The Chinese University of Hong Kong (International Summer School) – Summer 2021

The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR, China

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a comprehensive research university with a global vision. As the second oldest university in the territory, CUHK distinguishes itself from other local universities with its firmly rooted Chinese culture, bilingualism and multiculturalism, and a unique college system that complements the formal learning experience through whole-person development and pastoral care.

CUHK has been at the forefront of research. It boasts a galaxy of distinguished scholars and researchers, including Nobel Laureates, a Fields medalist, a Turing Award winner, and members of the Royal Society. In its latest strategic plan, CUHK has identified four research priorities to build on its strengths and leading advantages in those areas to address some of the most pressing issues of the world today. These areas are China Studies, Translational Biomedicine, Information and Automation Technology and Environment and Sustainability. The prowess, variety and impact of research at CUHK can be further demonstrated from its establishment of five state key laboratories, past and ongoing Areas of Excellence research projects, and the many research institutes and collaborations with eminent overseas research institutions.

The University engages in academic and research partnerships with over 340 universities and institutions from around the world, internationalizing education and advancing the frontiers of knowledge and technology to address the many global challenges of today.

Website: www.cuhk.edu.hk

VSE Summer Semester 2021: The Chinese University of Hong Kong (International Summer School)

Application Deadline

APPLICATION CLOSED
Students must submit an application to the VSE Central Office before:
May 11 2021, 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time (UTC+8)

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Before applying, please make sure you have fulfilled the course offering university's English language proficiency requirements listed below:

For students studying in NON-native English-speaking countries or territories ONLY:

TOEFL (iBT) score of at least 71, or
IELTS score of at least 6.0

For students from mainland China institutions ONLY:

College English Test Band-4 (CET-4) score of at least 550, or
College English Test Band-6 (CET-6) score of at least 520

Please upload the required proof(s) of English language proficiency in the online application to the VSE Central Office.

Course Information

Click on the course titles to reveal full course details:

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	Centre for China Studies
Course Teacher	Prof. Chen LI (CUHK)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 1630-1915 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	Twenty-first century capitalism has been marked by an increasing international economic interdependence. Modern multinational firms from the high-income countries have spread their businesses across the world just as the Chinese economy has undergone dramatic transformations. This course examines the rise of modern multinational companies, the revolutionary changes in the structure of global business systems since the 1970s, and China’s enterprise reforms in a global context. It will involve theoretical and macro-level analysis with detailed empirical analysis, as well as considerable examination of in-depth case studies from large Chinese firms.
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	School of Journalism and Communication
Course Teacher	Prof. Kecheng FANG (CUHK)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 30, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Fri 1630-1915 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	The course is designed around two major themes, namely media and social development in Mainland China since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. Using key concepts and theories from the political economy of media and developmental communication studies, it introduces students to different periods of media reform and social change from the era of Chairman Mao to the period of “harmonious society”. Emphasis is attached to post-1989 media regulatory systems, media industrialization, and their influence on the meeting of such developmental goals as poverty alleviation, democratization, and communication empowerment. The course will examine Mainland China’s key media sectors including the printing press (newspapers and magazines), film and broadcasting media (radio and TV), and new networked communication tools (Internet and mobile phone) as well as alternative social formations through Internet activism, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and transnational developmental projects. The course will identify and discuss several ongoing debates, and the ensuing actions, held by different stakeholders, including governmental officials, media producers, educators, activists, international agencies, and the general audiences. Wider implications to public policy will be identified. There will also be discussions of current affairs related to media and social development in the country. Students will be able to describe the key characteristics of contemporary Mainland Chinese media and their roles in facilitating or obstructing development towards the ideals of a “new China”.
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	School of Journalism and Communication
Course Teacher	Prof. Lik Sam CHAN (CUHK)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 1630-1915 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	The instructor will lecture on and direct the study of a topic in Communication Studies that he or she specializes in. Students are allowed to take this Special Topic course at most twice, and gain the units each time they pass the course. However, students cannot take courses with the same course code more than once in a single term. Grindr, Tinder, Momo—familiar with these smartphone apps? It is estimated, in 2021, that there are 9.7 million online dating users in the United Kingdom; across the Atlantic Ocean, the number is 49 million in the United States; China alone has 81.8 million users. This course provides an interdisciplinary perspective to look into one of the latest and most controversial online cultures—online dating and hookups. Departing from the public health approach that focuses exclusively on sexually transmitted diseases via the use of dating apps, this course examines the communicative, social, and cultural aspects of online dating and hookup cultures. Topics include online relationship development, motivations of app use, app design, gender politics, and queer world-making. Regional cases will be discussed.
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	Global Studies Programme
Course Teacher	Dr. Toru HORIUCHI (CUHK)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 1630-1915 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	This course provides an overview of International Relations (IR) theory, the concepts and approaches often adopted in studying the discipline. It aims to familiarize students with different theoretical frameworks and key issues encountered by the globalizing society. This course covers a wide array of topics, but not limited to, i) the mainstream IR theories, provided with some case studies; ii) analysis of some key theoretical literatures and introduce their respective historiographical perspectives, including the Clash of Civilizations and its critics; iii) in-depth studies on some selected thematic issues; iv) International Relations theory and Globalization.
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	Department of Management
Course Teacher	Dr. Frank NG (CUHK)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 0930-1215 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	This course studies the nature, form and scope of international business. Topics include foreign environment and major international business activities, such as exporting, direct investment, licensing and other contractual arrangements. Management strategies concerning production, marketing, human resource, and finance in an international context will also be discussed.
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management
Course Teacher	Prof. Abdullah KONAK, Prof. Sadan KULTUREL-KONAK (Pennsylvania State University, Berks)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 0930-1215 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	Factors that drive continuous creative product innovation. Study of processes of creating, assessing and pursuing product opportunities. Evaluation of new product ideas and risk assessment of commercialization. Product development strategies in industrial marketing. Understanding the behaviour of buyer. Formulation and implementation of innovative marketing strategy and business plan.
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	University General Education Programme
Course Teacher	Prof. H. S. UDAYKUMAR (University of Iowa)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 0930-1215 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	This course is designed to help students to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the global energy crisis and environmental issues our society is currently facing. The history of energy consumption shows how important energy is to the quality of life for the human beings. With the further development and the increase of the world population, our society is challenged by an unprecedented energy demand in 21st century. At the same time, the global warming and climate changes are also causing more and more attentions. How can we meet the future energy demand? What are the energy options we currently have and what are their impacts on the environment? How can we meet our energy needs without deteriorating the environment? The first half of this course will tackle the above-raised questions by examining our current energy options and their respective impacts on the environment. Then, to address both the energy and environmental concerns, possible routes to develop a green society will be discussed in the second half of this course with a focus on renewable energy resources, smart grid, eco-friendly vehicles, and carbon sequestration and carbon audit. (No technical background is required)
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	University General Education Programme
Course Teacher	Prof. Zhixiu LIN, Dr. Ching LIONG, Dr. Eun-hae HA (CUHK)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 0930-1215 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	This course introduces the fundamental concepts in Chinese medicine to students who are interested in a general understanding of the basic theories, working principles, methods for health preservation and disease healing in Chinese medicine. The course comprises an introduction to the five key areas in Chinese medicine including the basic theories, methods of diagnosis and treatment, acupuncture and moxibustion, Chinese medicinal materials, and Chinese herbal formulary. This general education module will also include some practical tutorials to demonstrate diagnostic methods, and classic treatments, which include tongue observation, pulse taking, acupuncture and cupping. The medium of instruction for the course is English.
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	University General Education Programme
Course Teacher	Prof. Gerald CHAN (University of Auckland)
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 0930-1215 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	This is an introductory course that surveys key issues in Chinese politics, including the historical background of the system, the roles of the party/state, the style of leadership, the forms of popular participation, and the distinctive features of Chinese politics. The focus of this course is political change. Classic essays by Sun Yatsen, Lu Xun, Mao Zedong and others provide students with grounding in the key problems modern China has faced, as well as the solutions it has pioneered. From that foundation, we will move on to contemporary institutions and intellectual debates over inequality, human rights, and the future shape of political reform in China.
Course Outline	Link

Number of Credits	3
Offering Department	University General Education Programme
Course Teacher	Dr. Wilson CHAN
Language of Instruction	English
First Day of Class	Jun 29, 2021
Last Day of Class	Jul 29, 2021
Course Component	Lecture
Mode of Teaching	Synchronous
Meeting Time	Tue, Wed, Thu 1630-1915 Course recordings are available.
Time Zone	UTC+8
Course Description	This course aims to provide students the foundational knowledge on the operation of world economy and examine how social, political and institutional factors contribute to the creation of global economic order. It examines the intertwining and interaction of economics (wealth creation) and politics (political power) in global affairs. The course will first offer a general survey of the key concepts and major theoretical perspectives in the study of Global Political Economy (GPE) (Liberalism, Mercantilism, and Marxist theory, etc.). In the second part, we cover substantive policy issues including international trade and monetary system, foreign investment and multi-national corporations, etc.. It focuses on how the world economy is transformed by globalization, with a particular focus on the development of various international and regional institutions that govern the current economic order. Finally, the course will be concluded with the discussion of latest trends of global economic governance, with a particular focus on the transforming role of national states and the endeavors of international development on poverty and inequality reduction. Relevant country experiences will be adopted to illustrate the dynamics of economic growth and stability. UGEC2353 intends to promote students’ appreciation of the role of institutions and politics in the operation of global economic order. Students are not required to have any background in the discipline for the course is designed to introduce essential concepts, major theoretical perspectives and basic operations of modern world economy, allowing students to communicate issues in world economic order effectively in group work and individually, in oral as well as written forms.
Course Outline	Link

*The number of credits is shown as provided by the course offering university. The credit structure at the course offering university may be different from the one at your home university. Please contact the APRU VSE Coordinator of your home university for credit transfer information.

Course enrollment is subject to final approval from your home university and the course offering university.