Choi Jong-heon, alumnus of the Department of Social Welfare

Choi Jong-heon (Class of 2010), an alumnus of the Department of Social Welfare at Incheon National University, was appointed as an Assistant Professor (Teaching and Research Academics Lecturer) in the Department of Social Work under the School of Allied Health, Sports, and Social Work at Griffith University, Australia, in July 2025.

Dr. Choi’s primary area of research focuses on Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), particularly conducting qualitative research on the recovery experiences of NDIS service participants with psychosocial disabilities.

Reflecting on his appointment, Dr. Choi said, “Being appointed as an Assistant Professor gives me a sense of accomplishment, as if I have completed my 10-year journey in social welfare studies that began at Incheon National University’s Department of Social Welfare. Although I still have much to learn, I want to contribute to training social workers in Australia, grounded in social welfare practice and ethics for social justice and respect for human rights.” He added, “I also hope to maintain close ties with the Department of Social Welfare at INU and, through exchange programs, international social welfare workshops, and joint research, contribute to the development of mental health and disability welfare systems in both Korea and Australia.”

Griffith University is a publicly funded research-focused institution in Australia, recognized worldwide for its academic excellence. The faculty of the Department of Social Welfare at Incheon National University expressed that this achievement represents the fulfillment of INU’s vision to cultivate global talent and affirmed their commitment to continue providing opportunities for INU graduates to expand onto the world stage.