Dr Jason Yan has rich experience in teaching Social Sciences. Before joining this institution in 2018, he had worked in several tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, including The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hang Seng Management College (now called The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong), The Hong Kong Institute of Education (now called The Education University of Hong Kong), and the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education. Over the past decade, he has taught hundreds of young and mature students enrolling on government-funded and self-financed programmes at various levels, ranging from fundamental diplomas, diplomas, higher diplomas, associate degrees, top-up degrees to honour's degrees in a wide range of disciplines, including Sociology, Social Work, Social Policy and Administration, Translation, Journalism, Geography, History, Construction, Surveying, Computer Science, Business Administration, Human Resources Management, and Supply Chain Management.

 

Dr Yan believes that studying Sociology and conducting social research help us to augment our understanding of inequality and injustice in society. He obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in Sociology from Hong Kong Baptist University. He was the recipients of Dr William D. Hackett Memorial Prize (the prize traditionally awarded to elected Sociology students with academic distinction and integrity in the Department of Sociology) and Chiap Hua Cheng's Foundation Scholarships (the larger-lump-sum scholarship awarded to top undergraduate students with the most outstanding performance in the University). Having completed his undergraduate study with the award of First-class Honour, he was enrolled in the MPhil programme in Sociology and granted Research Studentships (the public fund normally awarded to small student populations on the basis of academic merit in the University). He later studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of London and completed the PhD programme in Sociology. He is now an active member of Nylon, an international research network of young scholars recruited from leading universities in Europe and America.

 

In this institution, Dr Yan teaches courses on Sociology, Cultural Studies and Social Research Methods for both associate degree and bachelor's degree students. His role in the College is based on his long-standing interests in using qualitative research methods to analyse social stratification and inequality, the core concern of Sociology. His PhD thesis adopts an ethnographic research method to examine the impacts of the neoliberal turn in public housing policy on the poor working-class community in public housing estates in Hong Kong. In addition to qualitative research methods, Dr Yan's major research interests cover various contemporary issues, including urban regeneration, everyday resistance, inter-generational poverty, public housing policy and cultural class analysis. He enjoys the teaching experience and values the learning opportunities in the College. Except for lecture halls, he is used to discussing social issues with his fellow students and colleagues with different professional training, social experiences and cultural backgrounds in the coffee shops, study rooms and open spaces on campus.