Communication

This course explores the media technology strategies required for strategic communication professionals (advertising, PR) in the rapidly changing media environment. By examining how the digital media market is evolving and understanding the fundamental terminology and various strategies needed for digital communication, the course aims to develop the analytical and problem-solving skills essential for effective strategic communication. 

The ability to communicate with confidence and impact can have a significant influence on our success in every aspect of our lives: our study, our relationships and our career. The course starts from the belief that we all have a unique ability to communicate with confidence and that this ability is not innate but rather, a skill which can be developed and learnt. Drawing on theories from biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and techniques from the world of theatre and acting, the course will support participants in learning how to manage nerves, communicate effectively and to engage with a wide variety of audiences, so that you can feel confident in any situation. The course is an interactive and practical one, and participants learn through active engagement, as well as through group and individual, tuition. In addition, the learning process will be tailored to the needs and experience of the participants.

This course explores the use of writing in different sectors of information and communication and teaches students how to master some of the rules of professional writing. It complements the critical approach to journalistic writing with a practical application through writing workshops. The course includes practice in informational and communicational writing through a range of practical activities. Each session includes both a presentation of the issues specific to each topic and writing exercises to test what has been learned. The course is structured around three main themes: journalistic writing for the press (the rules and techniques of journalistic writing, news briefs, profiles); writing for press relations; cultural or scientific mediation (artwork labels, exhibition catalogs).

This course provides an overview of ethnography of communication, a theoretical and methodological approach to analyzing and understanding a wide range of communicative patterns and language uses as they occur within social and cultural contexts. Students also apply ethnographic insights and methodologies to fieldwork activities and projects in the local community, investigating the range of practices that constitute ethnographic research, aiming for an integrative and holistic understanding through discussion of class members' fieldwork activities.

This course examines the role of the media in shaping the global and local societies, as well as the ways in which growing access to information fosters knowledge sharing and citizen participation in public affairs and creates social problems such as privacy infringement, misinformation, and polarization. It explores if the global media really changes the power structure of information flow, production, and dissemination or actually reinforces the imbalance. It questions whether media technologies amount to an individual’s emancipation or serve as another form of exploitation. It explores the role of the media in Hong Kong, China, and the rest of the world and how in a multipolar cultural world, how citizens contribute to the conversation on local and global issues. The course reflects on critical social values such as the freedom of expression, information, privacy, transparency, and investigate the impact of the social media, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology.

Working with the local community, this course builds on the communication and leadership skills necessary to lead action for social change. This practical work is facilitated by the charity Citizens UK, who match students with local campaigns or voluntary organizations. Exploring issues that impact various communities, students find links between their discipline and ways in which ‘community work’ can be undertaken. In workshops, students  engage critically with current debates about social justice, analyze historical and contemporary campaigns, and build practical skills (storytelling, negotiation, and delivering leadership speeches) to make positive social change.

Through exploring different areas within the Chinese language and cultural domain, including Chinese media, content creation, book publishing, and Chinese teaching, the course familiarizes students with today's volatile society and market, equipping them with the necessary skills to comprehend the dynamics of these industries within current political, social, cultural and linguistic contexts. Students gain a deeper understanding of the professional landscape and learn to combine their knowledge of Chinese language and culture with design thinking approaches for addressing opportunities and challenges they encounter in their future career. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course develops professional English writing skills for careers in public relations, marketing, and communications. It focuses on crafting clear, persuasive messages for diverse audiences and media platforms. Major categories of public relations writing are covered, including press kits, in-house publications, annual reports, press releases, and feature articles for media placement. Emphasis is placed on multimedia communication strategies and writing for print, broadcast, video, and digital formats. Through interactive exercises, written assignments, and presentations, participants refine their writing style, develop critical communication skills, and apply systematic professional approaches to effective public messaging.

This course explores global issues through the use of Extended Reality (XR) and Metaverse technologies (VRChat). By utilizing XR technology and 3D content, the class visually presents the background, impact, and proposed solutions to social issues within the Metaverse environment. 

This course is designed to develop professional English skills for students in economics, management, and information systems. It focuses on the language and communication strategies required in international business environments, with an emphasis on practical application in economic analysis, project management, and IT-related contexts.