Seung-Hwan Ham, Ph.D.

Research Interests

Seung-Hwan Ham is an educational researcher specializing in public policy analysis and evaluation. His scholarship centers on school reform and educational governance, with the goal of developing effective strategies to build equitable educational systems that embrace all learners. His research investigates how institutional structures and policy arrangements affect the academic achievement and socioemotional well-being of students from socioeconomically minoritized groups. Conducting comprehensive analyses of large-scale (often cross-national) datasets, he investigates the role of policy-relevant factors and school organizational characteristics in promoting equitable, high-quality learning opportunities.

As a social scientist, he has published extensively across the fields of education, public administration, and policy studies. A core theme of his research is the interplay between educational policies and other public policy domains, an area that has been relatively overlooked in educational research. He underscores the importance of analyzing cross-sector policy interactions, advocating a systemic approach to understanding educational interventions. This perspective highlights the synergies and potential conflicts between different policy areas, advancing knowledge of both their intended and unintended consequences. His work significantly contributes to understanding education as a social institution that dynamically interacts with other social institutions within broader sociopolitical and economic contexts.

In addition, as an educational theorist, Seung-Hwan Ham has developed an uncertainty management perspective on school leadership. Recognizing that high-quality teaching is inherently complex and challenging, he emphasizes the importance of addressing pedagogical uncertainty. His research advocates policy frameworks and leadership practices that encourage educators to embrace—rather than avoid—uncertainty. This approach provides fresh insights into core concepts in educational administration, such as collaboration, participative decision-making, and distributed leadership. By identifying conditions that empower educators and school leaders to effectively navigate uncertainty, his work aims to enhance educational experiences and outcomes for all students. 

Teaching Philosophy

At Hanyang University, Seung-Hwan Ham actively teaches courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His undergraduate courses include Understanding Education, Educational Administration and Policy, and Data Analysis in Educational Administration. At the graduate level, he teaches courses such as Seminar in Educational Policy Studies, International Analysis of Educational Policies, and Educational Leadership and Social Change.

His teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that education is a transformative journey that empowers students to realize their full potential and become lifelong learners. As an educator, his primary goal is to cultivate an interactive and inclusive environment that encourages critical thinking and creativity, structuring courses to emphasize inquiry-oriented and project-based learning. He frequently incorporates real-world problems to help students connect theory with practice. Seung-Hwan Ham views himself as a facilitator who guides students in their learning journeys. He promotes a growth mindset, encouraging students to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and persist in pursuing new discoveries. Seung-Hwan Ham is a recipient of the Innovative Teaching Award from Hanyang University, an honor that highlights the substantial impact of his teaching. 

Service and Leadership

Seung-Hwan Ham currently serves as the editor-in-chief of two academic journals: Multicultural Education Review (Scopus-indexed), an international journal published by Routledge, and the Korean Journal of Educational Administration (KCI-indexed), a leading domestic journal published in Korean. Additionally, he is a member of the editorial team for the Journal of Educational Administration (SSCI-indexed), the first international refereed journal in the field of educational leadership and management.

In addition, Seung-Hwan Ham has significantly contributed to Hanyang University through various leadership roles. He currently serves as director of the Hanyang Center for Institutional Data & Educational Analytics (Hanyang IDEA Center), overseeing the university’s institutional research initiatives. Previously, as Associate Vice President for Educational Affairs, he led university-wide educational innovation and directed both the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Leadership Center, implementing strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing teaching and learning across the university.