DR. SABRI BIN SULAIMAN

Dr. Sabri Sulaiman is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia. Dr. Sabri Sulaiman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Administration and Justice with a minor in anthropology and sociology, a Master’s in Social Intervention, and a PhD in Social Services, all from the University of Malaya (UM). His academic journey has been marked by a consistent commitment to vulnerable and marginalised populations, with his Master’s thesis focusing on Social Deprivation and the Social Well-being of Malaysian Children, and his PhD research contributing to the development of a Community-Based Social Care Model for Street-Connected Children. Dr. Sabri has collaborated with and consulted for government agencies, including the National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB) or LPPKN. Dr. Sabri has developed a multidisciplinary approach that bridges social care, sociology, child and family wellbeing, social justice, an evidence-informed social interventions framework,  behavioural sciences, socio-legal and policy frameworks to improve and protect the health and well-being of vulnerable children, families, and groups. Specifically, his current research interests and primary work focus on: 

• Child and Family Rights, Protection, Well-being, and Policy: Dr. Sabri Sulaiman examines how poverty, inequality, and social exclusion shape child and family well-being, evaluating protection systems, mental health services, family support interventions, and welfare policies while measuring social well-being outcomes.

• Social Care, and Long-Term Care: He conducts comparative research on social and long-term care policies for children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, advancing debates on financing models, sustainability, and the care economy in ASEAN and Global South contexts. 

• Social Justice and Intervention: His work investigates systemic barriers to equity and designs evidence-based parent- and community-focused interventions to prevent violence, reduce adolescent health-risk behaviours, and enhance family functioning.

• Protection and Rights of Children in Adverse Contexts: He addresses violence, neglect, and exploitation affecting street-connected, undocumented, disabled, and justice-involved youth, developing child rights indicators and tools to improve access to care and protection services.

• Behavioural and Social Interventions in Vulnerable Populations: He designs and evaluates interventions targeting health-risk behaviours, antisocial conduct, and adolescent well-being, using socio-ecological and behavioural science approaches to foster resilience and prosocial behaviour.

• Rights, Justice, and Policy Frameworks: Dr. Sabri engages with international frameworks such as the CRC and SDGs to analyse the child protection system, highlight systemic discrimination, and advocate for equitable and accountable welfare systems.

• Social Rights, Health, and Social Well-Being: He examines how access to education, healthcare, housing, and welfare shapes health and quality of life, using multidimensional measures of well-being to inform inclusive social protection and justice-driven policy reform.

Dr Sabri welcomes expressions of interest and collaboration on any of the following areas.  Beyond academia, he is actively involved in applied research, collaboration and consultancy, particularly with ministries, government agencies, international organisations, and marginalised communities. His work reflects a deep commitment to addressing societal challenges through rigorous research, practical interventions, and impactful policy development. He is currently leading several major research initiatives, including "A Study on Risk Behaviours in At-Risk Adolescents in Malaysia" and "Creating Inclusive Digital Education for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia." He is also authoring two forthcoming books, namely "Community-based Social Care Model in Protecting Street-connected Children in Malaysia" and "Sociology Perspective on Justice and Care of Children and Families: Issues, Policy, and Intervention."  His work is internationally recognised, and he holds memberships in various professional bodies, including the Association of Southeast Asian Studies in the United Kingdom (ASEASUK), the Social Policy Association, the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, the Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW), and the International Sociological Association. Dr. Sabri has published widely in international and regional peer-reviewed journals, contributed chapters to scholarly books, and presented his research at numerous international conferences. He welcomes collaborative opportunities with scholars, practitioners, and institutions working to promote justice, equity, policy and social care systems that leave no one behind.