Dr. Teresa Valverde Esteve | Social Sciences | Innovative Research Award

University of Valencia | Spain

Dr. Teresa Valverde Esteve is a distinguished scholar and innovator whose work advances the fields of Physical Education and Didactics through evidence-based, interdisciplinary approaches. As a senior academic and leader of the MUAMI research group, she integrates active methodologies such as non-linear pedagogy, cooperative learning, service learning, gamification, and integrated foreign-language learning to enhance teaching and learning processes. Her scholarship spans more than fifty indexed journal publications, multiple internationally recognized research projects, and impactful collaborations with universities and research centers across Europe and Latin America. She has contributed to the development and validation of tools for analyzing teaching resources, evaluating physical activity promotion programs, and assessing physical fitness in both individual and team sports. Her research also explores environmental and social barriers to physical activity, offering insights that inform inclusive and context-sensitive educational strategies. In addition to her academic contributions, she has co-authored books and engages in multidisciplinary innovation through partnerships with experts from diverse fields. With a strong citation record, editorial experience, and leadership in innovative pedagogical research, Dr. Valverde Esteve continues to influence global perspectives on physical education, active learning, and the advancement of educational innovation.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Cano, J. C. Z., Valverde-Esteve, T., González-Fernández, F. T., & Ruiz-Montero, P. J. (2022). Efectos de un programa de Aprendizaje-Servicio sobre Ejercicio Físico concurrente con personas adultas-mayores: Pilates y juegos de socialización [Effects of a Concurrent Physical Activity Service-Learning program with older adults: Pilates and socialization games]. Retos, 45.

Chiva-Bartoll, O., Maravé-Vivas, M., Salvador-García, C., & Valverde-Esteve, T. (2021). Impact of a physical education service-learning programme on ASD children: A mixed-methods approach. Children and Youth Services Review, 121, 106008.

Díaz-Barahona, J., Esteve, T. V., & Moya-Mata, I. (2022). Estereotipos asociados al cuerpo humano: Análisis de aplicaciones móviles usadas en la educación físico-deportiva [Stereotypes associated with the human body: Analysis of mobile devices applications used in physical and sports education]. Pixel-Bit, Revista de Medios y Educación, 65, Article 90297.

Maravé-Vivas, M., Gil-Gómez, J., Valverde-Esteve, T., & Salvador-Garcia, C., & Chiva-Bartoll, O. (2022). A longitudinal study of the effects of service-learning on physical education teacher education students. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 787346.

Salvador-García, C., Chiva-Bartoll, O., Belaire-Meliá, A., & Valverde-Esteve, T. (2022). Motor performance in school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects of an extracurricular physical education program and socio-ecological correlates. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 34, 693–712.

Prof. Huiching Wu | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Professor at National Taiwan University | Taiwan

Professor Hui-Ching Wu is a highly accomplished scholar and practitioner in social work whose career integrates academic excellence, clinical practice, and impactful research. Her work bridges mental health, criminal justice, and social rehabilitation, with a focus on vulnerable populations and culturally informed care. She has published widely in leading journals and led major national and international projects that advance both policy and practice in mental health and forensic social work.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Orcid

Educational Background

Professor Wu earned her doctoral and master of philosophy degrees from Columbia University School of Social Work, building a strong foundation in advanced social work research. She also holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania, equipping her with both theoretical and practical expertise in clinical and community-based interventions.

Professional Experience

Professor Wu has extensive teaching and leadership experience, currently serving as a professor at the National Taiwan University, where she also chaired the Department of Social Work. Prior to this, she held academic positions at Chung-Shan Medical University, Chia-Nian University of Pharmacy & Science, and Kaohsiung Medical University. She began her academic career as a teaching assistant at Columbia University. Alongside academia, she has engaged in clinical practice as a licensed clinical social worker and psychiatric social worker in both Taiwan and the United States, with experience in psychotherapy, psychiatric care, and social intervention research.

Research Interests

Her research interests span mental health, psychiatric rehabilitation, substance use, trauma, forensic social work, cultural competence, human rights, and de-stigmatization. She has contributed significantly to developing trauma-informed and recovery-oriented care systems, evaluating forensic social work competencies, studying drug users’ interactions with the justice system, and integrating artificial intelligence into risk assessment and rehabilitation models.

Awards and Honors

Professor Wu has been recognized through multiple national and international research grants funded by ministries of health, science, and justice, reflecting the value and impact of her work on public policy and professional practice. Her roles as principal investigator and co-investigator in high-profile projects highlight her leadership in advancing evidence-based social work practices.

Research Skills

Her research skills include program design and evaluation, intervention model development, cross-disciplinary collaboration, advanced qualitative and quantitative methodologies, scale construction, and the application of trauma-informed and culturally competent frameworks. She also brings expertise in integrating emerging technologies with social science research to address challenges in criminal justice and mental health care.

Publications

Developing a General Forensic Social Work Competency Scale in Taiwan
Year: 2025

Drug-Involved Women’s Interactions with Criminal Justice Professionals: A Conflict Theory and Therapeutic Jurisprudence Perspective
Year: 2025

Correctional Officers’ Perceptions of Occupational Deviance in Taiwan: A Combined Theoretical Perspective on Salient Individual and Organizational Dynamics
Year: 2025

Parents’ Methamphetamine Use: The Pilot-Indigenous SHIFT in Taiwan
Year: 2025

Associations Between Psychosocial Influence, Positive Thinking, and Vaccine Attitudes in Patients with Schizophrenia During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Year: 2025

Conclusion

Professor Hui-Ching Wu exemplifies the integration of scholarship, practice, and leadership in social work. Her contributions have shaped academic knowledge, influenced social policy, and improved service delivery systems for marginalized populations. With a strong record of teaching, research, and clinical practice, she continues to be a leading figure in advancing mental health care, forensic social work, and culturally informed social interventions worldwide.

Featured Publications

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