English

This course examines the social scientific study of gender, sexuality, and family in Japan from the postwar to the contemporary period from a comparative perspective. 

This course examines the theoretical and practical foundations of games and gamification and the game phenomenon from neural and cognitive perspectives. It covers the history and latest development of game studies; neural and cognitive theories of the game phenomenon; the concept of game; the psychological, social, economic, and educational benefits of game application; the potential harms and risks of gaming activities; the basic principles of game studies. 

This course examines modern stem cell biology with respect to current roles of stem cells in development of organisms, regenerative medicine and ethical considerations of biotechnological applications. Different types of stem cells will be discussed with emphasis on embryonic stem cells compared to adult stem cells and roles in embryonic development and adult tissue regeneration. The role of stem cells in diseases such as cancer, anemia etc., will be discussed by leading stem cell researchers in terms of dysregulation of tissue regeneration and current potential treatment strategies. New therapies based on stem cells such as in vitro production of organs, stem cell transplantation and cloning will be presented along with the ethical dilemmas posted by these advances. The course will also cover the latest advances in Induced Pluripotent Stem cell (iPS) technology and what this tells us about the nature of pluripotency.

This course examines Hong Kong’s history through the narratives of women, a group often made invisible in history writing, as social actors in the fabric of (post-)colonial Hong Kong. From elites’ households to squatter huts, from brothels, textile factories to convents and schools, from public housing estates, government offices to LegCo Chamber, women of different generations and ethnicities have been caregivers, breadwinners, and pioneers, contesting the prescribed gender role and identity in a patriarchal society. By examining their private lives and public voices informed by their (marginalized) positions interweaved in different social and historical contexts, this course seeks to not only explore how they lived, or how their lives are shaped and reshaped by their own unyielding efforts, but also how their stories can make their ways into narratives and representations in the history of Hong Kong. 

The course introduces development economics as well as applied problems in the field of development, and development strategies. It covers both conventional theory of development and economic growth and alternative strategies for sustainable development. Topics covered include resource mobilization, agricultural and industrial development, globalization, sustainable development and institutions, and the political economy of development. The discussion is both theoretical and applied with extensive use made of country and regional case studies. The course focuses on developmental challenges confronting South Africa and the rest of Africa. Assessment: coursework (50%) and a final exam (50%).

This course covers the fundamentals of immunology, exploring the various immune systems, functional role of immune cells, and concept of innate and adaptive immunity.

This course examines Asian popular culture in a global and cross-cultural context, especially its role in the production of meaning and construction of various forms of identity. It examines music, fashion, Bollywood, manga, K-Pop, food, sports, and the arts in specific ethnographic settings in relation to 'dominant ideology', gender, sexuality, race, and social hierarchy. It focuses on the intricate interrelation of power and politics, and the ways in which popular cultures are produced, circulated, marketed, transformed and consumed by different audiences. 

This course provides an analysis of the power of social media, such as Facebook, twitter, blogs, mashups, wikis, etc. It examines how social media can facilitate creativity and collective intelligence, through enhanced information sharing and online collaboration among netizens; ultimately building the social pool of knowledge. It also examines the downside of this participatory culture. With the growth of web sites like Facebook, Wikipedia, YouTube, Flickr, blogs, and open source development communities, the web is no longer just about delivery of information. It is about participation and collaboration. This course examines the impact of the open and peer-to-peer collaborations that are the underpinning Web 2.0 on which most of us are spending more time than ever before. In addition to learning Web 2.0 enabling technologies, students examine the social and philosophical implications of this phenomenon. Assessment: Assignments (15%), project presentation (8%), project reports (7%), midterm (25%), final exam (45%).

This course examines advertising in the changing media environment. It covers the rise of consumerism and materialism, the current advertising industry, advertising and consumer wellbeing, and persuasion through covert and data-driven advertising. It will also address the implications of advertising practices on critical groups such as children and youth and discuss ethics and regulations. This course does not focus on how to create advertisements or develop communications campaigns. Instead, it concentrates on how advertising is placed in a larger economic, regulatory, and social context, with an aim to provide an important foundation for practice.

This course aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the digital landscape of business resilience. The course features case studies and collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Taiwan to provide students with a realistic overview.

The course begins by examining the primary drivers of digital innovation and discussing the key concepts and frameworks. The course features AWS, the leading provider of cloud solutions, to demonstrate how their cloud-based solutions are utilized by companies to meet strategic digital innovation objectives. In module two, the course explores the impact of digital innovation on organizational and strategic management landscapes, focusing on current digital trends. For the final module, the course will shift focus to the broader marketplace, and will discuss the core legal and ethical trends affecting the global marketplace.