The Hong Kong Baptist University, in partnership with CMS, invites and funds one doctoral student in migration studies to attend the International Doctoral Symposium 2026: Global Perspectives on Social Problems, Policy, and Practice, hosted on March 9- 13, 2026, in Hong Kong.
Call for Papers
Internationally, globalized processes such as urbanization, economic liberalization, and migration have had a significant impact on the kinds of social problems experienced locally and the kinds of responses that have been embraced to address them at national and local levels. While urbanization, migration, advances in technology, and shifts in the modes and distribution of economic production (for example, from manufacturing to service economies) have produced some social benefits, these changes have also led to a number of social problems and policy challenges across a range of social arenas. While economic liberalization and growth, for example, have fostered increases in individual wealth and an expanding middle class in some places, growing inequalities in wealth and income are also evident, along with resulting social disparities in health, education, access to opportunity, and political influence. In addition to the challenges experienced by marginalized populations, these challenges also place significant burdens, and often new responsibilities, on social service systems and governance regimes, both regarding their efforts to alleviate the problem at hand and to spearhead efforts to design systems and strategies for prevention. These changes have also been accompanied by changing relationships among the state, market, and civil society actors. Each actor is not only asked to play a unique and shifting role, but also may be increasingly involved in the design and implementation of social policies.
This International Doctoral Symposium provides the opportunity for selected doctoral students from seven universities—The University of Melbourne, The University of Chicago, Hong Kong Baptist University, The University of Michigan, Seoul National University, The University of British Columbia, and Nanyang Technological University—to present their work and engage in scholarly exchange and networking with their counterparts around the world. The symposium includes site visits to local communities experiencing, and organizations addressing, relevant contemporary social problems.
We are particularly interested in papers that speak to one of five themes:
- migration, displacement, and refugees
- urban poverty, housing, and social and economic development
- children, youth, and families
- health and mental health
- Philanthropy and social innovation.
The International Doctoral Symposium also aims to establish a sustained network for doctoral students, for which a series of additional online workshops will be organized, covering topics such as early scholarly career development and proposal writing.
One doctoral student in migration studies from UBC will be selected based on the quality of the proposal and its fit with other submissions. The symposium will last for 5 days from March 9-13, 2026 (from Monday to Friday). It is expected that participants will arrive in Hong Kong on March 8 (Sunday) and leave Hong Kong on March 14 (Saturday). The symposium will include site visits to local communities experiencing, and organizations addressing, relevant contemporary social problems.
Contact Information
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim
Chair International Committee, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia
mohamed.ibrahim@ubc.ca
Funding Support
The cost of airfare and accommodation (6 nights) for students travelling to Hong Kong from Vancouver will be covered, as will some organized group meals. Flight arrangements will be coordinated collectively, ensuring that you and your university peers arrive in and depart from Hong Kong together. The subsidy is limited to economy class tickets, with a maximum of HKD$16,000 per student. Accommodation will consist of twin rooms shared by two students.
Funding Eligibility
Funding is available exclusively to UBC CMS affiliates. CMS affiliates at other universities are not eligible. If you are at the University of British Columbia and you are not yet an affiliate, please complete the CMS affiliation form.
How to Apply
We welcome proposals that align with the conference theme, broadly defined. Submissions are due by November 24, 2025. The submission package requires the following information:
- Paper title
- Abstract (300 words max)
Please complete the submission form below.
