About China and Global Development Network


The China and Global Development Network (CGDN) is one of the centres in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. CGDN (previously China Research and Development Network) was established in 2005 in light of the rapid social transformations of Mainland China in the post-reform era, to meet the urgent need for developing indigenous social work theories and practice models in response to the growing demand for professional social service. The Network was renamed CGDN in June 2021 to facilitate international partnership in social work and global social development, in view of the opportunities and challenges presented by the new geopolitical context.

The objective of CGDN is to become a leading academic centre for social development, social policy, and social work research and practice in Mainland China and the world. CGDN has been striving to provide outstanding capacity building programmes and engage in rigorous research with the Mainland China social work community. We have also extended our network to other countries along the New Silk Road to promote regional and international partnership in social work education, practice and research. To date, CGDN has facilitated: in Mainland China, the establishment of the Peking University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University China Social Work Research Centre and the Yunnan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Design and Social Development Centre; globally, the collaboration with universities and social welfare agencies in Israel, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Latest News


[Interview] Dr Jenny Chan speaks on gig manufacturing (Sixth Tone, by Peiyue Wu, 7 Mar 2023)

Associate Professor Dr Jenny Chan from Hong
Kong Polytechnic University shares her take on
the situation of garment factories in Guangdong,
China after the pandemic transformed the attitude
and lifestype of migrant workers in an interview by
Sixth Tone.

Delegation From The University of Warsaw, Poland, Visits CGDN

Collaboration between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Dr Ben KU, and Ms Kan YIP of China and Global
Development Network visited Al-Farabi Kazakh
National University (KazNU), Almaty, Kazakhstan
on 21 Feb 2023 to exchange views and to discuss
issues of further development of mutually beneficial collaboration.

16 February 2023 Monthly Research Seminar Series

農村婦女的離婚訴訟:當代中國的國家法、權力與不平等
Speaker: Dr Ke LI (John Jay College of Criminal
Justice, The City University of New York)

Language: Putonghua
Platform: Online via Zoom

Registration is now open!

25 November 2022 Monthly Research Seminar Series “Social Inequalities in Healthy Ageing of Older Adults”

Speaker: Dr Eric LAI (Institute of Health Equity,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Moderator: Dr Jenny CHAN
(Department of Applied Social Sciences,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Platform: Online via Zoom

Registration is now open!

[Interview] "Haunting scenes 'near iPhone factory' in China: 'Fleeing or escaping'" with Dr Jenny Chan

An interview by Yahoo News Australia
featuring Dr Jenny Chan.

Full text available in PDF.