ways – which makes it easier for me to come in as Dean.”

Having lived in Australia, the US and Hong Kong, he is a keen advocate of the benefits of going beyond your own borders. “Going abroad gives you new perspective, not only on your own country but on the world too. You see more angles and have a better understanding of how it fits together.

“We have a commitment to internationalisation, to broadening our students’ horizons in terms of research and of teaching. In particular, our off-campus learning programmes enhance the daily teaching our students receive and offer them global experiences outside of the University, and outside their own city.”

Here in Hong Kong too, the Dean noted that the Faculty is well respected and the Bachelor of Social Sciences is a sought-after degree – “both among aspiring students and among employers. It’s a good stepping stone to careers in many areas.

“We train Hong Kong’s social workers and psychologists, we fill government positions. We also provide benefit to the community through our involvement in a variety of programmes and projects – from NGOs, through end-of-life care, to Sustainable Lai Chi Wo Programme and dyslexia support, to name but a few. I’d like us to be even more visible – stronger, bigger and more coordinated, to create a more coherent vision all round.” 

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