PhD Student at the Department of Asian and Policy Studies (APS) of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), Vivien Tang Foong-yee won the Belt and Road Scholarship (Research Postgraduate), supported by the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund, which recognises her academic excellence and contribution to EdUHK and the wider community. The scholarship will fund Tang’s PhD endeavours in social welfare policy at APS. Founded in 2016/17, the scholarship aims to attract outstanding students from countries or regions along the Belt and Road to pursue full-time publicly funded university studies in Hong Kong.

Born and raised in Singapore, Tang graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University at Buffalo and obtained her first master’s degree at Canisius College in the US. She subsequently returned to Singapore to begin her career. With the support and encouragement of her family, Tang decided to further her studies at EdUHK after seven years of social work service and professional research. This year, she received a second master’s degree in public policy and management, and is currently pursuing a PhD degree under the supervision of Dr Alex He Jingwei, Associate Professor and Associate Head (Research and Development) at APS. Tang published a research article with Dr He in an international journal, Health Policy, which can be accessed here.