Minchao Jin is a professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work and a lecturer in the Shanghai-New York Master of Social Work program. An expert in global social development, he is a seasoned social worker with substantial experience in international practice. Over 20 years ago, interestingly, his undergraduate major at Tsinghua University was materials science and engineering.
Jin's transition from engineering to social work was significant, but the reason behind it was quite simple: "It was really just a matter of interest." His experience with the non-profit club at Tsinghua propelled him to start paying attention to marginalized groups in need, and he gradually developed a strong interest in social work. As he recalled, "I realized that compared to materials engineering, I was more passionate about helping people. So I thought, 'Well, why not make a change?'" In contrast to the current abundance of social work programs, at that time there were very few such programs in China. Jin then decided to take his studies overseas. "I was quite lucky to be admitted, and through these twists of fate, I was able to start a new chapter," he reminisced.
In the field of social work, Jin is more interested in issues at the meso and macro levels. While studying social work at Washington University in St. Louis, he chose social and economic development as his major, delving into social policy analysis and development theory. His internship experiences also sat on the macro level, such as working in the community development department of the city government. There, projects included renovating and repurposing abandoned buildings to reduce spaces for crime, while providing new housing options for low-income individuals "I believe in the inherent goodness of humanity. Given the opportunity, people will choose to do good," he argued. And striving to create conditions that allow people to do good became Jin's unwavering ideal and pursuit.
During his PhD studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Jin selected issues of poverty and child nutrition as his key research topics. His dissertation examined the relationship between poverty and child nutrition from the perspective of assets. After returning to China, by chance, Jin connected with the Shanghai United Foundation, and was asked to take charge of the foundation's "One Egg" project. The "One Egg" project aimed to improve the nutrition of school-aged children in underdeveloped areas by providing them with one egg each day. "As evidenced by our data analysis, this project significantly improved the nutritional status of these children," Jin recounted. "The evaluation results significantly boosted the foundation's confidence in the project, and provided credible proof of effectiveness necessary for rallying long-term support from donors." Following this, Jin collaborated with more organizations in such evaluations. Through project analyses and assessment, he helped organizations improve project quality, thus empowering social workers and advancing public welfare practices. "I find these evaluations very meaningful. This is what I have always wanted to do since college.”
Jin currently teaches two courses "Human Behavior and the Social Environment" and "Social Work Research Methods." The Master of Social Work (MSW) program, jointly developed by NYU Shanghai and New York University, stands out as the first Sino-U.S. cooperative MSW program in China, offering unique features. "Our program fully integrates the American social work curriculum and is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)," Jin highlighted. At the same time, the program places strong emphasis on incorporating local contexts, with teaching drawing from numerous cases and field placements centered around real-world scenarios in China. Through this comparative approach, students gain a deeper understanding of social work theories and methods, as well as their application across different cultural contexts.
The MSW program spans two years, with students spending one year in Shanghai and the other in New York. "There's a Chinese saying, 'Read ten thousand books; travel ten thousand miles,' which is particularly relevant here," Jin remarked. "Our students immerse themselves in both U.S. and Chinese environments, experiencing firsthand how different social contexts influence their lives and the lives of those around them. From everyday experiences like navigating subway systems, payment methods, and local cuisine, to more complex aspects such as tax systems and housing policy, these seemingly ordinary encounters become invaluable in their future work with diverse populations.” As Jin put it, these experiences not only enhance their ability to empathize with clients but also empower them to design innovative interventions rooted in a deep understanding of different cultural contexts. This unique blend of theory, cross-cultural experience, and practical application is what distinguishes the MSW program.
In his teaching, Jin underscores practical application and the importance of translating theory into practice. In the course "Human Behavior in the Social Environment," he encourages students to bring topics of personal interest into the classroom. These topics are often trending, widely discussed, and carry significant relevance and impact. Jin then guides students in applying the theories and analytical methods learned in class to reorganize, analyze, and interpret the social phenomena related to these issues.
He recalled a topic that resonated with his students: the impact of social media on teenagers, particularly its influence on the definition of beauty. As was elaborated by Jin, in the age of social media, many teenagers grapple with growing challenges in mental health. Given that teenagers are in a critical stage of self-awareness and identity formation while their brains are still developing, it is difficult for them to integrate diverse information and they are left highly vulnerable to external influences. When social media's portrayal of beauty becomes extreme and narrow, adolescents are more negatively impacted than adults.
Jin opined that when confronting these issues in practice, students must draw on theories learnt and research findings to create their own analytical frameworks. "Social work is inextricably linked to problem-solving. We should try to identify the underlying causes and systematically address those that could be changed in our intervention process.”
To Jin, theoretical knowledge is merely one part of social work education; identifying and solving problems in practice is the other, if not the more important part. "As social workers, we take care of real people. Our theories serve the need of practice.” Jin concluded.