HONG KONG

This course examines the philosophical and spiritual roots, cultural influences and scientific studies of contemplative practices adopted in modern societies. Beginning with the introduction of the history and theory of contemplative practice and followed by the
scientific description of the impact on the mind-body connections developed through these practices, students will be guided to critically review the relationship of contemplative practices with four major themes: personal awareness and health, relational well-being with others, and the collective well-being in and across our societies. 

This course examines the art of writing about Hong Kong. Through the use of writing prompts, it introduces students to the different ways of writing about different social and physical environments in Hong Kong. Students will be able to discuss and articulate the feelings, thoughts and experiences evoked by these social and physical environments. They will be able to consider issues such as genre, gender and language use in relation to readership. 

This course examines the processes through which meanings of life are formulated and maintained in day-to-day life in societies past and present; it also explores life meaning as a way of comprehending the evolution of human societies. The course uses the concept of "meanings of life" as a window into the anthropological understanding of cultural difference and cultural evolution. 

The course examines various topics in computer game design. The course begins with an introduction to game history and design; user interface, devices, and effect for game; and an industry visit. It then covers 2D and 3D game, platform and team, and software organization. Topics include: types of game, game platforms, design of game, 3D model and kinematics, rendering techniques, collision detection, project management, AI, UI, sound effects, and networking.

Students are required to undertake a group design project that runs from September to April of the following year. The project topics are stipulated either by teachers or by industrial sponsors. Each project group has two teachers acting as supervisors and an additional teacher serving as moderator. During the course of the project, supervisors communicate with the students and the concerned project sponsor to monitor the project progress. At the completion of the project, each project student presents
his/her achievements to the supervisors, moderator and sponsor via a written report and an oral presentation. This course aims to: (1) provide a problem-based learning experience for students to learn how to apply scientific knowledge and team-work approach to tackle design/engineering problems systematically, and (2) strengthen students’ inter-personal and communication skills through interaction with teammates, supervisors and sponsors. Typical project activities include: problem identification & definition; research into information pertaining to the problem, design & analysis; materials sourcing; communication; conducting experiments/making prototypes for verification and demonstration of results; writing reports and giving oral presentations.

This course is on the fundamental principles of heat transfer, covering heat conduction, heat convection and heat exchangers. The course objectives are: (1) to provide an understanding of fundamental principles of heat transfer; and (2) to enable students to use the fundamental principles for conducting thermal analysis and design of engineering problems. At the end of this course, students who fulfill the requirements of this course will be able to: (1) demonstrate an understanding of the principles that govern heat transfer processes; (2) analyze heat-transfer problems quantitatively; and (3) identify relevant engineering solutions in thermal systems. Topics include: Fourier’s law; heat-conduction equation; thermal conductivity; conduction; fins; basic convection principles; laminar and turbulent heat transfer in tubes and over plates; Reynolds analogy; types of heat exchangers; overall heat-transfer coefficient; log mean temperature difference; effectiveness-NTU method; heat exchanger design.

This course examines practices of urbanism across a range of contexts from antiquity to the present day. By doing so it allows students to develop insights into the social relations and human struggles that have been produced by, and continue to produce, particular types of built forms in different places over time. In the broadest sense, the course uses urbanism as a lens to understand the relationship between urban forms and the complex, multiple processes that constitute cities and their urban milieus.

This course explores cultural heritage definitions and relevant conceptualizations in the local context. It introduces the historical development of cultural heritage in the contemporary world. It then further discusses the current legal and policy framework of local heritage selection and conservation. It requires students to reflect on what heritage is and how heritage shall be selected and defined. Students will explore the social relation between cultural heritage and the local community through various local case studies. They will debate how cultural heritage shall be interpreted from a local perspective but could be operated sustainably.

Creative economy and cultural industries have been considered crucial strategies for driving the urban development of global cities. The dynamic landscape of the global cultural scene, where culture converges with the economy, community, heritage, and innovative technologies, has created an impetus for many cities to adopt innovative approaches in utilizing urban spaces and cultural resources, enabling citizens to vividly reimagine their urban and cultural life. These approaches are envisioned as and manifested in the form of the development of large-scale urban regions and city clusters, where major cultural facilities such as museums, art districts, performance venues, and festivals significantly contribute to social well-being and intercultural dialogue. This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore the interface among culture, urban space, and the economy with an eye towards the radically changing cultural landscape of Hong Kong. By offering students both theoretical knowledge and first- hand field experience, this course examines museums, galleries, and various cultural institutions as exemplary cases of how different forms of cultural activities can be turned into powerhouses of creative synergies and economic growth.

Who has felt authorized to narrate their life history and what has compelled them to tell explanatory stories that make sense of their lives? How accurate is it to call autobiography the history of the self? Do we encounter other histories or selves in autobiography? What is the history of autobiography and how do we read it? Historians reading autobiography for documentary evidence of the past and endeavoring to write about it objectively will find that their task is complicated by the autobiographer’s subjective and often highly creative engagement with memory, experience, identity, embodiment, and agency. This course is intended for students who wish to explore the interdisciplinary links between autobiography, history, literature, and personal narrative, and to acquire strategic theories and cultural understanding for reading these texts.