Organized by the Department of Social Work, CUHK, the Online Mini Conference on “Longitudinal Profiles of Disadvantaged Youth in School-to-Work Transitions: Findings from Canada, South Korea, Mainland China and Hong Kong” was held successfully on 8 August 2025 via Zoom. Over 90 participants from different parts of the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Mainland China and Hong Kong, attended the event.
It was a privilege to host Prof. Bong Joo Lee from the Department of Social Welfare, Seoul National University; Dr. Jiseul Sophia Ahn from the School of Psychoeducation, University of Montreal; Prof. Miao Wang from the Department of Social Work and Social Policy, Nankai University; and Ms. Ruizhe Shi from Tsinghua University as our esteemed guest speakers. We were also honoured to have Prof. Steven Sek-yum Ngai, Dr. Yuen-hang Ng and Ms. Elly Nga-hin Yu from the Department of Social Work at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, along with Prof. Jacky Chau-kiu Cheung from the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong, representing Hong Kong.
The four presentations collectively highlighted the challenges faced by disadvantaged and vulnerable youth in South Korea, Canada, Mainland China and Hong Kong, emphasising the need for targeted interventions to improve career prospects, well-being and social integration. Prof. Lee’s study in South Korea underscored the effectiveness of career and life development pathways in reducing NEET (not in education, employment or training) risk, particularly for young women and rural populations, while advocating for community-based interventions. Prof. Véronique Dupéré and Dr. Ahn’s research in Canada revealed the prevalence of low-quality jobs among marginalised youth, stressing the importance of equity-focused strategies to promote meaningful and stable employment. Prof. Wang and Ms. Shi’s work in China identified varying levels of career-related competencies among non-engaged youth, highlighting the need for mental health and career training interventions. Finally, Prof. Ngai’s team in Hong Kong explored school-to-work transitions using Markov chain analysis, demonstrating the dynamic nature of these career and educational pathways and the effectiveness of combined interventions in reducing NEET risks and supporting sustainable development for at-risk youth.
In conclusion, the conference served as a vital platform for international dialogue and knowledge exchange. The insights shared by our distinguished speakers have not only deepened our understanding of the complex journeys of disadvantaged youth but have also reinforced the importance of collaborative, cross-national research. The clear consensus is that by developing and implementing targeted, holistic interventions, we can empower these young individuals to navigate their transition to the workforce successfully and build brighter, more secure futures. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers and participants for their invaluable contributions to this important conversation.
A Group Photo of Speakers and Participants