Dr Shian Yin
Dr Shian Yin is currently a Lecturer in Social Work at Birmingham City University (BCU) and holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Nottingham. Prior to joining BCU, he taught undergraduate courses in Health and Social Care at Coventry University (London campus). His research focuses on care-experienced young people, child and adult social care, youth transitions, and social policy analysis, with a particular interest in the Chinese context and beyond. Dr Yin has published widely in SSCI-indexed journals and specialises in qualitative research methods and thematic analysis. He is committed to bridging academic research with practice to promote social policy reform and improve the wellbeing of marginalised groups.
Areas of Expertise
- Experiences of adults who were in out-of-home care as children
- Care and leaving care
- Child and adult social care
- Children protection and welfare
- Resilience and Youth agency
Qualifications
- PhD in Social Work, University of Nottingham, award date: 14 Dec 2023
- Master’s degree in business management, University of Zurich, award date: 15 Jan 2019
- Master of Social Work, China Youth University for Political Sciences, award date: 1 Jul 2017
- BA (Hons) in Social Work, Nanjing Forestry University, award date: 1 Jul 2015
Memberships
- Member of International Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood from Care (INTRAC)
- Member of British Association for Chinese Studies (BACS)
- Member of Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Teaching
- Research Knowledge in Practice, Introduction to Research
Publications
Publications
Yin, S. (2025). Exploring Leaving-care and Post-care Experiences: What have helped Care Leavers in China? Children and Youth Services Review, 168, 108024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.108024[SSCI, JCR Q1]
Yin, S. & Zeng, Z. (2025). What Makes Care-experienced Young People ‘Survivors’ in Education: Evidence from China. Oxford Review of Education, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2025.2452455 [SSCI, JCR Q1]
Yin, S. (2025). “How does Living in Institution Impact Young Lives?” -Insights from Young People in Ci’aiyuan, Children & Society. 39(4), 760-769.https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12942 [SSCI, JCR Q2]
Yin, S. (2024). Risks and Challenges of Living in Institutions: Voices from Young People with Care Experience in China. Children and Youth Services Review, 163, 107776.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107776[SSCI, JCR Q1]
Yin, S. (2024). Investigating Local Policy Responses to Support Care-experienced Young People in China - A Scoping Review. Children and Youth Services Review, 157, 107433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107433[SSCI, JCR Q1]
Yin, S. (2024) “Unachievable Adulthood?!” - Exploring the journey of family formation for young people with care experience in China. Journal of Public Child Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2421255[SSCI, JCR Q3]
Yin, S. (2024). Navigating the world of work: experiences and perspectives of care leavers in China. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2376725 [SSCI, JCR Q3]
Yin, S. (2024). Exploring alternative care options for children in China: recent developments and challenges. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 19(3), 634–658. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2349156[SSCI, JCR Q3]
Yin, S. (2024). Inequalities and Young Lives of Care Leavers in China. In The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Problems. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68127-2_518-1
Celiksoy, E., Schwarz, K., Sawyer, L., Vargas-Goren, P., Ciucci, S., Yin, S., & Durán, L. (2024). Prevention and Identification of Children and Young Adults Experiencing, or at risk of, Modern Slavery in the UK. Rights Lab, University of Nottingham & Every Child Protected Against Trafficking UK. https://www.ecpat.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=9c06f157-31ab-491b-8857-07b643848429
Yin, S. (2023). Journeying through institutional care: youth transitioning to adulthood in China. Asian Anthropology, 23 (1), 64–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/1683478X.2023.2258652
Yin, S. (2023). Historical Transition of Gender Roles in China, Sociology Study, 13(4), 196-200. https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5526/2023.04.003
Yin, S. (2017). Research on Living Circumstances of Minors in Urban Subsistence Security Family. Master Thesis at China Youth University for Political Studies. https://kns.cnki.net/KCMS/detail/detail.aspx?dbname=CMFD201801&filename=1018036054.nh
Yin, S. (2016). Reflections on the Social Work Practice with Children in Difficulties, China Community Newspaper. http://practice.swchina.org/view/2016/0530/26563.shtml
Yin, S. (2016). Nvxing zhuyi zai shehui gongzuo lingyu de fazhan (The Development of Feminism in the Field of Social Work), Xuelilun, (9), 92-93.
Yin, S. (2016). Lao nianren jingshen weijie de shehui gongzuo jieru (Social Work Interacted into Spiritual Consolation for the Elderly—Based on Consideration of the Practice in a Nursing Home), Xinxibu, 13, 13+10.
Li, Z. & Yin, S. (2016). Lun gongjice gaige dui gupiao shide yingxiang (On the impact of supply-side reform on the stock market). Xiandai jingji xinxi, (8), 308-311.
Conferences
Yin, S. (2025, Mar). Leaving care: journeys into adulthood for young people in China [Conference presentation]. 2025 International Young Scholars Forum, Nanjing Normal University, China.
Yin, S. (2024, Dec). Youth being cared for: Life pathways of care leavers in China [Conference presentation]. The 7th International Young Scholars Forum, Nanchang University, China.
Yin, S. (2024, Sep). China’s care system and its children and youth: Risks, challenges, opportunities, and countermeasures [Conference presentation]. Young Scholars Forum, Xiamen University, China.
Nixon, E., Cluley, R., Le, K., & Yin, S. (2024, June). Outdoor advertising and the generation of surplus urban value [Conference presentation]. Livable Cities, University of London and AMPS, London, England.
Yin, S. (2022, Oct). Identification of risk factors of young people with care experience in China [Conference presentation]. Joint World Conference on Social Work Education and Social Development. Online conference hosted by International Council on Social Welfare.
Yin, S. (2022, Sep). Educational pathways of young people leaving institutional care in China [Conference presentation]. British Association for Chinese Studies Annual Conference 2022, Oxford, England.
Yin, S. (2022, June). How Covid-19 impacts the transition to adulthood for young people with care experience and social work respond to it [Conference presentation]. British Postgraduate Network for Chinese Studies Annual Conference 2022, Oxford, England.
Yin, S. (2022, April). Timing and context: Covid-19-associated influences on young people with care experience [Conference presentation]. ENQUIRE Conference 2022, Nottingham, England.
Yin, S. (2022, Feb). How do young people leave the care system in China? [Conference presentation]. East Asian Social Policy Postgraduate Workshop. Online conference hosted by The East Asian Social Policy Research Network.
Last update: 15th July 2025