糖心原创

School of Sociology and Social Policy
 

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Chui Man (Ruby) Chau

Associate Professor in Public and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences

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Biography

Dr Ruby Chau joined the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the 糖心原创 in October 2018. She was a Marie Curie Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield from 2016 to 2018. Before then, she had been an Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong and a Lecturer at the University of Sheffield. She received her undergraduate and postgraduate social work training in Hong Kong SAR and the UK, respectively. She studied social policy for her PhD with a Commonwealth Scholarship and was awarded the degree by the University of Sheffield in 2001. In May 2026, she was conferred the honorary title of Adjunct Professor at the Department of Public Administration at Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh.

ORCID ID 0000-0003-3118-4669

Expertise Summary

Dr Chau is an experienced international social researcher. Her research aims to facilitate mutual respect and understanding across cultures and groups at different socio-economic positions, and to promote the well-being of and empower those who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Her research specialisms are comparative welfare studies, climate change and health, cultural sensitivity in health and social care, defamilisation/familisation, migration and family, social policy education, and women's welfare and work.

She co-founded the South Asia Social Research Network in 2024, which aims to promote social inclusion and social justice through social research in the region. The Social Policy Association commissioned her to conduct two studies relating to Social Policy education in 2021 and 2025, respectively. She is a co-author of Women, Welfare and Productivism in East Asia and Europe, published by Policy Press in 2022. She was the principal investigator of the European Commission-funded project 'Social Investment Perspective in Work-family Reconciliation measures in Europe and East Asia' (SIPEA, Grant no. 708305), 2016-2018. Her research outputs include 48 refereed journal articles, 9 research monographs and 9 book chapters. She has been involved in 30 funded research and knowledge exchange projects and five professional and teaching development projects in various Asian and European countries.

Dr Chau is active in both the academic community and the voluntary sector. She has been a member of the International Commission of Couple and Family Relations (ICCFR) Council since 2024. She has been a Co-editor of the book series Research in Comparative and Global Social Policy at the Policy Press since 2026 and of Society and Social Policy from 2021 to 2026. She is an executive member of the Social Policy Association and leads the Teaching and Learning Portfolio (2019-2022, 2025 -). She is a registered social worker in Hong Kong (Cat. 1, No. 15596) and has served as an honorary adviser and trustee for local charities in Hong Kong and the UK for many years. In 2017, she was selected as one of the top 10 promising scientists in the "Contributing to a Better Society" category under the Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie Actions Prizes. She has been a visiting scholar at reputable academic and non-academic institutions in various countries and territories, including the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, the Korean Labour Institute in Sejong City and the Central Policy Unit in Hong Kong SAR.

Teaching Summary

Teaching responsibilities:

  • Policy Design - success and failure (PG) - Module Convenor
  • Policy Analysis - concepts and theories (PG) - Module Convenor
  • Research Method and Research Management (PG) - Seminar Leader
  • Dissertation in MPA, MAPP, MAISP and MASSR (PG) - Supervisor

Previously taught subjects:

  • Ageing and global policy response
  • Anti-oppressive social work practice
  • Comparative welfare study
  • East-Asian welfare systems
  • Problem-based social work practice
  • Qualitative research methods
  • Social divisions and social equality
  • Welfare Policy

PhD supervision

  • Education and employment of people with visual impairment in China
  • Financial well-being of older people in Indonesia
  • Labour participation of mothers of young children in Kazakhstan

Enquiries about PhD supervision from potential candidates who share similar research interests and academic visions, especially those from socio-economically disadvantaged positions and the Global South, are welcome.

Research Summary

2026-2028 Co-Investigator, 'From Silenced Violence to Help-seeking - LGBTQ+ people's lived experience of intimate partner violence', funded by the General Research Fund, Hong Kong SAR. 2026 -… read more

Recent Publications

  • YU, SAM, CHAU, RUBY and HO, GRACE, 2024. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy.
  • CHAU, R and YU, S, 2023. Public Money and Management.
  • YU, S, CHAU, R and LO, I, 2023. International Social Work.
  • RUBY CHAU and SAM YU, 2022. Policy Press.

My recent book is available from Policy Press.

Developing the new framework of 'life-mix', which considers the mixed patterns of caring and working in different periods of life, this book systematically explores the interplay of productivism, women, care and work in East Asia and Europe.

The book ranges across four key aspects of welfare - childcare, parental leave, employment support and pensions - to illustrate how policies affect women in various periods of their lives. Policy case studies from France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, South Korea, Sweden and the UK, show how welfare could support people's caring and working lives. This book forms a prescient examination of how productivist thinking underpins regimes and impacts women's welfare, care and work in both the East and West.

Current Research

  1. 2026-2028 Co-Investigator, 'From Silenced Violence to Help-seeking - LGBTQ+ people's lived experience of intimate partner violence', funded by the General Research Fund, Hong Kong SAR.
  2. 2026 - 2027 Co-Investigator, 'Salinity and Reproductive Health: Exploring the impacts on reproductive health and psychosocial health of women and adolescent girls in coastal Bangladesh', funded by the Wellcome Trust, UK.
  3. 2024 - 2026 Co-Investigator, 'To What Extent Do Work-Family Balance Policies Sustain Fertility Rates and Women's Reproduction? Focused on the Cases Of the UK, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan', funded by the British Academy, UK.

Past Research

  1. 2024 - 2026 Principal Investigator, 'Co-defining Social Policy and Social Policy Education - Our discipline, our say', funded by the Social Policy Association, UK.
  2. 2021-2023 Principal Investigator, 'The Current and Future State of Social Policy Teaching in HEIs in the UK', Social Policy Association, UK.
  3. 2016-2018 Principal Investigator, 'Social Investment Perspective in Work-family Reconciliation Measures in Europe and East Asia', Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions, Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, European Union (No. 708305).
  4. 2015-2016 Co-investigator, 'Staying Part of the Family: transnational defamilisation/familisation measures of Chinese older people in Britain', Faculty Research Grant, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR.
  5. 2014-2015 Principal Investigator, 'Health and Social Care Needs of Chinese Women in Sheffield', Lai Yin Association, UK.
  6. 2010 - 2011Co-investigator, 'Management and Policy of Welfare Enterprises - the case of Guangdong', Guangdong Provincial Federation of Disabled People, China.
  7. 2010-2011 Co-investigator, 'International Experiences on Disability Legislation and Its Implementation - a comparative study between China and developed countries', Shanghai Disabled People Federation, China.
  8. 2009-2011 Co-investigator, 'Impact of Social Exclusion in urban China', Contemporary China SRT Account, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR.
  9. 2009-2012 Principal Investigator, 'Flexicurity and Youth Unemployment - a pilot study of youth employment policies in Hong Kong', Seed Funding Programme, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
  10. 2008-2002 Co-Investigator, 'An Evaluative 糖心原创 of the Development of Education of Mentally Disabled Youth in Guangzhou', Keymedia and Huiling Guangzhou, China and Finland.
  11. 2006-2007 Principal Investigator, 'Involvement of Older People in Policy Discussion - an internal evaluative study of the Hong Kong Older People Policy Monitoring Consortium', Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Hong Kong SAR.
  12. 2003-2005 Principal Investigator, 'Shared Expectations, Shared Commitments - an action and evaluative study of the joint statement approach in involving Chinese Older People', Joseph Rowntree Foundation, UK.
  13. 2003-2005 Research Protocol Officer, 'Exploring and Understanding the Views of Chinese Older People about Cancer, Palliative Care and End-of-life Care', Health Foundation, UK.
  14. 2002-2004 Research Protocol Officer, 'An Exploration of Teenage Parenting Experiences of Young People of Bangladeshi, African Caribbean, Pakistani and Dual Ethnic Origin in England', Department of Health. UK.
  15. 2002-2003 Co-investigator, 'Extended 糖心原创 on Inclusion and Exclusion of Women in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Hong Kong', City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
  16. 2001-2003 Principal Investigator, 'Crossing the Language Barrier in Health: investigating interpreting services in primary care nursing in Sheffield', Community Health Sheffield, UK.
  17. 2001 Co-investigator, 'Inclusion and Exclusion of Women in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Hong Kong', City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
  18. 1998-1999 Co-investigator, 'Needs of Chinese Women for Health and Social Services in Sheffield', Lai Yin Association, Sheffield Health, UK.
  19. 1997-2000 Co-investigator, 'Social Care Needs for Chinese Older People in Britain', Joseph Rowntree Foundation, UK.
  20. 1995-2000 Principal Investigator, (PhD study) 'Welfare Mix in Socialist China: a case study of occupational therapy stations in Guangzhou', Commonwealth Scholarship, 1995-2000.
  21. 1994-1997 Co-investigator, 'The Normative Basis of Family Care in Beijing', City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
  22. 1994-1995 Co-investigator, 'The Impact of the Regulatory Measures on Bedspace Apartments in Hong Kong', City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
  23. 1994-1995 Co-investigator, 'The Application of the Shared Care Approach in Occupational Therapy Stations in Guangzhou', City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.

Future Research

Areas for future research

  1. Childcare and child-wellbeing
  2. Comparative social welfare
  3. Cultural sensitivity in health and social care
  4. Defamilisation/familisation
  5. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 & 5
  6. Welfare productivism
  7. Women and children's well-being in South Asia
  8. Women's work, welfare and life mix
  • YU, SAM, CHAU, RUBY and HO, GRACE, 2024. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy.
  • CHAU, R and YU, S, 2023. Public Money and Management.
  • YU, S, CHAU, R and LO, I, 2023. International Social Work.
  • RUBY CHAU and SAM YU, 2022. Policy Press.
  • YU, W. K., FOSTER, L. and CHAU, C M., 2021. Defamilisation/familisation measures and pensions in Hong Kong and Taiwan Journal of Ageing and Social Policy. 33(2), 161-176
  • SAM YU, IRIS LO and RUBY CHAU, 2021. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy.
  • YU, W K, FOSTER, L and CHAU, C M, 2020. International Social Work.
  • YU, W K, CHAU, C M and JUNG, M, 2020. Asian Social Work and Policy Review. 14(1), 53-60
  • CHAU, C M and YU, W K, 2020. Journal of Women and Aging. (In Press.)
  • YU, W. K., CHAU, C. M. and K脺HNER, S., 2019. Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy. 35(2), 194-210
  • CHAU, C. M., YU, W. K. and BOXALL, K., 2018. Social Policy and Society. 17(4), 547-561
  • CHAU, C.M., FOSTER, L., YU, W. K. and YU, Y. P., 2017. Asian Social Work and Policy Review. 11(2), 116-123
  • FOSTER, L., CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2017. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice. 25(3), 199-217
  • YU, W. K., FOSTER, L., CHAU, C. M. and LEE, M. Y., 2017. Asian Social Work and Policy Review. 11(3), 234-243
  • CHAU, C. M., YU, W. K. and FOSTER, L., 2017. Journal of Asian Public Policy. 10(3), 318-333
  • CHAU, C. M., YU, W. K., FOSTER, L. and LAU, M., 2017. Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy. 33(1), 73-86
  • CHAU, C. M., FOSTER, L. and YU, W. K., 2017. Journal of Women and Aging. 29(6), 551-561
  • CHAU, C. M., FOSTER, L. and YU, W. K., 2016. Critical Social Policy. 36(2), 205-224
  • YU, W. K., CHAU, C. M. and LEE, K. M., 2015. Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy. 31(1), 74-93
  • CHAU, C.M., YU, W. K. and LAW, S. F., 2014. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work. 23(3-4), 256-270
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2014. The Usefulness of the Political Economy Perspective to the Analysis of Social Welfare in Hong Kong 鈥� A Case 糖心原创 of the Retirement Protection Measures Taiwan United Way Review. 3(1), 101-117
  • YU, W. K., CHAU, C. M., BOXALL, K. and CHUNG, C. Y., 2014. Looking to the East and the West: the Double-Attachment Strategy used by the Hong Kong Government to Develop Welfare to Work Measures for Lone Parents Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy. 30(2), 93-106
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2013. Defamilisation of 22 Countries 鈥� its Implications for the 糖心原创 of East Asian Welfare Regime Social Policy and Society. 12(3), 355-367
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2012. Understanding the Diverse Health Needs of Chinese People in Britain and Developing Culturally Sensitive Services Journal of Social Work. 12, 385-403
  • CHAU, C. M., 2012. Adulthood: Some Comparative and International Perspectives. In: LYONS, K., HOKENSTAD, M., PAWAR, M., HUEGLER, N. and HALL, N., eds., Sage Handbook of International Social Work Sage.
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2011. 糖心原创ing the Ethnocentric Bias in the Comparative Studies of Social Welfare Development and Society. 40(2), 173-194
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2011. Ethnocentric Bias in the Comparative 糖心原创 of Social Welfare 鈥� the Case of elfare Reforms in Hong Kong Journal of Comparative Social Welfare. 27(3), 233-242
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2011. The Diversity Based Approach to Culturally Sensitive Practices International Social Work. 54, 21-33
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2011. Is Welfare UnAsian 鈥� A Brief Discussion of the Development of Welfare in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In: East Asian Welfare Systems: the Role of Globalisation, Culture and Government Chinese Society Press.
  • CHAU, C. M. and WU, S., eds., 2011. I Want a Job - An Exploration of Youth Employment Issues in Hong Kong The University of Hong Kong.
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2010. The Sensitivity of United Kingdom Health-care Services to the Diverse Needs of Chinese-origin Older People Ageing and Society. 30(3), 383-401
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2009. Social Quality and Social Harmony Campaign in Hong Kong. Development and Society Development and Society. 38(2), 277-295
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2009. Cultural Sensitive Approach to Health and Social Care: Uniformity and Diversity with the Chinese Community in Britain International Social Work. 52(6), 773-784
  • CHAU, C. M., 2009. Socialism and Social Dimension of Work 鈥� Employment Policies on Disabled Groups in China Hong Kong Journal of Social Work. 43(1), 19-29
  • CHAU, C. M., 2008. Health Experiences of Chinese People in the UK, A Racial Equality Foundation Briefing Paper Racial Equality Foundation.
  • BOXALL, K., WARREN, L. and CHAU, C. M., 2007. User Involvement. In: HODGSON, S. M. and IRVING, Z., eds., Policy Reconsidered: Meaning, Politics and Practices The Policy Press.
  • CHAU, C. M., 2007. The Involvement of Chinese Older People: Aspirations and Expectations Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • PAYNE, S., CHAPMAN, A., HOLLOWAY, M., SEYMOUR, J. E. and CHAU, R., 2005. Journal of Palliative Care. VOL 21(NUMB 2), 111-116
  • YEUNG, A., CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2004. Managing Social Exclusion 鈥� The Strategies Used by Managerial Women in Hong Kong and Guangzhou International Social Work. 47(4), 503-513
  • YEUNG, A., CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2004. The Strategies Used by the Chinese Managerial Women to Cope with Social Exclusion Asian Women. 18, 101-122
  • GERRISH, K., CHAU, C. M., SOBOWALE, A. and BIRKS, E., 2004. Health and Social Care in Community. 12(5), 407-413
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2003. Marketisation and Residualisation - Recent Reforms in the Medical Financing System in Hong Kong Social Policy and Society. 2(3), 199-207
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2002. Coping with Social Exclusion: Experiences of Chinese Women in Three Societies Asian Women. 14, 103-127
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2001. Making Welfare Subordinate to Market Activities: Reconstructing Social Security in Hong Kong and Mainland China European Journal of Social Work. 4(3), 291-301
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 2001. Social Exclusion of Chinese People in Britain Critical Social Policy. 21(1), 103-125
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 1999. Social Welfare and Economic Development in China and Hong Kong Critical Social Policy. 19(1), 87-107
  • CHAU. C. M. and YU, W. K., 1998. Occupational Therapy Stations in China: Economic Integration or Economic Stratification for People with Learning Difficulties International Social Work. 41(1), 7-21
  • YU, W. K. and CHAU, C. M., 1997. The Sexual Division of Care in China and Hong Kong International Urban and Regional Research. 21(4), 607-619
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., 1996. Examination of the Occupational Therapy Stations in Guangzhou with Reference to the Shared Care Approach Hong Kong Journal of Social Work. XXX(2), 18-24
  • CHAU, C. M., 1995. The Functions of Negative Aspects of Welfare in Capitalist Societies: A Case 糖心原创 of Temporary Accommodation for the Homeless in Britain and Housing Policy for Small Households in Hong Kong International Social Work. 38, 87-102
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., Pragmatism, Globalism and Culturalism: Health Pluralism of Chinese People in Britain. In: SHAW, I. and KAUPPINEN, K., eds., The Definition and Construction of Health and Illness: European Perspectives
  • CHAU, C. M. and YU, W. K., From Double Attachment to Double Detachment: Chinese Older People in Britain. In: NOLAN, M., WARREN, L. and WARNE, T., eds., Care Services for Later Life: Transformation and Critiques
  • YU, W.K.; LO, P.Y.; CHAU C.M. and LO, P.Y., Rethinking the Residual Policy Response: Lessons from Hong Kong Older Women鈥檚 Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic International Social Work. (In Press.)
  • YU, W. K. and LO, P.Y., Government Strategies for Supporting the Adult Worker Model in European Countries: Mixed Implications for Defamilisation International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy. (In Press.)
  • YU, W. K., CHAU, C M. and LI, S.M., The Government鈥檚 Reponses to Incompatibility Challenges to Women: The Case Studies of Hong Kong and Taiwan Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy. 37(1),
  • SAM YU, IRIS LO and RUBY CHAU, International Social Work. (In Press.)
  • SAM YU, RUBY CHAU, SZE-MAN LI and ANNA LEE, Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy. 37(1), 50-61

School of Sociology and Social Policy

Law and Social Sciences building
糖心原创
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Nottingham, NG7 2RD

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