This course provides the candidates with an understanding of the key concept of governance in politics and public administration for them to apply to current issues. It introduces different approaches of public management and governance, both normative and empirical. Besides, it focuses on the relationship between governance and public administration reform in terms of new public management/new public governance, the policy networks of governance, and the diversity of organisations involved in policy formulation and public service delivery.

The course introduces candidates to the concepts of public policy analysis, like collective action, political efficacy and transparency, as well as, tools useful for evaluating policy impact and effectiveness. The candidates can understand the tradeoffs involved in the design of policies and institution, besides, the impacts of public administration reforms on efficiency, accountability and transparency.

This course introduces to the candidates the evolution and the future direction of public administration theory and practice. In fact, the focus of public administration theory is shifting from mechanical efficiency of traditional public administration to social efficiency of New Public Management and, recently, to public values and public interests of New Public Governance or New Public Service. Interdisciplinary and integrative approach becomes more and more important to public administration and public policy research.

The course provides the candidates with an overview of some major issues in public administration and public policy in Macao and Hong Kong. Topics may include the public administrative system of Macao and Hong Kong, political participation and socialization, the sustainability of social welfare system, civic engagement and public governance.

The course provides the candidates with an overview of some major issues in public administration and public policy in China. Topics may include the public administrative system of China, social welfare system and welfare dependency, performance evaluation of municipal government, smart city development, civic engagement and public governance.

This course covers the international standards associated with the conduct of human-subject research, with a particular focus on survey, ethnographic, archival, and qualitative research. Topics also covered include issues of authorship, mentoring, and professional ethics for academics in the university. Some guest speakers from public sector will also share their viewpoints and insights about public administration and management.

Under the principle of Good Governance Agenda, public values and public interests are integrated into policymaking and public services delivery. This course provides candidates with an understanding of the principles of ethical considerations of public affairs and public policy, like ageism, feminism and sustainability. Researchers and senior civil servants are invited to demonstrate the concerns of ethics on various public affairs.

Research skills are essential for evidence-based policy-making in public sector. This course provides the students with an overview of the theory and practice of qualitative methods and quantitative methods. This course enables candidates to deliver empirical studies, like the examination of causal effects of policy on observed outcomes and practical experience in applying techniques of qualitative analysis using computer software.

By this course, candidates have the opportunity to apply the concepts and the theories learned from the programme. The thesis-writing process could consolidate the candidates’ ability to conduct independent research, demonstrate their expertise in a chosen area of interest and make an intellectual contribution to the practice of public administration and public policy.

The course provides the candidates with an overview of current issues in public administration and public policy in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Topics may include the development of the recruitment and training of civil servants, the principal officials accountability system and smart public administration.

The course provides the candidates with an overview of current issues in economic and fiscal policy in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). Topics may include the exchange rate policy of Renminbi (Hong Kong Dollar and Pataca), the development of stock exchange and featured finance, the role of GBA in service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries and “the Belt and Road” Initiative, as well as, the development of GBA city clusters.

The course provides the candidates with an overview of public security in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). Topics may include the crisis management of natural disaster, the development of smart police management, the legislation of national security, and the development of anti-corruption authority and anti-money laundry authority.

The course provides the candidates with an overview of social security and social welfare in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). Topics may include the social welfare system and welfare dependence, the sustainability of social welfare system, the role of voucher system and social insurance in social welfare system, tourism poverty alleviation, furthermore, smart health care and smart elderly service.

The course provides the candidates with an overview of urban planning in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). Topics may include urban renewal policy, smart transportation, public housing policy and the infrastructure development.