Courses

YEAR 1

POLI6601 Governance: Politics, Policies and Networks
This course provides an understanding of the key concept of governance in politics and public administration, and its applicability to the study of relevant issues in Hong Kong and China. It addresses different approaches to governance, both normative and empirical, and the “good governance” agenda. Attention is given to the relationship between governance and public sector reform in terms of new public management and the network mode of service delivery, as well as to the dynamics of collaborative governance, civil society and the diversity of organisations involved in policy formulation and service delivery. (Assessment: 100% coursework)

POLI6602 Policy Analysis: Skills and Practice
Conventional policy analysis has a strong connotation of rational planning and is anchored in the concept of efficiency. New modes of governance have challenged the adequacy of looking at policy analysis simply as a means to achieving efficiency. Policy analysis within new modes of governance requires appreciation and knowledge of designing institutions to harness the dynamics of collective action in multiple scales and levels, as well as the necessary skills to juggle the concerns of efficiency, transparency, accountability, and democracy. (Assessment: 100% coursework)

POLI6603 Workshop in Governance Research
This course introduces to students the logic and practice of social research design and methods. Specifically, it examines the logic of inference, issues involved in qualitative and quantitative inquiries, and alternative approaches to research design. The purpose of the course is pragmatic—it strives to equip students with necessary knowledge and skills to design a research project that can lead to a dissertation or research papers. The course will also examine the challenges and constraints that a researcher might face in conducting social research, and the possible ways to meet these challenges. (Assessment: 100% coursework)

POLI6604 Collaborative Management
A governance perspective focuses our attention on the management of the "extended state." The course examines various issues involved in the more complex nature of managing public services straddling the great divides between the state, markets, and civil society. In particular, the course focuses on inter-jurisdictional collaboration, third-party governance, network governance, collective action in multiple scales, and the engagement of civil society in policymaking and governance. (Assessment: 100% coursework)

GRSC6101 Responsible conduct of research
This module equips RPgs with essential vocabulary, principles, and practices conducive to the promotion of responsible conduct of research in general and in their relevant disciplines. The students will also encounter terminology, texts, and tenets that relate to good conduct in the teaching and research professions. (Assessment: 100% coursework)

GRSC6102 Stream-based responsible conduct of research
This module addresses responsible conduct of research in a number of topics germane to different disciplines, and RPgs are required to complete the following three-hour submodule: Working with Human Participants (Humanities) (subclass A&B)
The focus of the sub-module on “Working with Human Participants” is to understand the importance of research ethics when working with human participants. The content covers:
- Why it is crucial to comply with Principles on Human Research Ethics
- What are the underpinning Ethical Principles: the Belmont Principles
- Who should apply for ethical review by the Human Research Ethics Committee
- Basic Ethical Principles for Research Involving Human Participants
- What are the types of Review, Relevant Procedures and Possible Outcomes
(Assessment: 100% coursework)

YEAR 2

POLI6605 Ethics and Public Affairs
One of the central principles of a liberal society is that citizens irrespective of race, gender, religion, or other irrelevant characteristics should have an equal opportunity to access to rights, goods and services available in a given society. Although well enshrined in anti-discrimination laws in many liberal societies, this intuitively simple principle conceals conceptual difficulties and moral controversies. This course explores these difficult questions by analyzing the concept, principles and hard cases of discrimination, with reference to such policy issues as race, gender, sexual orientation, and age. (Assessment: 100% coursework)

POLI6606 Supervised Reading in Specialty of Public Administration
The course is tailor-made for one-to-one supervision and designed address particular bodies of literature that are relevant to individual specialties and research interests. Through intensive reading and a focus on research methods supporting a critical evaluation of relevant literature, an important end product of the course is a robust literature review of major theoretical and policy issues on which the dissertation research can be formulated and conducted. The course will enable a fine-tuning of dissertation writing and research methodology skills. (Assessment: 100% coursework)

POLI6607 Seminar on Governance and Public Affairs in China
The course is focused principally on governance experience in China, including Hong Kong. The coordinator will invite senior practitioners from government, policy advocates, and political actors to discuss critical policy issues on the understanding that Chatham House rules apply. Departmental members would also make significant contributions to the seminar based, for example, on their research, such as on civic engagement and participatory governance. (Assessment: 100% coursework)

POLI6608 Seminar on Governance and Public Affairs in East Asia
The course provides an opportunity for students to learn the latest developments in public governance and policy in East Asia, and will be organized in a workshop format emphasizing intensive learning and active participation of students. Distinguished scholars from various East Asian countries will be invited to contribute to the teaching of the course. The topics to be covered may vary each year, but they will cover governance issues, such as hybrid public-private partnerships, transnational linkages, civic engagement, and network governance. (Assessment: 100% coursework)