TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i

1. INTRODUCTION

Aims of PPP 1
Major Intended Learning Outcomes (MILOs) 1
Degree Requirements 2
Major Requirement 2
Second Major / Minor(s) / Free Elective (s) 5
CHIN1001 University Chinese I 5
Indicative Study Plans 6
Credit Transfer and Exemption 13

2. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Introduction 14
Communication Channels 14

3. TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS

Lectures 16
Medium of Instruction 16
Written Assignments 16
Student Exchange Programme 16
Internship 17
Discovery-enriched Curriculum and Outcomes-based Teaching and
Learning (DEC – OBTL) 17
Ethical Review of Research Involving Human Subjects (information
provided by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences) 22

4. ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM

Academic Honesty 23
What is plagiarism 23
Advice Corner 24

5. PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAMME

Assessment and Examinations 26

Support for Students 30
 Acknowledgement

References have been made to various publications of the Academic Regulations and Records
Office in the preparation of this handbook.

Note: Should there be any discrepancies between the information contains in this handbook
and that in the University website, the latter prevails.

i
 Bachelor of Social Sciences in Public Policy and Politics
(BSS PPP)

1. INTRODUCTION

Aims of PPP

1. provide students with a comprehensive education in the common core theories,

concepts, and knowledge bases of public policy, public management, and political
science.

2. enable students to specialize in public policy, public management, or political science

for gaining an understanding of the essential theories, principles, dynamics, and analytic
approaches of these bodies of knowledge.

3. equip students with the theoretical, conceptual, and analytical tools to understand
comprehensively public policy, public management, and political developments in
Hong Kong, China, and the contemporary global world.

4. produce graduates who can meet effectively the human resources needs of a wide range
of public and private sector employers in administrative, management, and policy and
political analysis positions, as well as in the media and non-governmental organizations.

Major Intended Learning Outcomes (MILOs)

Upon successful completion of this Major, students should be able to:

1. understand and analyze issues in public affairs and public management at the local,
international, and global levels.

2. discover new challenges and possible solutions facing Hong Kong and/or the world within
the broad spheres of political studies, public policy, and public management.

3. apply communication and leadership skills as they relate to public policy, management, and
politics.

4. develop the intellectual and analytical competence required for effective performance and
life-long learning in a range of public- and private-sector careers related to policy studies,
public administration/management, and public affairs.

5. evaluate critically the ethical issues in public policy, management and politics for creating
new ideas.

1
Degree Requirements

Normative 4-year Advanced Advanced

Requirements
Degree Standing I Standing II

Gateway Education requirement 30 credit units 21 credit units 12 credit units

College requirement 6 credit units 6 credit units 0 credit unit
Major requirement 63 credit units 48 credit units 48 credit units
Free electives / Minor (if applicable) 21 credit units 15 credit units 0 credit unit
Minimum Graduation Requirement: 120 credit units 90 credit units 60 credit units
Maximum Credit Units Permitted: 144 credit units 114 credit units 84 credit units

Source: “Programme and Courses – Bachelor’s Degree Programmes” website, CityU,

http://www.cityu.edu.hk/catalogue/ug/current/Major/BSS1_PPP-0.htm

Major Requirement (63 credits)

Foundation-year Courses (15 credits)

Course Course Title Credit
Level
Code Units
PIA2105 Introduction to Political Science B2 3
PIA2107 Government and Law B2 3
PIA2307 Introduction to Public Governance B2 3
PIA2400 Introduction to Ethics and Public Policy B2 3
PIA2530 Exploring Public Affairs in Globalised Cities B2 3

Streams Core Courses (students must specialize in ONE stream)

Political Science and Governance Stream (36 credit units)

Course Course Title Credit
Level
Code Units
PIA2012 Social Research Methods B2 3
PIA2050 Comparative Politics and Societies B2 3
PIA2104 Hong Kong Politics B2 3
PIA2402 Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy B2 3
PIA3032 State and Economy in Asia B3 3
PIA3109 Approaches in Political Analysis B3 3
PIA3111 Democracy and Democratization B3 3
PIA3121 Theories of International Relations B3 3
PIA3127 Political Institutions and Behaviour B3 3
PIA3607^ Advanced Research Methodology B3 3
PIA3608^ Data Analytics and Visualisation for Public Affairs B3 3
PIA4602 Undergraduate Capstone Project B4 6
^Note: Students will only be allowed to take one of these courses during their candidature.
Public Policy and Management Stream (36 credit units)
2
 Course Course Title Credit
Level
Code Units
PIA2012 Social Research Methods B2 3
PIA2308 Working with Clients in Public Service B2 3
PIA2524 Management Skills for Public Managers B2 3
PIA3241 Policy Processes and Institutions B3 3
PIA3306 Organizational Behaviour for Public Management B3 3
PIA3307 Managing Financial Resources in Public and Nonprofit
B3 3
Sectors
PIA3310 Smart Government and Sustainable Cities B3 3
PIA3316 Managing Human Resources in Public and Nonprofit
B3 3
Sectors
PIA3607^ Advanced Research Methodology B3 3
PIA3608^ Data Analytics and Visualisation for Public Affairs B3 3
PIA3921 Urban and Social Policy B3 3
PIA4602 Undergraduate Capstone Project B4 6
^Note: Students will only be allowed to take one of these courses during their candidature.

Stream Electives

Political Science and Governance Stream (any 12 credit units from the following list)

Course Course Title Level Credit

Code Units
PIA2201 Public Policy and Social Development B2 3
PIA2224 Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development B2 3
PIA2405 Introduction to Confucian Political Philosophy B2 3
PIA3002 PIA Internship B3 3
PIA3031 Political Dynamics in Asia B3 3
PIA3112 Conflict and Resolution B3 3
PIA3113 Issues in Contemporary World Politics B3 3
PIA3120 Politics and Media B3 3
PIA3122 Rethinking the Value of Democracy B3 3
PIA3241 Policy Processes and Institutions B3 3
PIA3310 Smart Government and Sustainable Cities B3 3
PIA3315 Ethics in Government B3 3
PIA3600 Experiential Learning for Public Affairs B3 3
PIA3710 Contemporary Chinese Politics B3 3
PIA3900 Innovation and Governance B3 3
PIA4130 U.S. Politics and Foreign Policy B4 3
PIA4142 Global Public Health B4 3
PIA4152 Globalisation and Its Discontents B4 3
PIA4153 European Politics and International Relations B4 3

3
Public Policy and Management Stream (any 12 credit units from the following list)

Course Course Title Level Credit

Code Units
PIA2201 Public Policy and Social Development B2 3
PIA2224 Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development B2 3
PIA2402 Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy B2 3
PIA2527 Law for Housing Studies (subject to approval) B2 3
PIA3002 PIA Internship B3 3
PIA3032 State and Economy in Asia B3 3
PIA3120 Politics and Media B3 3
PIA3207 Health Care Policy and Ethics B3 3
PIA3309 Comparative Public Policy and Management B3 3
PIA3410 Management Ethics B3 3
Building Technology and Service for Housing
PIA3525 B3 3
Managers (subject to approval)
PIA3600 Experiential Learning for Public Affairs B3 3
PIA3900 Innovation and Governance B3 3
PIA4142 Global Public Health B4 3
PIA4152 Globalisation and Its Discontents B4 3
PIA4953 Housing Policy in Contemporary Society B4 3
PIA4954 Housing Management and Practice B4 3

The Department has a preset schedule on course offerings in different semesters. Not all
the courses will be offered in each semester. Students who resume their studies upon their
leave of absence may not be able to take the course(s) required for graduation in the
semester immediately after their leave of absence. The Department is not obliged to offer
substitute courses for these students. In order for them to graduate “on time”, students have
the responsibility to plan well ahead for their studies.

4
Second Major / Minor(s) / Free Elective(s)

In addition to the above compulsory components, students may take a second Major to fulfill
the graduation requirements. Students may also choose to complete Minor(s) and/or Free
Electives to fulfill their degree requirements.

Students should complete all the degree requirements within the stipulated maximum period of
study, inclusive of any change of Majors, periods of leave of absence and suspension of studies.

There are cases that the same course may serve for Major, Minor and as a Free Elective.
However, regardless of the number of requirements that such course serves to fulfill, the credits
earned from the course would only count once toward the total credits on graduation.

Students should pay attention to the announcement made by the University for the procedures
of declaring a second Major or Minor(s).

CHIN1001 University Chinese I

Students with an HKDSE score below 4 in Chinese, or an HKALE AS Chinese Language and
Culture score below D are required to take a 3-credit course CHIN1001 University Chinese I.
The course will not be counted towards the minimum credit units required for graduation and
will not be included in the calculation of GPA.

Students should always refer to the Academic Regulations for 4-Year Undergraduate Degrees
for the detailed regulations in association with their studies.

Table 1 shows the indicative study plan for PPP student admitted under Normative 4-Year.

5
 Table 1
Indicative Study Plan – Normative 4-Year

Year 1 (Foundation Year Courses)

Semester A Semester B
PIA2307 Introduction to Public Governance PIA2105 Introduction to Political Science
PIA2107 Government and Law
PIA2530 Exploring Public Affairs in Globalised Cities
PIA2400 Introduction to Ethics and Public Policy
College Foundation course #1 College Foundation course #2
EAP / GE1401 / GE2412 / Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy / GE Courses / College-specified Courses **
Year 2
Semester A Semester B
Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream
(PSG) (PPM) (PSG) (PPM)
PIA3607 Advanced Research Methodology @ / PIA3608 Data Analytics and
PIA2012 Social Research Methods
Visualisation for Public Affairs @
PIA2050 Comparative Politics and PIA2308 Working with Clients in Public PIA2402 Introduction to Social and PIA3310 Smart Government and
Societies Service Political Philosophy Sustainable Cities
PIA2524 Management Skills for Public
PIA2104 Hong Kong Politics
Managers PIA3316 Managing Human Resources in
PIA3111 Democracy and Democratization
PIA3306 Organizational Behaviour for Public and Nonprofit Sectors
PIA3032 State and Economy in Asia
Public Management
GE1401 / GE2412 / Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy / GE Courses / College-specified Courses **
Year 3
Semester A Semester B
PIA3127 Political Institutions and PIA3307 Managing Financial Resources in
PIA3109 Approaches in Political Analysis PIA3241 Policy Processes and Institutions
Behaviour Public and Nonprofit Sectors
PIA3121 Theories of International
PIA3921 Urban and Social Policy
Relations PSG elective #2 PPM elective #2
PSG elective #1 PPM elective #1
GE1401 / GE2412 / Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy / GE Courses / College-specified Courses **
Year 4
Semester A Semester B
Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream
(PSG) (PPM) (PSG) (PPM)
PSG elective #3 PPM elective #3 PSG elective #4 PPM elective #4
PIA4602 Undergraduate Capstone Project PIA4602 Undergraduate Capstone Project
GE1401 / GE2412 / Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy / GE Courses / College-specified Courses **

6
@Note: Depending on the availability of resources, only one of these courses will be offered. The Department will decide on the offering plan at the
beginning of each academic year. Students will only be allowed to take one of these courses during their candidature.

Students can take part in Go Global Activities in any semester, depending on the availability of such activities. However, Year 1 students (4-year study)
are normally not encouraged to participate in student exchange.

A student is required to complete at least 120 credits in order to graduate.

Each student is required to take 12 - 18 credits per semester.

Students are required to complete the following University requirements before they graduate:
- 3 credits of Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy
- 6 credits of English Requirements (GE1401 and GE2412) *
- 12 credits of GE Distributional Requirements
- 9 credits of College-specified Courses
- 6 credits of College Requirement courses for Normative 4-Year students must be completed within the first year.

* Students with Level “4” (or equivalent) and above in the HKDSE English assessment will proceed to GE English courses directly. For those who have
obtained Level “3” or below (equivalent) in HKDSE English assessment will be required to take a minimum of 6 credits of English proficiency courses
in the English Language Centre before they proceed to GE English courses.

** Students are strongly encouraged to adhere to this study plan. In case students are unable to take the courses as shown in this plan in a particular
semester due to justifiable reasons, they should make sure that they complete the requirements as soon as possible if they wish to graduate on time.
Students who encounter problems in College-specified courses / College Foundation courses, please contact the College Office for assistance.

The offering of the above courses depends on a number of factors. The Department may need to change the offering plan as deemed appropriate.

7
 Table 2
Indicative Study Plan – Advanced Standing I

Year 2
Semester A Semester B
Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream
(PSG) (PPM) (PSG) (PPM)
PIA3607 Advanced Research Methodology @ / PIA3608 Data Analytics and
PIA2012 Social Research Methods
Visualisation for Public Affairs @
PIA2050 Comparative Politics and PIA2308 Working with Clients in Public PIA2402 Introduction to Social and PIA3310 Smart Government and
Societies Service Political Philosophy Sustainable Cities
PIA2524 Management Skills for Public
PIA2104 Hong Kong Politics
Managers PIA3316 Managing Human Resources in
PIA3111 Democracy and Democratization
PIA3306 Organizational Behaviour for Public and Nonprofit Sectors
PIA3032 State and Economy in Asia
Public Management
GE1401 / GE2412 / Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy / GE Courses / College-specified Courses **
Year 3
Semester A Semester B
PIA3127 Political Institutions and PIA3307 Managing Financial Resources in
PIA3109 Approaches in Political Analysis PIA3241 Policy Processes and Institutions
Behaviour Public and Nonprofit Sectors
PIA3121 Theories of International
PIA3921 Urban and Social Policy
Relations PSG elective #2 PPM elective #2
PSG elective #1 PPM elective #1
GE1401 / GE2412 / Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy / GE Courses / College-specified Courses **
Year 4
Semester A Semester B
Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream
(PSG) (PPM) (PSG) (PPM)
PSG elective #3 PPM elective #3 PSG elective #4 PPM elective #4
PIA4602 Undergraduate Capstone Project PIA4602 Undergraduate Capstone Project
GE1401 / GE2412 / Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy / GE Courses / College-specified Courses **

*Note: Depending on the availability of resources, only one of these courses will be offered. The Department will decide on the offering plan at the
beginning of each academic year. Students will only be allowed to take one of these courses during their candidature.

Students can take part in Go Global Activities in any semester, depending on the availability of such activities. However, ASI students shall normally not participate
in student exchange in their first semester.

A student is required to complete at least 90 credits in order to graduate.

8
Each student is required to take 12 - 18 credits per semester.

Students are required to complete the following University requirements before they graduate:
- 3 credits of Chinese Civilisation – History and Philosophy
- 6 credits of English Requirements (GE1401 and GE2412) *
- 6 credits of GE Distributional Requirements
- 6 credits of College-specified Courses
- 6 credits of College Foundation courses for ASI students must be completed within the first year.

* Students with Level “4” (or equivalent) and above in the HKDSE English assessment will proceed to GE English courses directly. For those who have obtained
Level “3” or below (equivalent) in HKDSE English assessment will be required to take a minimum of 6 credits of English proficiency courses in the English
Language Centre before they proceed to GE English courses.

** Students are strongly encouraged to adhere to this study plan. In case students are unable to take the courses as shown in this plan in a particular semester due
to justifiable reasons, they should make sure that they complete the requirements as soon as possible if they wish to graduate on time. Students who encounter
problems in College-specified courses / College Foundation courses, please contact the College Office for assistance.

The offering of the above courses depends on a number of factors. The Department may need to change the offering plan as deemed appropriate.

9
 Table 3
Indicative Study Plan – Advanced Standing II

Year 3
Semester A Semester B
PIA3607 Advanced Research Methodology * / PIA3608 Data Analytics and
PIA2012 Social Research Methods
Visualisation for Public Affairs *
PIA2050 Comparative Politics and PIA2308 Working with Clients in Public PIA2402 Introduction to Social and PIA3306 Organizational Behaviour for
Societies Service Political Philosophy Public Management
PIA2524 Management Skills for Public PIAL3310 Smart Government and
PIA2104 Hong Kong Politics
Managers Sustainable Cities
PIA3111 Democracy and Democratization
PIA3307 Managing Financial Resources in PIA3316 Managing Human Resources in
PIA3109 Approaches in Political Analysis
Public and Nonprofit Sectors Public and Nonprofit Sectors
PSG elective #1 PPM elective #1 PSG elective #2 PPM elective #2
GE2412 / GE Courses / College-specified Courses **
Year 4
Semester A Semester B
Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream Political Science and Governance Stream Public Policy and Management Stream
(PSG) (PPM) (PSG) (PPM)
PIA3127 Political Institutions and
PIA3032 State and Economy in Asia PIA3241 Policy Processes and Institutions
Behaviour
PIA3121 Theories of International
PIAL3921 Urban and Social Policy PPM elective #4
Relations PSG elective #4
PSG elective #3 PPM elective #3
PIA4602 Undergraduate Capstone Project PIA4602 Undergraduate Capstone Project
3 credits of GE Distributional Requirements
6 credits of College-specified Courses

*Note: Depending on the availability of resources, only one of these courses will be offered. The Department will decide on the offering plan at the
beginning of each academic year. Students will only be allowed to take one of these courses during their candidature.

Students can take part in Go Global Activities in any semester, depending on the availability of such activities. However, ASII students shall normally not participate
in student exchange in their first semester.

A student is required to complete at least 60 credits in order to graduate.

Each student is required to take 12 - 18 credits per semester.

.
Students are required to complete the following University requirements before they graduate:
- 3 credits of English Requirements
- 3 credits of GE Distributional Requirements
10
 - 6 credits of College-specified Courses

Students are strongly encouraged to adhere to this study plan. In case students are unable to take the courses as shown in this plan in a particular semester due to
justifiable reasons, they should make sure that they complete the requirements as soon as possible if they wish to graduate on time.

The offering of the above courses depends on a number of factors. The Department may need to change the offering plan as deemed appropriate.

11
Major Curriculum (Please refer to Table 1)

The major core which is made up of required and elective courses has two components:

(1) Foundation-year Courses

(2) Streams

The distinctive parts of this major are the Foundation-year courses and the streams that cover the
second, third and fourth years of the programme. We believe it is essential to develop this mix of
general social science skills and specialist knowledge. The two streams build on existing areas of
Departmental expertise to generate a menu of offerings that is likely to be very attractive to students.
All students who meet the requirements for award degree will graduate with a BSocSc in Public
Policy and Politics. Students’ stream specializations will be shown on their transcript. In presenting
themselves for further study at the postgraduate level, or to employers, they will of course be able
to make clear the stream they have taken and the research skills and specialist knowledge they have
acquired.

Foundation year courses

Foundation year courses are intended to provide a firm theoretical grounding in key intellectual
disciplines that are essential for a sound social science education and training. The courses equip
students with essential conceptual tools and basic methodologies for conducting systematic
inquiries to understand the social world, to organize social institutions and shape public life from
a plurality of perspectives and from a multiplicity of roles and functions in modern society.

Streams

Students will be required to select one study stream. Each stream comprises at least 48 credits.
Students will be able to choose one of the following streams: Political Science and Governance,
Public Policy and Management. For Political Science and Governance and Public Policy and
Management, students will take stream core and elective courses. Electives offer students the
chance to engage in in-depth study of issues that interest them in their streams. By providing a
range of electives from which students can choose, we will generate an important element of
flexibility at the level of individual student choice.

12
Political Science and Governance

The Political Science and Governance stream seeks to cover central aspects of political science and
international relations. Students are exposed to major concepts and debates in these disciplines,
and to global trends and developments in the contemporary world. Students graduating from this
stream will have a solid foundation in political science and a good awareness of international
developments. These credentials are crucial for nurturing an active citizenship, a cosmopolitan
outlook, a mindset for rigorous rational analysis of current affairs, and an international vision.

Students in the Political Science and Governance stream will be selected to study in the four-year
two-certificate joint bachelor’s degree programme with Columbia University. Students will receive
Bachelor of Social Sciences in Public Policy and Politics conferred by City University of Hong
Kong and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science conferred by Columbia University. Students will
spend their first two years at City University of Hong Kong and stay at Columbia University for
their third and fourth years.

Public Policy and Management

Students taking the Public Policy and Management stream need to develop skills in the
fundamentals of policy analysis and the processes of management in the public sector, ranging
from the management of people and financial resources through to performance evaluation, against
the background of growing public private interface and globalization. Students will also be
sensitized to current debates on a wide range of policy areas: housing, urban, the environment,
education and health care both in Hong Kong and internationally.

Students in the Public Policy and Management stream are eligible to register as a Professional
Property Manager (Tier 1) under the Property Management Service Ordinance if they are able to
complete courses prescribed by the Hong Kong Institute of Housing and Chartered Institute of
Housing. Separate announcement on the details will be made in early 2023.

Credit Transfer and Exemption

According to the University Academic Regulations, students admitted with advanced standing will
not be entitled to any credit transfer on the basis of their entry qualifications. In other words,
students with ‘Advanced Standing I’ and ‘Advanced Standing II’ of the PPP Major will not be
granted credit transfer for courses they have completed in their previous studies. Instead, students
admitted with advanced standing may be granted exemption from specific courses based on their
prior studies. This means that students with ‘Advanced Standing I’ and ‘Advanced Standing II’ of
the PPP Major may apply for exemption from taking certain PPP courses that are similar or
equivalent to the courses they have satisfactorily completed in their previous studies. Yet, upon
approval on course exemption, students are required to take other courses offered by the University
to earn the credits for fulfilling the minimum graduation requirement.

Notwithstanding the above, students of the PPP Major are eligible to apply for credit transfer for
credits earned at other institutions throughout their studies, including transfer credits for similar
courses they have satisfactorily completed during the student exchange programme.

13
2. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (PIA)

Introduction

The Department is multidisciplinary and multinational that brings an energetic international and
local orientation to the classroom. Faculty members also collaborate with other departments and
schools within and outside the university. We conduct cutting-edge research on public and
nonprofit management, urban policies, politics and comparative governance, and the Department
is recognized as a leader in the region. Faculty members’ contact information is available at the
Department’s website (https://www.cityu.edu.hk/pia/).

Communication Channels

There are several channels of communication through which students can access information and
express their concerns and opinions:

Faculty/Teaching Staff

Our teachers endeavour to assist students with matters relating to their study. The Programme
Leader provides the same kind of assistance for all students in the programme, in addition to being
active in continuously monitoring the operation of the programme. Students are encouraged to
provide feedback and comments through the Teaching and Learning Questionnaire administered
every semester.

Programme Committee

The Programme Committee plays a very important role in maintaining the quality of the
programme to ensure the attainment of its aims and objectives. The membership of the Programme
Committee includes the Associate Head of the Department, the Programme Leader, and other
academic staff members appointed by the Head of the Department. Two students from each year
of study are elected to represent their respective cohorts. The Programme Committee is a valuable
channel of communication between students and the Department. Student representatives are able
to express opinions. The Committee meets at least once every semester.

Student-staff Consultative Forum

The Department conducts student-staff consultative forum in every regular semester for students
to exchange views with the Programme Leader.

General Office

The Department’s General Office is located at 5320, Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic
Building. The normal office hours of departmental General Office are from 9:00 am - 5:50 pm,
Monday to Friday (except for public holidays).

Canvas (e-learning portal)

14
Canvas is the e-learning portal used by CityU. It enables the easy dispatch of course information,
course announcement, timetable, lecture notes. Course Leaders, Tutors and Project Supervisors
often use the Canvas to provide information and instructions to students. It also serves as a platform
for communication between students and teaching staff as well as among students themselves.

All students are required to submit their coursework assignments in soft copy to the staff
concerned via the Canvas through which a clear record of student submissions can be
maintained. Students are advised to refer to the Canvas User Guide for Students to
familiarize themselves with the operations of the Canvas system.

Electronic Mail

Each student is assigned with a CityU email account. All official email communication of the
University will be made through this account. Students are reminded to check their CityU email
account regularly.

15
3. TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS

Lectures

Lectures are one of the principal methods used by the Department to impart course information to
students. Regular attendance is important as the lectures provide an overall structure for courses and
because they are used to introduce basic concepts and theoretical principles which are the subject of
tutorials and assignments. Most students take notes during the lectures. In some courses, hand-outs
are provided. If students have any substantial difficulties with the material that has been presented,
they should request an explanation from either the lecturer after the lecture or from their tutor during
tutorials.

In some courses guest speakers will be invited to address students. Experts and relevant authorities
may be invited to conduct guest lectures and seminars to deepen students' understanding of the subject.

Medium of Instruction

Unless otherwise determined by Senate for a specific course or programme, the medium of
instruction and assessment at the University is English.

Written Assignments

Students are required to submit a variety of written assignments and essays throughout the programme
to demonstrate the degree to which they have been able to assimilate the lecture and reading materials.

Term Papers

Throughout the programme of study there will be a series of term papers. These assignments have
been set so that students can demonstrate the extent to which they have understood the main concepts
and theories in the courses, as well as their ability to apply them. It is essential that these are written
in a clear and organised manner.

Meeting Deadlines

Students have the responsibility of meeting deadlines and of notifying their tutor should they have
difficulty in meeting deadlines due to valid reasons. Late assignments without an official extension
may be penalised. It is important that students plan their work so that they can meet all their deadlines.

Student Exchange Programme

The Department has established student exchange links with a number of overseas universities.
Students who have successfully applied for student exchange will be required to study abroad for one
full semester with a pre-approved study plan. Normally, credit transfer will be arranged for students
who have completed the student exchange programme satisfactorily.

16
Internship

PIA3002/PIA3800 PIA Internship/Professional Internship is an elective for PPP students of the

Politics, and Public Management streams. PIA internship is designed to provide students with real
life working experience in local and/or international contexts for a clearly defined period of time.
Students are expected to gain practical understanding of the professional contexts and operations
of public organizations, private sector, NGOs or non-profit organizations and to apply some of the
major-related theories, skills and work ethics they have learned in the formal curriculum.

The course provides a logical channel for the application of theoretical concepts and is a source of
practitioner input into curriculum development. It is also an additional forum for student
assessment. From the perspective of the sponsoring organizations, internships allow the evaluation
of future employees, while students gain an opportunity to enhance their understanding and to
reflect critically upon the nature of the world of work. They also gain an insight into the concerns
of potential employers.

Discovery-enriched Curriculum and Outcomes-based Teaching and Learning (DEC-OBTL)

The Discovery-enriched Curriculum and Outcome-based Teaching and Learning (DEC-OBTL) is

a student-centred and proactive approach to promote a culture of knowledge and innovation in our
teaching and student learning. PIA adopts a holistic and seamless approach in which the discovery-
enriched OBTL framework is applied to all taught courses as well as co-curriculum learning
activities, including the student exchange and professional internship programmes.

The DEC approach is to ignite a passion for knowledge and discovery in our students. Learning
outcomes are what a student can do as result of a learning experience. Simply put, what a CityU
graduate can do upon the completion of the programme. Under the concept of constructive
alignment, the teaching and learning activities and the assessment tasks of each course are aligned
with the Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) which, in turn, are aligned with the Major
Intended Outcomes (MILOs) and, ultimately, with the CityU graduate outcomes.

In sum, the PPP Major is an ability-based and discovery-enriched curriculum which aims to provide
students with a comprehensive education in the common core theories, concepts, and knowledge bases
of public policy, public management, and political science; enable students to specialize in public
policy and management or political science and gain an understanding of the essential theories,
principles, dynamics, and analytic approaches of these bodies of knowledge; produce graduates who
can meet effectively the human resources needs of a wide range of public and private sector employers
in administrative, management, and policy and political analysis positions, as well as in the media and
non-governmental organizations; produce students with the theoretical, conceptual, and analytical
tools to understand comprehensively public policy, public management, and political developments
in Hong Kong, China, and the contemporary connected world.

17
 DEC-OBTLs Mapping with CityU Graduate Outcomes

Supported & PPP Major

Various Teaching & Reinforced Intended
Learning Activities PPP Taught Courses by Various Learning
(Classroom-based) ILOs Assessment Outcomes
(MILOs)
Tasks

Student Exchange ILOs

Experiential Learning Internship ILOs City

(Co-curricular Activities) University
Graduate
Other Co-curricular Activities ILOs Outcomes

18
 PPP MILOs

1. Understand and analyze issues in public affairs

and public management at the local,
international, and global levels.
2. Discover new challenges and possible solutions
facing Hong Kong and/or the world within the CityU Ideal Graduate Outcomes
broad spheres of political studies, public policy,
and public management. A. Globally minded professional
3. Apply communication and leadership skills as they B. Innovative and critical thinker
relate to public policy, management, and politics. C. Effective communicator
4. Develop the intellectual and analytical competence D. Lifelong learner
required for effective performance and life- long E. Civically-oriented individual
learning in a range of public- and private-sector Internship DEC-ILOs
careers related to policy studies, public
. management, and public affairs. 1. Discover major-related knowledge and
5. Evaluate critically the ethical issues in public apply multi-disciplinary critical thinking
policy, management and politics for creating new skills to solve problems and create new
ideas. ideas in one or more designated areas of
the work experience
2. Change insight into the range of
attitudes and values arising from the
complexity and diversity of work
relations, and develop an ability to
Co-curricular Activities DEC-ILOS Student Exchange DEC-ILOs collaborate effectively in a broad range
of teamwork situations
1. Communicate effectively in both 1. Discover cultural differences and learn how 3. Consider and evaluate their own work
English and Putonghua in academic, to collaborate with people of different experience in a reflexive manner, with
professional and social activities. cultures and nationalities in an international reference to academic and professional
2. Interact competently with people of setting issues and debates, and the ethical and
different cultures and nationalities in 2. Communicate effectively using social responsibilities required of
an international setting English/Putonghua (or the local language professional citizens in a global society
3. Work harmoniously with people as an used in my host country) 4. Work in proactive, creative and
innovative leader and a collaborative 3. Act as a reflective and independent learner in independent ways, showing a positive
team player a new and changing environment and flexible approach to lifelong
4. Act as a reflective and independent 4. Apply the academic knowledge to analyse learning and employability.
learner in a changing environment critically a political, economic or social 5. Communicate effectively in inter-
5. Apply the new knowledge and skills policy/issue of my host country personal settings, in writing and in a
that they have acquired from 5. Develop social skills to work harmoniously variety of media
University to a professional setting and and effectively with people as a team
a changing work environment.
19
 CityU Graduate Outcomes
DEC-ILOs
A B C D E
PPP MILO 1 ✓ ✓
PPP MILO 2 ✓ ✓
PPP MILO 3 ✓ ✓
PPP MILO 4 ✓ ✓
PPP MILO 5 ✓ ✓
Co-Curricular ILO 1 ✓
Co-Curricular ILO 2 ✓ ✓
Co-Curricular ILO 3 ✓ ✓
Co-Curricular ILO 4 ✓ ✓ ✓
Co-Curricular ILO 5 ✓ ✓ ✓
Internship ILO 1 ✓ ✓
Internship ILO 2 ✓ ✓ ✓
Internship ILO 3 ✓ ✓ ✓
Internship ILO 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Internship ILO 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Student Exchange
✓ ✓
ILO 1
Student Exchange
✓
ILO 2
Student Exchange
✓ ✓ ✓
ILO 3
Student Exchange
✓ ✓
ILO 4
Student Exchange
✓ ✓
ILO 5

20 July 2012

20
CityU Graduate Outcomes MILOs Graduate Attributes
CityU’s Ideal Graduate is a: Upon successful completion of this major, students should be able (Professional bodies:
to: __________________________________)
(Optional)

GO1: Globally minded M1: understand and analyze issues in public affairs and public GA1:
professional management at the local, international, and global levels.
GO2: Innovative and critical M2: discover new challenges and possible solutions facing Hong GA2:
thinker Kong and/or the world within the broad spheres of political
studies, public policy, and public management.
GO3: Effective communicator M3: apply communication and leadership skills as they relate to GA3:
public policy, management, and politics.
GO4: Lifelong learner M4: develop the intellectual and analytical competence required GA4:
for effective performance and life- long learning in a range
of public- and private-sector careers related to policy studies,
public management, and public affairs.
GO5: Civically-oriented individual M5: evaluate critically the ethical issues in public policy, GA5:
management and politics for creating new ideas

21
 Ethical Review of Research Involving Human Subjects (information provided by the
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences)

City University of Hong Kong

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Procedures for Ethical Review of Research Involving Human Subjects (Student Applications)

Important Notes:
1. It is the University's policy that all research involving human subjects should be submitted for ethical review. This
is applicable to research activities conducted by staff (teaching and research, as PI or Co -I) and students
(undergraduate and postgraduate) on the University premises, or at other off-campus/off-shore sites as a result of
collaboration or subcontracting of activities by the University.
2. No data collection or analysis can be started only after obtaining final approval from the respective authority.

For proposals involving human subjects, completes Human Research Ethics Checklist (Form A) to confirm the type
of review sought.
Form A
If you have checked “yes” to any of the items under Part C: Ethical Issues, you must go through a full review,
except the following:
a. research studies that are based entirely on authorized use of publicly available information, documents, records,
works, performances, or archival materials
b. research studies that involve only surveys or observation of officials/individuals in the public arena in a public
capacity.
c. studies that involve identifiable participants (e.g. voice recording) but no sensitive or private information will be
collected. (For studies involving video recording should still go through Full Review according to the advice of
RO.) Please provide details under item 9 of the checklist.

Expedited Review Full Review

Supervisors to submit completed Supervisors to submit the following completed documents to
research ethics checklist (Form A) and College Human Subjects Ethics Sub-Committee:
research plan/proposal to HoD. • Form A
• Form B
• research proposal / plan / activities
• parental/ guardian Consent Form (please also provide Chinese
version if the research will be conducted in Chinese)
• signed Confidentiality Pledge by the supervisor and student
HoD to: investigator(s)
a) endorse expedited review on
checklist; or
b) refer the case for Full Review as
appropriate.

College Human Subjects Ethics Sub-Committee to consider the

completed application.

Department to maintain record on

Expedited Review conducted. College
College Human Subjects Ethics Sub-Committee to:
Human Subjects Ethics Sub-
a) convey application results to supervisor; and
Committee would conduct annual audit
b) follow up with the supervisor for any clarifications/
on Expedited Review.
revisions required if necessary.

updated June 2020

(Please retrieve the ethical review checklist from the Research Grants and Contracts Office website:
https://www.cityu.edu.hk/ro/studentlan/dlHuman.htm

22
4. ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM

Academic Honesty

Students who commit an act of academic dishonesty which jeopardizes the integrity of the
learning and assessment process may be charged and be liable to disciplinary actions. The
following are examples of dishonest behavior with respect to academic work.

• Plagiarism, i.e., the use of another person’s work or ideas without indicating clearly the
original source of that work or those ideas;

• Submission for assessment of material that is not the student’s own work;

• Misrepresentation of a piece of group work as the student’s own individual work;

• Collusion, i.e., obtaining assistance in doing work which is meant to be solely the student’s
own work;

• Unauthorized access to an examination or test paper;

• Communicating unauthorized information during assessment including examination;

• Use of fabricated data that is claimed to be original data, or the use of data copied or
obtained by unfair means;

• Impersonating another student at a test or an examination or allowing oneself to be

impersonated.

Students are expected to present their own work, give proper acknowledgement of other’s work,
and honestly report findings obtained from research activities. Students are required to act
truthfully and honestly in academic pursuits. Students who are found to have violated the
principle of academic honesty will be subject to academic disciplinary actions.

All CityU students are required to complete an online tutorial on academic honesty and
declare their understanding of it. New students who fail to complete their requirement in
the first semester of their enrollment in the University will be prevented from receiving
their course grades. For details, please refer to the Rules on Academic Honesty available
at http://www6.cityu.edu.hk/ah/.

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is one particular form of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism means ‘to use another
person’s idea or a part of their work and pretend that it is your own’ (Cambridge Advanced
Learner's Dictionary, 2003). The nature of the source does not matter. It may be a book, an
article, a dissertation, a Government report, a table from the Internet, a memorandum, or simply
another student’s assignment or even teaching materials distributed to students. The source may
also be graphics, computer programmes, photographs, video and audio recordings or other non-
textual material. It does not matter whether the source has been published or not.

23
Written work must be presented in a proper manner and must adhere to academic conventions
concerning the use of quotations and references. All work that is submitted will be assessed on
these grounds. The source must be indicated at the exact place the ideas are being used. For
examples, if a set of ideas are being sourced from an author and these form substantial part of
a paragraph a student is writing, then the reference must come at the beginning of the paragraph
and be made in such a way that the reader is clear the ideas given in the paragraph come from
the initial source cited. The reference cannot be vague and it cannot simply be included as a
reference at the end of the assignment. More details on references are given in a later section of
this document.

According to Martin (1984:183-184), there are several kinds of plagiarism.

a. Word-for-word plagiarism: the most obvious and provable plagiarism occurs when
someone copies phrases or passages out of a published work without using quotation marks,
without acknowledging the source, or both. This can be called word-for-word plagiarism.

b. Paraphrasing plagiarism: when only some of the words are changed, the result can be called
paraphrasing plagiarism.

c. Secondary sources plagiarism: when a person gives references to original sources, and
perhaps quotes them, but never looks them up, having obtained both from a secondary
source – which is not cited. This can be called plagiarism of secondary sources.

d. Authorship plagiarism: more general than this is plagiarism of ideas, in which an original
thought from another is used but without any dependence on the words or form of the
source.

e. Finally there is the blunt case of putting one’s name to someone else’s work, which might
be called plagiarism of authorship.

Advice Corner

Sometimes, it is possible for students to commit an academically dishonest act without realizing
that it is plagiarism. Many students may not know what plagiarism is.

Plagiarism means "to take (words, ideas, etc.) from someone else's work and use them in one's
own work without admitting one has done so" (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English,
1987).

Students need to be aware that academic dishonesty is a serious matter. Any case of
suspected plagiarism will be dealt with in a thorough and fair manner but students need
to be aware that normally simply denying or claiming forgetfulness or arguing that only
one or two sentences have been copied without acknowledgement could still be regarded
as plagiarism.

24
 WARNING

All identified cases of plagiarism will be referred to the College Academic Conduct Committee.
Students who are found to have committed plagiarism could be subject to disciplinary actions,
including being expelled from the University with immediate effect.

(Note: PIA encourages all students to adopt the Harvard system of referencing. For details on
the ways to do referencing and the different reference styles, please check the departmental
website)

25
5. PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAMME

Assessment and Examinations

The assessment of students’ academic work at the University has two aspects: the assessment
of a course, for which students will receive “grades”, and the classification of an award based
on a “grade point average”.

The SYL which specifies the assessment tasks are reviewed by program committee/subject
team/GE Coordinator before submission to the College.

Workload, weighting, deadlines, assessment criteria, and so on are clearly stated in each course
outline distributed to students in the first class and available on Canvas.

All exam papers and make-up exam papers are moderated by the appropriate subject leader to
ensure wording clarity, appropriate level of difficulty and cross-course consistency.

For single standard courses the course leader is responsible for moderating all marks.

All grades and marks are discussed at the assessment panel.

Borderline and special cases are discussed between the Department Head and Major
Leader/Course Leader.

Departmental Academic Advisors review courses/assessments annually.

Course Grades

All course grades are subject to approval by the Assessment Panel. Approved grades will then
be sent to the Academic Regulations and Records Office. No grade is official until a student
has received his/her record from the Academic Regulations and Records Office.

26
 Assessment Panels can assign the following grades:

Letter Grade Grade Point Grade Definitions

A+ 4.3 Excellent
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3 Good
B 3.0
B- 2.7 The qualifiers, such as “Excellent”, “Good”,
C+ 2.3 Fair “Fair” etc., define student performance with
C 2.0 respect to the achievement of course intended
C- 1.7 learning outcomes (CILOs).
D 1.0 Marginal
F 0.0 Failure
P (Pass-fail Pass
course only)
Grade Grade Definitions
* Grade with * is excluded in the calculation of GPA. The credits earned will not be
counted toward the minimum credit requirement for graduation but will be
counted toward the maximum number of credit units permitted.
AU "Audit". An audited grade is assigned when an auditing student has completed the
conditions established at registration as an auditor. No assessment is made or
grade awarded for auditing.
I ''Incomplete''. A grade of incomplete may be granted (i) where there are
extenuating circumstances that have prevented a student from completing required
work, or attending the examination; (ii) at the discretion of the Assessment Panel.
Where an “I” grade is assigned, the Assessment Panel may approve a schedule for
the completion of work, or a supplementary examination. An alternative grade
should be assigned no later than four weeks after the “I” grade is first reported or
as soon as practicable thereafter.
IP "In progress". An IP grade is shown where students will register for the same
course in the subsequent semester/term to complete the assessment of the course.
TR "Credit Transfer". Assigned when a student is granted transfer credits for the
course.
WD "Withdrawn". Assigned when a student has registered for the course in a
semester/term and subsequently submitted a notification of withdrawal from the
University.
X "Late Drop". Assigned when a student is permitted to drop the course after the
add/drop deadline.
Z "Exemption". Assigned when a student is exempted from the course.

Students should consult Academic Regulations for 4-year Undergraduate Degrees for updated information.
https://www.cityu.edu.hk/arro/content.asp?cid=498

27
 • Students attaining grade D or better, or a P grade in a pass-fail course earn credit units
for the course.
• Grades F, IP, I, Z, AU, X and WD do not earn credit units.
• Grades P, IP, I, TR, Z, AU, X and WD are not counted in the calculation of a student's
Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) or Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

Requirement for Passing a Course

Students are not allowed to pass a course if they fail to pass either the coursework assessment
or the examination.

Extenuating Circumstances

A student who believes that his/her ability to attend an examination, or in-course assessment
with a weighting of 20% or above, has been adversely affected by circumstances beyond his/her
control must submit the case, with documentary evidence, to his/her home academic unit
following the procedures stated on the University websites, as soon as possible and no later
than 5 working days of the scheduled date for completing the affecting examination or
assessment.

Repeating Courses to Recover Failures or Improve Grades

Undergraduate students may repeat a course, or an equivalent course, to recover a failure or to

improve a course grade of D. After the first attempt, only two repeat attempts are permitted.
Course grades for all attempts will appear on the student’s transcript, but only the final grade
earned will be included in the calculation of the student’s CGPA. However, students should
note that once they have met the maximum credit unit requirements for graduation; reached
their maximum period of study; or applied for graduation and fulfilled the degree requirements
in the specified graduation term, they cannot register for further courses.

Review of the Decisions of Assessment Panel

Where a student believes that there may have been: a miscalculation of marks; data errors;
extenuating circumstances affecting his/her performance; or wishes to resolve other issues
relating to course grades, the student should contact the Course Leader and the relevant staff
member responsible for the assessment within 5 working days of the announcement of grades
by the University with a view to resolving the matter informally.

If the student’s concerns regarding course grade cannot be resolved by informal means, the
student may seek resolution via the formal procedures stipulated in University Academic
Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees.

For formal review of course grades, only requests with the following grounds will be considered:

(i) there has been a procedural irregularity in the assessment process, for example, the
assessment was not conducted in accordance with the Academic Regulations or with the
arrangement prescribed for the course;

28
(ii) there exist circumstances that impact the course grade awarded and that the student was
unable to bring to the attention of the Course Leader prior to the assessment for valid
reasons.

Any request for review of course grades must be made in writing to the Dean of the
College/School offering the course within 22 working days of the announcement of grades by
the University. The written application must:

(i) state the grounds on which the request for review is made;
(ii) include a description of the relevant facts; and
(iii) provide supporting evidence.

As a result of review, grades may be revised upwards, downwards or remain unchanged.

For details of the review procedures, please refer to AR 15 of the Academic Regulations for
Undergraduate Degrees.

Grade Point Averages (GPA)

The overall performance of a student is measured by the Grade Point Average (GPA). As a
student can see from the grade table, every letter grade you receive corresponds to a numerical
grade on a four-point scale. A GPA is an average of these course grades. Two types of GPA,
a Semester GPA (SGPA) and a Cumulative GPA (CGPA) are calculated. The precise formulae
for calculating GPAs are provided in the Academic Regulations.

SGPA and Academic Warning

The SGPA is designed to identify students who are having academic problems. The SGPA is
calculated each semester for all courses, including failed courses, but excluding courses graded
I, P or X. If a student’s SGPA falls below 2.0, you will be officially “warned”. This is the time
to look for help and to consider how to remedy the situation. Students cannot graduate with a
CGPA below 2.0, so a low SGPA may mean that the student concerned will have difficulty
completing the programme. If you are not able to improve your performance, your studies can
be terminated.

Dean’s List

At the end of Semester A and Semester B, or for part-time students on the completion of the
second of these two semesters, students’ GPAs are calculated. Where a student over that period
has (i) earned 12 credit units or more from courses taken at the University, (ii) achieved a GPA
of 3.70 or above, (iii) not failed any course, and (iv) subject to the Dean’s endorsement, the
student is placed on the Dean’s List.

29
Checking of Completed Courses

You are advised to check your programme completion status regularly through DegreeWorks.
DegreeWorks matches a student’s academic record against the curriculum requirements. It
offers an interface that helps students learn easily what courses and requirements they still need
to complete.

Requirements for University Awards

In order to be awarded a degree, a student shall:

(i) complete the minimum credit unit requirements for the degree;
(ii) achieve a CGPA of 2.00 or above; and
(iii) fulfil other requirements stipulated in the University's regulations and procedures.

Award Classification https://www.cityu.edu.hk/arro/content.asp?cid=72

For students who are on programmes of (i) Normative 4-Year Degree admitted from 2020/21
and thereafter, (ii) Advanced Standing I admitted from 2021/22 and thereafter, and (iii)
Advanced Standing II admitted from 2022/23 and thereafter, award with distinctions will be
conferred (based on the CGPA ranking) upon the top 15% students in the respective
departments/ schools graduating in the same semester/term as follows:

Award with Distinctions Awarded to Graduates Ranked in

summa cum laude top 2%
magna cum laude next 5%
cum laude next 8%

1. The Dean has the right, upon the recommendation of the respective academic unit, to
make exceptions from the above award ranking.

2. The above award rankings also apply in determining the classification of awards for a
double degree, and the classifications to be awarded should be endorsed by both the
College/School Deans concerned.

For further details about Academic Regulations, students should refer to the website of the
Academic Regulations & Records Office (ARRO). Should there be any discrepancies between
the information contains in this handbook and that in ARRO’s website, the latter prevails.

Support for Students

Various offices and individuals are available to assist students in the smooth and effective
acquisition of knowledge and their progression through the programme. The foremost sources
of help are the lecturers and tutors for respective courses. Students should seek advice directly
from their lecturers and tutors on matters relating to the organization and delivery of the courses
and their contents. Additionally, the Student Development Services, The Chan Feng Men-ling
Chan Shuk-lin Language Centre and Computing Services Centre may also be approached for

30
help. For problems of a personal nature, it is advisable to take advantage of the counselling
services provided by the Student Development Services.

There are various sources from which full-time students may seek financial assistance. These
include government grants and loans, university bursaries, emergency funds and temporary
student loans as well as a number of charitable trust funds. The Student Development Services
provides advice to students on such matters.

August 2023

31