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Podium

Keynote Presentations

Identity-based motivation: Creating an equitable and sustainable future

Keynote Address:  Prof. Daphna OYSERMAN

Abstract:

Motivation is paradoxical. People can do hard things; things that seem impossibly hard from an outsider’s view. They can also be overconfident, persisting even when they would be better off shifting their energies elsewhere. People know who they are and, at the same time, can be easily persuaded of the identity congruence of all manner of things. Identity-based motivation theory is a social psychological theory of goal pursuit and motivation that provides a predictive framework to understand these paradoxes and help people harness their identity-based motivation. I present the theory and supporting experimental evidence from lab and field-based interventions conducted in the rigors of real-world complexity. I highlight cultural universals and culture-based specificity and I show how interpretations of difficulty can support goal-focused action, beliefs about identity, and motivation across the domains of academics, health, and environmental action.

Mismatch: Why don’t people use social services and why does that matter?

Keynote Address: Prof. Junqiang LIU

Abstract:

48% of nursing home beds are unused in China despite the enlarging aging population. Public housing has become vacant in some Chinese cities. Job training services are neglected by the jobless. Less than a quarter of the unemployed claimed the unemployment insurance. The take-up rate of social services is in stark contrast to the huge investment from the government. Why do people not use the social services? This study will use mismatch as a key concept to analyse how social services fail to serve their target population. Firstly, the mismatch between institutional design and reality makes it difficult for social services to meet emerging social needs. Secondly, the mismatch between policy design and client needs makes it difficult to deliver social services effectively. Thirdly, the mismatch between risk and protection makes services fail to target those who need them most. We will analyse cases of public housing, employment services, unemployment insurance, and nursing home to reveal the underlying mechanisms by which social services fail to achieve their roles.

Unlocking potential in empowering non-engaged youth through quality career and life development interventions—Insights from the Hong Kong Benchmarks (Community) Pilot Programme

Keynote Address: Prof. Steven Sek-yum NGAI

Abstract:

The Hong Kong Benchmarks (Community) is a framework that supports NGOs in providing quality career and life development (CLD) services to non-engaged youth (NEY). Comprising ten benchmarks grouped into three parts, the framework provides a self-improvement approach to CLD service provision. The core part focuses on establishing stable policies, designated teams, professional competencies, and effective leadership within NGOs. The youth-focused part prioritizes the personal needs of youth, providing them with timely career-related information and individualized support to develop sustainable career roadmaps. The enabling environment part considers broader environments, such as meaningful encounters with further education and the workplace, which can bridge NEY and a wide range of future career pathways. Each benchmark can be broken down into measurable criteria, enabling CLD service providers to assess the extent to which their services and strategies meet each benchmark.

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This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Hong Kong Benchmarks (Community) Pilot Programme, a CLD intervention programme for NEY in Hong Kong. We used a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design to compare changes in career-related competencies between a pilot group (N=289) and a comparison group (N=160), and conducted five focus group interviews with various stakeholders. Our results suggest that the pilot group showed greater improvement in youth career development competency and career and life development hope than the comparison group. Our qualitative findings highlight the benefits and challenges experienced by stakeholders. Overall, our study provides preliminary evidence of the programme’s positive impact on NEY and other key stakeholders. We also discuss the implications of expanding the existing programme and theorising the community-based benchmark approach.

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In summary, the Hong Kong Benchmarks (Community) provides a powerful framework for NGOs to evaluate their youth services and improve their assistance to NEY in achieving productive transitions to employment, education, and training. Our study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the pilot programme and its potential for expansion, benefitting NEY and other important stakeholders.

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