Prof. Crystal KWAN

Academic Staff

PolyU Scholars Hub

Thetos Foundation Young Scholar in Social Services, Associate Professor

關以杰教授

HJ431
+852 3400 3681
crystal.y.kwan@polyu.edu.hk

PolyU Scholars Hub

ORCID ID

SCOPUS ID

Biography

Prof. Crystal Kwan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a registered social worker with a background in international community organizing and grassroots development. Her research adopts a strengths-based, resilience, and biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective on aging, focusing on the challenges and opportunities it presents. She employs, primarily, qualitative methods, including participatory approaches, to delve into the aging experience's complexity and diversity. This work informs policy, practice, and research, addressing issues such as poverty, homelessness, livelihoods, social participation, and disaster resilience in older adults. Additionally, Prof. Kwan is actively involved in research on social work education and professional development.

Education and Academic Qualifications

PhD in Social Work (University of Calgary)
MSW (University of Calgary)
BA (University of Calgary)

Professional Qualifications

Registered Social Worker

Teaching Area

Enhancing Resilience of Left Behind Children, Youth and Elderly in Disaster Prone Areas

Capstone Project

Preparing for Natural Disaster in the Chinese Context

Practice Research in Social Work

Research Interests

Grants (selected)

Exploring the Lived Experiences of Adjusting to Early Retirement of the Older Working Poor: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study in Hong Kong.

PI: Kwan, C. Co-I: Bai, X., Yeung, D.Y.I. Funded by RGC General Research Fund Scheme (GRF) Funding, UGC, Hong Kong. Approved amount: HK$652,000. Starting date: January 2024. (17 months)

Enhancing the Social Participation of Older People with Lived Experiences of Homelessness: A Community Based Participatory Research.

PI: Kwan, C. Co-I: Walsh, C.A. Funded by the CEPU Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (PPRFS), Hong Kong. Approved amount: HK$460,000. Starting date: April 2023. (12 months)

Examining Poverty Dynamics Across the Life Span of Elder-headed Households.

PI: Kwan, C. Funded by RGC Early Career Scheme (ECS) Funding, UGC, Hong Kong. Approved amount: HK$580,500. Starting date: January 2021. (24 months)

The Forgotten Workforce: The Case of the “Cardboard Grannies” in Hong Kong.

PI: Kwan, C. Funded by the Departmental General Research Funds, the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Approved amount: HK$90,000. Starting date: March 2019. (24 months)

Evaluating the impacts of the “Together we Grow – A Fieldwork Supervisors’ Training Course and Peer Support Group” program on Students’ Learning Outcomes and Professional Development.

PI: Kwan, C. Co-PI: Wong, S.K.; Co-I: Cheung, R., Chow, E., Chan, R. Funded by the Educational Development Centre (EDC), Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU). Approved amount: HK$196,792. Starting date: April 2023. (9 months)