School of Humanities and Social Science Newsletter (GCS, QSA), 2019-2020

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NEWSLETTER 2019-20 BSc in Global China Studies BSc in Quantitative Social Analysis THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE www.shss.ust.hk

SHSS NEWSLETTER 2019-20 Welcome Message from the Associate Dean and Program Director On behalf of SHSS and Global China Studies, I want to give a big welcome to all our new and returning students. I wish you a successful and exciting year, here on campus or wherever else in the world your studies and internships take you! GCS is a unique program that trains students to understand China's past, present, and future in a global context, using intellectual tools from across the humanities and social sciences. As you will see in this newsletter, our students have many accomplishments to celebrate. We're proud of their achievements and look forward to see what new ideas and adventures the coming year will bring. Prof. Joshua DERMAN UG Associate Dean GCS Program Director

Quantitative Social Analysis, offered by the Division of Social Science, will welcome its third cohort of students in fall 2019, and I look forward to seeing all of our returning students. Quantitative Social Analysis combines a broad training in social science theory and evidence with rigorous and structured education in quantitative methods for analyzing social science data. The latter emphasizes hands-on experience with social data. In the first year, students take foundational courses in social science and quantitative methods, and then in the second year take more advanced courses. Our first cohort of students who entered in fall 2017 will be entering their third year and many have already participated in internship or research projects where they apply what they learn in class in the real world. In the coming year, more of these students will be doing internships, research or exchange, and meanwhile they will be taking advanced courses to prepare themselves for their capstone project in the first year. In this brochure, you will learn more about the activities of our students, with stories about many of their activities. Prof. Cameron CAMPBELL QSA Program Director 2 Honors and Awards SHSS Dean's Scholarship In 2018/19, we are honored to have 15 GCS students awarded with the HKD 4,000 scholarship, supported by a donation fund.

Fernando GARCIA ALBERO HKSAR Government Scholarship 2018/19 The Scholarship has been a unique gesture of generosity and altruism, an action which has enabled me to engage in a unique learning experience at HKUST. For me, this scholarship has been a platform that has provided me with the setting and environment necessary to explore my own interests freely. Now, not only am I more prepared for future challenges, but I am also more aware of which industries I could feel happier working in. Thanks to caring actions like this one, I have been able to improve myself and become better suited to help others in the future.

Brian CHAN (QSA)

Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship

With great privilege and honour, I have been awarded one of the HKJC scholarships. Through its welcome day and induction program, I have been able to learn more aout the business model of the Jockey Club and how ti generates both economic and social values and the society. The scholarship offers me a very generous financial support and allows me to view social problems in an in-depth perspective. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to HKJC's recognition and the School's support.

Jacky TSOI (GCS) Mrs Choi Ma Oi Kuen Public Service Leader (PSL)

Jacky has been selected as a Mrs Choi Ma Oi Kuen Public Service Leader (PSL) in 2018/19. He is the 1st awardee from SHSS. He has also initiated his own service project 'Green Playground for Dementia' which aimed at stimulating the senses and abilities for dementia patients through horticultural activities. As part of the leadership program, Jacky was placed at the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association in Jan 2019, where he assisted in promotion and implementation for the Good Hand Project and EasyHome Service.

Chloe WU (QSA)

Bowling Championships and Competitions

I'm very honoured to represent Hong Kong and participate in several bowling championships and competitions. As a member of the Hong Kong National Bowling Team, I spend a lot of time on training and have to well-prepare myself for every competition. I'm happy that I ranked 18th in the single event and 20th for the women division in the 32nd Asian Intercity Bowling Championship. I will try my best to gain better results in the upcoming World Bowling Women's Championship in Las Vegas.

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EXCHANGE

Yuen Ching CHAN (GCS) National Taiwan University

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to study in a foreign country and I have created so many unforgettable memories in Taiwan. I believe that the aim of exchange or study abroad is not only confined to learning in the classroom, it is also a precious opportunity for us to step out of our comfort zone and achieve self-growth. Why not create your own unique memory about the places by giving them a visit?

Fernando GARCIA ALBERO (GCS) University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Sydney, often misunderstood as the capital city of Australia, is a fantastic place to start the journey, with the UNSW being a fantastic example of the cultural diversity characteristic of the city. Australia manages to build a strong, rich personality for itself made out of portions from other cultures. What I can guarantee is that Australia is indeed different, and very fun at that, too!

Cheron KWOK (GCS) IE University

Recalling my memory in Spain, I would say it is a lifetime experience. People, scenery, food, festivals, party, rituals and architecture are the elements joining together and forming my impressive exchange experience. I have learnt a lot because we, Asians are always taught to be humble and never think outside the box, sticking to the rules. However, if you don't even try, who would know what happens next?

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Locken TAM (GCS) University of Warwick

It was a valuable opportunity to stay in a foreign country for a few months. I enrolled in the major of Politics and International Studies and certainly public policy was one of the core courses. The course emphasizes the problems and challenges of public policymaking in the 21st century and we were required to analyze the impacts of the policies in the UK and other countries. The analytical skills we trained throughout the course allow me to apply my knowledge to the public policies in Hong Kong and China.

Yalin WANG (GCS) The UniversityofTokyo

UTokyo offered me a distinct perspective for my understanding of East Asia. As a student majoring in Global China Studies, I learned a lot about Sino-Japanese relationship through courses related to East Asian Studies like economics and diplomacy, which is a plus for my academic progress. I also enjoyed the lifestyle in Japan very much -- gaining a little happiness from minor matters, e.g., good weather.

Shirley WONG (GCS) Fudan University

The courses I took in Fudan not only broadened my horizon in journalism, but also in the Chinese political system. Take Television Program Editing as an example: we watched some video clips about various social issues in China such as Wukan Village Movement, official corruption, and the Yangyongxin incident to better understand the challenge of working in journalism. I also joined the Mandarin debate team of the Journalism School and participated in 5 debate competitions, which was fantastic and invaluable.

Chieko YOSHIDA (GCS) Sciences Po

Studying abroad can be a very challenging thing. It was an adventure. For the first time, I learned to solve everything by myself, to be brave in facing the unknown and to try and enjoy new things. For me, the exchange was one of the most important choices I made and one of the most iridescent experiences I have had in my university life.

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SHSS NEWSLETTER INTERNSHIP Jovia LAU (GCS) Admerasia, Inc.

It was an amazing experience to intern at a multicultural advertisement agency in NYC. I was involved in marking contracts, competitive analysis and brainstorming sessions. With the skills and knowledge required in a business field, I also took part in a social media marking project which aims to enhance the company's image and brand promotion. Within the 6-week internship, I realized that creativity and analytical skills are crucial for companies to find a place in the fast-changing world.

Astrid LO {QSA) Consumer Council

I learnt the ways to collect data, design questionnaires for research as well as the methods to manipulate different types of collected information. It's not easy to collect and handle such a large amount of data in lesson or by ourselves. Through this internship, I can apply the knowledge about managing complex social data and quantitative analysis into a real-life practice. It was a great hands-on experience of doing a quantitative research. 6

Emily LI (GCS) Fusia Communications, Inc.

This summer, I interned for the organizer of the Cross Cultural Internship Program, one of only a few designated visa sponsors in the US State Department's exchange visitor program. What made my experience valuable was the opportunity to cultivate a global mindset. This was driven by the diversified culture - both local and international - and people of different ethnic backgrounds that I encountered. I'm glad that I've built greater confidence and have a clearer picture of my career prospects.

Elisha M. SONTHRA (GCS) Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) in Melbourne (Supported by SC LIU Sponsorship)

My learning trip at the IPA has been an immensely rewarding one. It was a great opportunity for me to put into practice what I have learnt from university, as well as to bolster my existing academic knowledge with real-world experiences by conducting research under the supervision of the director of the research team and by surrounding myself with high-caliber colleagues. I am extremely grateful for my time spent at the IPA because they provided me with an opportunity to understand the nuances of Australia's economy.

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Abina SZE (QSA) School of Public Health, HKU

I gained valuable experience from my internship as a research assistant handling and analyzing the quantitative data. I was responsible for creating a new dataset and entering data that are collected from the patients at Queen Mary Hospital. Although the internship requires me to learn a new analytical software, SPSS, which is a bit demanding, it enhances my programming skills and statistical knowledge for data analysis.

Anna ZHANG (GCS) New York State Assembly

I worked as an intern for the district office of New York State Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal in the summer and was responsible for communicating with constituents and participating in community outreach projects. This allowed me to get in touch with local communities and know more about their needs in order to serve them better. I was able to learn more about the electoral and legislative systems of the United States by taking part in the District Attorney election as well as bill research for the assembly member. 7

Alexis YIP (GCS) Tai Kwun

The internship at Tai Kwun has given me the chance to understand the art world through the professionals' daily work. I have gained the requried techniques of event management through real-life practice, and I also had a chance to learn more about gallery management through various tasks I worked on with different teams. Overall, I think I have reached most of my intended learning outcomes, and it was a fruitful experience in Tai Kwun. I will continue to strengthen my knowledge and gain related experience to order to achieve my career goal.

Junyao ZHANG (GCS) Yazhou Zhoukan

Working under the editing department, I had the chance to write individual reports on several influential topics, such as the protest in Wuhan over the construction of a new incinerator and the conflict over the disputed Kashmir between India and Pakistan. The experiences indeed improved my writing skills and working flexibility. Whenever I finished a report, the chief editor would revise my writings and teach me how to figure out the most significant information of an event. I also learned a lot of traditional Chinese, especially the writing differences between Taiwan and Hong Kong.

SHSS NEWSLETTER

OTHER LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Kristy HO (GCS) International Diplomacy Forum 2019 (Supported by SC LIU Sponsorship)

It was my great pleasure to be a part of the Forum, where I got to understand and learn about different ideas and ideals. It was composed of practical sessions, interactive workshops, solution-based discussions, negotiation exercises and career advice led by prominent ambassadors, members of the Parliament, government officials, media and world leading diplomacy experts. I was truly inspired and motivated by the speakers and I could meet people across the globe. The Forum is pivotal in my future career and my aspiration to lead change in the community. It was undoubtedly an incredible experience for me to get ahead.

Xinming LI (GCS) The Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan University Students Network Information Enterprise Internship Program (Supported by SC LIU Sponsorship)

Although this internship was a bit short, it benefited me a lot. I gained knowledge of public relations (PR) planning and realized the difficulty of planning a press conference. Communication skills are essential in public relations as we have to contact with governmental departments, media organizations and people from different projects in various aspects. All in all, the internship gave me a better understanding of the working environment in the PR department of internet companies, which is challenging but interesting.

8 Queenie LEE (QSA) Global Health Forum

It was my pleasure to be one of the selected volunteers in the Global Health Forum in Boao. I had a lot of opportunities to participate in different working positions in the Forum, such as being on duty at the registration centre and offering help to the guests and getting their passes to the Forum. I also had a chance to meet new friends from Qingdao Polytechnic University and universities from Hong Kong, who participated in the volunteer team. We spent time together and explored the place after working hours. We also had meal at Haidilao, the most popular hotpot restaurant in China, and the food was nice. Public Policy Case Competition The Case Competition was hosted by the Institution of Public Policy and the Division of Public Policy at HKUST, co-organized with the School of Humanities and Social Science to provide a hands-on opportunity for students to analyze and resolve real-life public policy problems through case studies. We are glad to that several groups of students participated in the competition and that one of them entered the finals of the competition.

SHSS students Gigi TAN (leftmost), Jack LI (second left), and Jim LEE (rightmost) were awarded by Prof. Anthony CHEUNG, GBS, JP. 9

SHSS NEWSLETTER UG COMMONS & WORKSHOPS The UG Commons opened 1n Spring 2019 to provide a space for SHSS undergraduate students to rest, relax, and work. The Commons also serves as a multi-purpose room organizing workshops and activities for students. We believe that a successful education should focus not ony on academics but also on other important sectors of individual development. Inspiration helps us to feel enthusiastic and make an impact on those around us. In the last semester, we organized workshops on making neon signs and leather coin purses. Our students created beautiful and unique pieces of work, which look as if they were done by the professionals! We hope students could create magnificent artpieces and work in the UG Commons.

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GLOBAL CHINA STUDIES QUANTITATIVE SOCIAL ANALYSIS JUPAS CODE: JS5411 JUPAS CODE: JS5412 EMAIL: gcspgm@ust.hk EMAIL: qsapgm@ust.hk WWW.SHSS.UST.HK/UG/MAJOR/GCS/ WWW.SHSS.UST.HK/UG/MAJOR/QSA/

@hkust.shssug @hkust.shssug 香港科技大學人文社會科學學院 www.shss.ust.hk Designed by Tina YIK