Professional Education 2013

Contents

Cover: Jun Cambel/Rex Aguado/iStockphoto

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION · THE ANNUAL POSTGRADUATE GUIDE 2013

5 Editor’s Note

Dawn of a higher vision

SECTION ONE

SECTION TWO

7 ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY

47 PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

8 EMBA

48 Human Resources

20 MBA

50 Psychology

34 Accounting and Finance

52 Environment and Architecture

Making the ‘right’ decisions Green leaders of tomorrow Creating a better statement

42 Law

Mastering the fine line

p8

Shining the light on people Drawing up mental maps

Protecting and preserving

EDITORIAL Chief Editor Rex L. Aguado Project Editor & Subeditor Tom Eves Assistant Editors Hilda Poon / Sandra Lam Freelance Subeditor Paul Wenham Web Editor Carmen Tao Editorial Coordinator Nick Ho Production & Design Editor Jun Cambel Designers Kevin Ho / Jack Yip Bay Leung / Martin Megino ADVERTISING Sales Manager Dickson Fong (852) 2680 8378 dickson.fong@scmp.com Account Manager Stella Chung (852) 2680 8377 stella.chung@scmp.com CONTACT US Editorial classified@scmp.com Advertising advertising@scmp.com Reprint reprint@scmp.com Professional Education is published by South China Morning Post Publishers, 22 Dai Fat Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, Tel: 2680 8888. Printed by Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, Tel: 2660 2666.

It is copyright SCMPPL and published on December 11, 2013.

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 3

Contents PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION · THE ANNUAL POSTGRADUATE GUIDE 2013

SECTION THREE

61 PROFESSIONAL POSTGRAD TIPS 62 Securing that sponsorship 63 Communicate and collaborate 64 Smooth sailing for overseas study 65 Qualifications vs experience DATA FACTSHEETS 13 15 17 18 25

EMBA-Global Asia PolyU DBA Ivey Business School – Asia Kellogg-HKUST EMBA HKBU MBA

p59 4 Professional Education

27 29 31 33 37 39 41 45 46 55 57 59 67 69

MGSM MBA / MM UNSW AGSM MBA OUHK Translation PolyU MBA ACCA CityU MAGBM HKUST Business School CUHK Faculty of Law CityU School of Law HKIEd PGDE HKU Faculty of Engineering PolyU SHTM CUHK Dept of Anthropology HKU MALCS

72 INDEX

p63

p64

EDITOR’S NOTE

Dawn of a higher vision

T

he internet has had a profound effect on the way people see the world, particularly in the way that it has provided new generations with access to so much more information than previous generations ever had. With this information have also come the communication platforms to research, analyse and debate on a worldwide scale. What begins as a ripple in one part of the planet can quickly come crashing down as a great wave in another.

What this has done has put the spotlight on honesty and transparency, especially regarding the companies from which we buy our products and services. This has seen more people care about whether they are dealing with good corporate citizens which show a genuine concern for the communities and environments in which they operate, or entities which are simply out to line their pockets at the expense of the rest of the world. How this perception swings can have a serious effect on a company’s bottom line.

This is one of the reasons why companies are increasingly looking for leaders who can drive business forwards in an ethical, sustainable and responsible way, while taking exceptionally good care of staff and turning a handsome profit at the same time – no small task, that’s for sure. Such leaders are in short supply, but the numbers are growing, in part thanks to the efforts of professional and postgraduate programmes that train participants in this way of thinking.

In this year’s Professional Education guidebook, we look at some of the programmes and courses that are taking real steps in this direction. Section one looks at the core areas of ethics and sustainability, and particularly how these issues are being addressed in MBA and EMBA programmes across Hong Kong. Section two focuses on the human element and how master’s programmes are leading the way in areas such as employee development, mental management and the preservation of the environments in which we live. Section three, meanwhile, serves as a tips database for potential and current postgraduate students, ranging from advice on how to persuade your employer to fund your MBA, to getting the most out of your alumni network.

I hope this guidebook helps readers think about what is really important in their careers and provides the information necessary for them to target the best educational programmes to take them on their way. With the power of East Asia and Asia-Pacific growing by the day, we are in the perfect position to make a real statement about how business is conducted in the future.

Tom Eves

Project editor, Professional Education 2013 Subeditor, Classified Post

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 5

SECTION ONE

Ethics and Sustainability

The Annual Postgraduate Guide 路 December 2013 7

EMBA

Making the ‘right’ decisions EMBA students at Chicago Booth’s London campus take in a lecture.

A

recent survey of UK and US consumers by the PR firm Cohn & Wolfe found that they rated a company’s “honesty and transparency” as the third most important factor when considering purchasing a product, after price and quality.

“The key insight for major brands is clear,” says Geoff Beattie, Cohn & Wolfe’s global head of corporate affairs. “Embrace transparency and openness like never before, and consumers will reward you for it. Conversely, they may well vote with their wallets if you don’t.”

8 Professional Education

Evidence such as this shows how a company’s ethics can be connected to its success, and many organisations are responding by paying more attention to doing business in an ethical way. They want leaders who are highly skilled at making ethical decisions, as well as making profit. As such, many Executive MBA (EMBA) programmes aim to equip their students with these skills.

“Over the past 25 years or so, we have seen several forces at work that have increased the pressures on corporations to pay more attention, not only to their business, but to the ways in which they do

their business,” says David Austen-Smith, Peter G. Peterson Professor of Corporate Ethics at the Kellogg School of Management and teacher of the ethics courses that form part of the Kellogg-HKUST (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) EMBA programme.

The recent global financial crisis has shown companies the dangers of acting unethically – no more so than through the huge fines recently handed down to several US-based banks for their actions that contributed to the crisis. Austen-Smith adds that another key factor has been the growth

Photos: Dan Dry/Chicago Booth, HKUST and Ivey Asia

EMBA courses are responding to louder calls for ethical leaders, writes Nicholas Olczak

of the internet, which has made it easier for people to expose and attack companies that act wrongly.

“What we try to do is to provide students with a deeper appreciation for the drivers of their own and others’ behaviour, [giving them] a set of frameworks to help them disentangle and respond to alternatives in ethically challenging problems,” Austen-Smith says.

The teaching of business ethics on the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA programme focuses on helping executives understand what influences their decisions. “More useful than trying to teach executives about how they should behave is to start with developing an appreciation for understanding better how they and others do behave,” Austen-Smith says.

In the programme’s “Ethics and Executive Leadership” module, students examine how an individual behaves when making decisions. “The class consists of a variety of cases and in-class exercises to identify some of the psychological drivers behind individual decision-making, and asks how these drivers interact with more familiar material economic incentives,” Austen-Smith says.

Students gain an understanding of how emotions and values might lead individuals to make decisions that are different to those that bring the most material gain. They also develop an insight into the way people’s biases affect their decisions.

The HKUST campus in Clearwater Bay, Sai Kung, home of the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA programme.

“When confronted with ethically challenging decisions for which there is no clear ‘right’ answer, individuals are especially prone to implicit biases that make it very hard to recognise the salience of competing values and can lead to disruptive decisions,” Austen-Smith says. “Learning to recognise such biases in oneself and others makes identifying the likely values conflicts easier and the subsequent decisions less divisive.”

Through this close study of an individual’s decision-making, EMBA participants build an understanding which can hopefully help them lead companies ethically and successfully in the future. “Without an understanding of how individuals’ ethics interact with their incentives in an organisation, it is very difficult to build a healthy and self-reinforcing corporate culture – a culture that supports a strong corporate reputation,” Austen-Smith says.

The EMBA programme offered by Ivey Business School–Asia is taught entirely via the case-study method, which sees students assume the role of leaders in real-world case studies. Loron Orris, regional director of Ivey Asia’s EMBA programme, says that many of the over 150 cases that EMBA students study – even those in finance, marketing or information-systems modules – require them to consider business ethics in some ways.

“

“It’s interwoven among all of the different modules,” Orris says, explaining that this reflects real-world conditions where the need to make ethical decisions is not isolated to one department.

Several Ivey cases focus specifically on ethical decisions. In one case, for instance, students take on the role of CEO at Maple Leaf Foods, a Canadian packaged food company, at the point where the company’s products have been linked to outbreaks of listeriosis and are believed to have caused several deaths.

“We say, ‘Okay, what will you do?’” Orris explains. “The lawyers are advising [the CEO] of a certain way to act. Everyone is advising him of different ways to act. But what is the right way – the ethical way – to act? You have to take in the whole context of what is going on.”

Another case places students in the shoes of an executive visiting company factories in mainland China who discovers that undesirable and unethical management practices are in force. They have three days to decide how to act.

By working through these cases, students gain practice in making the complex ethical decisions that they would be forced to make as company leaders. “When people are faced with making a decision, they’re

We try to provide students with ... frameworks to help them disentangle and respond to alternatives in ethically challenging problems

”

- Professor David Austen-Smith Peter G. Peterson Professor of Corporate Ethics, Kellogg

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 9

EMBA

Ivey Asia EMBA students learn how to make difficult ethical decisions by assuming the role of leaders in real-world case studies.

Loron Orris, regional director, Ivey Asia EMBA programme

10 Professional Education

able to take a look at not only the learning they’ve done of key concepts and key tools in the classroom, [but also] to make a decision taking into account the context and the situation that they’re in – one which addresses the opportunities for the business and also the different stakeholders,” Orris says.

Summer 2014 will see a new entrant into Hong Kong’s competitive EMBA scene in the form of the programme offered by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (Chicago Booth). The programme, which is currently accepting and evaluating applications, also teaches ethical decision-making skills and similarly aims to build an understanding of an individual’s actions when making difficult ethical decisions.

“For EMBA students, teaching ethics isn’t so much about teaching what’s right and what’s wrong, but rather in understanding how you can get drawn into unethical behaviour without realising

it,” says William Kooser, associate dean for global outreach at Chicago Booth.

Kooser explains that discussion of business ethics will be incorporated into many of the programmes’ modules. “We believe that business ethics is a topic most effectively discussed in the context of teaching actual business functions rather than simply as a standalone subject,” he says. “That way, students understand the ethical issues in relation to the specific roles and responsibilities they might have in their careers.”

Alongside this, the programme will also offer an elective module called “Business, Politics and Ethics” for those wishing to look at business ethics in more detail. This course will feature specific case studies through which students can examine different ideas and issues.

“Through these discussions, our students will have a better sense of how to avoid ‘ethical traps’ and make decisions that are the ‘right’ ones,” Kooser says.

Another EMBA programme that offers useful elective modules for students wishing

A lecture at Chicago Booth’s campus in Singapore. The school will move its Asia programmes to Hong Kong next year.

“

For EMBA students, teaching ethics [is more about] understanding how you can get drawn into unethical behaviour without realising it - William Kooser Associate dean for global outreach, Chicago Booth

”

to delve into the subject of business ethics comes in the form of the EMBA-Global Asia programme offered by the University of Hong Kong (HKU), which runs the programme in partnership with London Business School and Columbia Business School. Participants can take electives offered by these two overseas faculties.

Columbia Business School is home to the Sanford C Bernstein & Co Centre for Leadership and Ethics, which provides a wide range of different courses that teach and discuss the topic of ethics. These courses closely examine how executives might balance business with doing what’s best for society.

Explaining why the centre was established, Robert Hubbard, dean of Columbia Business School, says: “The strength of any great business school lies not only in its ability to teach students the fundamentals of management ... but also in the school’s ability to increase student understanding of the conflicts and trade-offs that sometimes arise in balancing business conduct with the concerns of individuals and society.”

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 11

DAtA FActSheetS

Columbia Business School, London Business School and The University of Hong Kong EMBA-GloBAl AsiA

Contact: EMBA-Global Asia Programme Office HKU Business School The University of Hong Kong Room 104, Block B, Cyberport 4, 100 Cyberport Road, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3962 1262 Email: asia@emba-global.com www.emba-global.com/asia

Programme Summary The programme was designed specifically for globally-focused executives and managers who seek to deepen their understanding of both Western and Eastern business perspectives and who are passionate about the opportunities offered by Asia’s rapid economic development.

EMBA-Global Asia provides a collaborative learning environment in which a diverse group of executives debate theories, discuss cases and share experiences. The curriculum is comprehensive and demanding. The timetable enables highly-focused learning, minimising time spent away from the office and ensuring optimum learning impact. EMBA-Global Asia is internationally recognized as one of the world’s top Executive MBA programmes.

Organised into five modules, where students take courses one week per month, the programme can be completed in 16-20 months. The first three modules build core business skills and the final two modules are completed with electives that students may choose to take at any of the three partner schools.

Renowned faculty from three of the world’s top business schools combine to operate at the intersection between theory and practice, conducting cutting-edge research that has a real-world impact on the understanding and practice of international business today. Faculty members travel with the students to teach in London, New York, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Frequent guest speakers, cases studies and corporate visits enhance classroom learning.

Accreditation AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA

Language of Instruction English

Programme Schedule Core courses are taught in intensive four or five-day blocks primarily delivered in Hong Kong. There are two class weeks in London, two in New York, and one in Shanghai.

Programme Fee HK$1,150,344 / US$147,480

Mode of Delivery Part-time Duration of Programme 16-20 months

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 13

DAtA FActSheetS

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Faculty of Business Doctor of Business ADministrAtion (DBA)

Contact: Research and Postgraduate Studies Section Faculty of Business R802 Shirley Chan Building The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3400 3234 / (852) 2766 7889 Fax: (852) 2365 7415 Email: fbdban@polyu.edu.hk www.polyu.edu.hk/fb/rpss/dba

Programme Summary A major aim of the PolyU DBA is to educate senior executives to be the “scholar-leaders”, who are able to apply research findings in solving real-world management problems. The PolyU DBA has been designed to integrate academic study and management practice in a way which will form a significant part of an individual’s business career.

The educational objectives that frame the programme are: • Broadening, updating, and deepening students’ knowledge of business administration in general; • Acquiring an in-depth knowledge of a specialist area; • Sharpening an individual’s ability to conduct original applied research in business administration.

PolyU Faculty of Business collaborates with IMD in Switzerland, a top-ranking business school for developing global leaders, to offer a credit bearing elective for PolyU DBA students.

Accreditation PolyU Faculty of Business is among a small group of business schools worldwide with Triple Accreditation: – AACSB – EQUIS – AMBA Programme Schedule PolyU DBA is a credit-based programme. Students are required to complete 51 credits including 8 taught subjects (24 credits), 2 DBA Residential Workshops (3 credits) and a DBA Thesis (24 credits).

Ranking The Faculty is ranked No. 65 by the University of Texas at Dallas Top 100 Business School Worldwide Rankings based on research published in 24 top business journals from 2008 to 2012.

Language of Instruction English Programme Fee HK$690,000 (51 credits) (excluding travelling and hotel accommodation costs of two Residential Workshops) (Subject to review)

Mode of Delivery Part-time Duration of Programme The normal duration of DBA study is 3 years with a maximum duration of 6 years.

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 15

Ivey Executive MBA

Become a leader worth following.

Come for a class to experience how an Ivey EMBA can transform your career: January 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 | March 1, 2, 8, 9 Register at www.ivey.com.hk/events

Asia

Executive MBA

#1 Executive Education provider in greater China.* *Financial Times, 2013.

Registration no. 220175. It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognize any qualifications to which this course may lead.

Data FaCtSheetS

Ivey Business School - Asia ExEcutivE MBA

Contact: Tel: (852) 2135 2299 Email: Emba@ivey.com.hk www.ivey.com.hk/emba

Programme Summary Our 18-month Executive MBA program is 100% based on Ivey’s Case Study Method using real business case scenarios to ensure that every class is relevant in today’s world. The Ivey Executive MBA curriculum consists of 15 modules, guided by our Cross-Enterprise Leadership™ Learning principles where each module builds on the learning from the previous module. With the principle, you will understand the relationship and interconnection among each business unit in your orgranization. Our professors facilitate class discussions, challenge ideas and inspire you to develop your business leadership skills. Ivey professors are world leaders in the creation of business cases and you will have the unique experience of being led through a case by the faculty member who actually authored it.

Ivey Business School at Western University, the first international business school to establish a standalone campus in Greater China, opened its Hong Kong location in 1998 and is Canada’s leading provider of relevant, innovative and comprehensive business education. Renowned for its case method teaching, Ivey Asia is recognized as one of just four exclusive Case Study Method schools globally and is the world’s foremost producer of Asian and Indian case studies. Ivey Asia has the largest Chinese language business case library and is the largest overall producer of business cases after Harvard Business School.

Programme Schedule Regular weekend classes are held at the Ivey Asia campus in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The program also includes an initial two-week residence period in August and a ten-day trip to Silicon Valley the following year.

Language of Instruction English

Mode of Delivery Part time

Programme Fee HK$780,000

Class Size Max 55

Duration of Programme 18 months Ranking No. 1 Executive Education provider in Greater China (Financial Times, 2013)

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 17

Data Factsheets

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kellogg-HKUST execUTive MBA ProgrAM

Contact: Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program, Room 3053, 3/F, Lee Shau Kee Business Building The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2358 4180 Fax: (852) 2358 1514 Email: emba@ust.hk www.emba.ust.hk

Programme summary Ranked No. 1 in the world for 5 years in a row by the Financial Times, the Kellogg–HKUST Executive Master in Business Administration program is a world class, 18-month part-time program that capitalizes on the strengths of the Kellogg School of Management and the HKUST Business School. Participants not only learn from top-notch faculty but also from a student body with extremely diverse backgrounds, industries and nationalities.

The program creates a unique and truly exceptional environment, in which top-notch professors from the world’s leading business schools share their insights with an elite group of executive participants. The outcome is inevitably a fusion of energy, brilliance, and determination that can carry today’s top business executives to new levels of leadership and influence. Each year, our six strategic global locations become home to students who have already proven themselves in their chosen fields of business endeavor. Typically, these participants are looking to be challenged further, and to interact with like-minded individuals from around the globe who share their business ambitions and their appetite for success.

accreditation The HKUST Business School was the first business school in the region to have been awarded accreditation by both the US-based Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

Mode of Delivery Part-time

Ranking No. 1 EMBA program in the world for the fifth straight year (Source: 2009 – 2013 EMBA Survey by Financial Times)

Language of Instruction English

Programme schedule The program starts with one live-in week at HKUST, followed by 10 monthly modules. Each module has 2 consecutive weekends (from Friday afternoons to Sundays). In the course, participants have to take 2 consecutive live-in weeks at Kellogg campus and a one-week global elective at one of our sister campuses.

18 Professional Education

Duration of Programme 18 months

Programme Fee HK$1,190,000/US$152,625 for 2014 intake (Please check our website for update on the tuition fee of the 2015 intake)

Sponsored Feature

Constantly evolving curriculum prepares AGSM MBA students for future challenges Professor Chris Styles

Just like the best businesses, the top business schools must keep adapting and innovating to ensure MBA courses fully prepare students to deal not just with the key issues in today’s workplace, but also the future challenges their organisations and industries will face.

T

o do that, two qualities are essential – the ability to interpret trends and react quickly – meaning that the curriculum for the MBA offered by the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) changes constantly to reflect what is happening in global business and what companies and individuals are going to need.

“For the part-time MBA taught in Hong Kong, we brought in two new subjects this year on M&A (mergers and acquisitions) and risk management,” says Professor Chris Styles, deputy dean of the Australian School of Business and director of the AGSM. “This was in response to the environment we are in and to teach what is relevant for Hong Kong’s position as a hub for financial services in the region. Both courses have been great additions to the programme and proved very popular.”

To stay ahead, Styles notes, the key is to recognise and act on what the market says about the required knowledge base for people aiming to reach the higher echelons of international business. That means listening to employers, alumni, students and industry leaders to detect shifts and then rebalance or refocus accordingly.

Nowadays, for instance, an understanding of broadly defined risk is a much “bigger deal” than five years ago. Executives have to think through the wider implications of commercial and investment decisions and be alert to possible repercussions like never before.

Also important is to offer more course content online. This increases flexibility for students who need to juggle work, family and MBA commitments and only have 24 hours in the day.

However, while expanding the amount of material online with the inclusion of video lectures and more, AGSM sees this mainly as a resource for preparation and revision – an adjunct to, rather than a substitute for, classroom teaching and the interaction and discussion that entails.

“We place a huge amount of emphasis on the quality and diversity of students in the classroom, because a big part of the MBA is learning from peers who work in different sectors or functions,” Styles says. “Mixing is critical because it helps people work in teams, and they can leverage the classroom experience in handling projects, taking on management roles, and in building a network which will help their career.”

Strong contacts made through the programme take on extra importance when so many careers now involve moves between

countries and regions. To stay on the fast track, it is increasingly common for someone to spend time in a regional HQ, then transfer to another country, before running operations in a third.

Recognising this, AGSM is making a concerted effort to expand its career services and organise more networking events in Hong Kong. The aim is to keep current students and alumni in touch with such trends and offer suitable support and practical skills.

“Our approach is to understand how regional careers develop and increase our services in terms of online tools for CV-writing, as well as career planning and counselling,” Styles says. “Over the last 18 months, we have been ramping up international alumni activities in New York, London, Singapore and Hong Kong and taking a global approach to adding value in this area.”

Doing this is another way to help answer the question “What are you made for?”, which the school uses in marketing and hopes will stimulate thinking about wider goals and different paths in life. The initial purpose is to prompt prospective students to focus on their motivations, plans and priorities, but the same question can also give graduates and alumni a useful cause for thought.

“Some students have very clear ideas about where they want to go. Our job is to help them take action,” Styles says.

“Others are not so sure, but we can help them shape or alter their views and go on to achieve those aims and ambitions.”

A typically diverse AGSM MBA class in full flow.

MBA

Green leaders of tomorrow

CityU MBA students attend a class on sustainable business.

C

ompanies large and small are increasingly realising the value of adopting a “greener” approach to business. Most importantly – in the face of diminishing resources, choking pollution and overflowing landfills – this is because a more environmentally friendly and sustainable approach is beneficial to us all and the planet we share. Meanwhile, a particularly useful side effect of such a business philosophy is that it can do wonders for an organisation’s corporate image and reputation.

20 Professional Education

Fuji Xerox (Hong Kong) says it started pursuing an environmental agenda long before it became fashionable to do so.

Over time, its focus on the issue has grown stronger, and the company is now extremely committed to adopting sustainable business practices. Its leaders play a vital role in helping it achieve this aim.

“Sustainability is ingrained in our corporate culture,” says Katherine Lau, the company’s general manager of corporate quality and sustainability. “Leaders have to ‘walk the talk’ on sustainability, as they are the ones to

drive planning, allocate resources and make decisions.”

Many companies are increasingly seeking executives with a good understanding of sustainable business practices in order to drive their sustainability agendas. Fortunately, there are a number of forward-thinking Hong Kong MBA programmes that endeavour to equip their students with a good understanding in this area.

One is the MBA programme offered by the City University of Hong Kong (CityU). Wenyu Dou, associate dean of CityU’s College of

Photos: CityU, Fuji Xerox, CUHK, MGSM and PolyU

More MBAs are training executives to find sustainable solutions, writes Nicholas Olczak

Business, says more and more regional businesses are paying more attention to sustainability.

“We have contact with different businesses in Hong Kong and some of them are already pursuing this vigorously, [while] some are starting to work on this,” Dou says. “I’d say the interest among Hong Kong companies is quite high … We also have some contact with mainland companies and I think they are starting to pick up the momentum.”

He adds that businesses are seeing their customers increasingly demand that they be more environmentally friendly. “Companies are starting to realise that if they don’t handle this in a proper manner then their business will be hurt,” Dou says. “They’re realising that actually this is good for their business, because consumers care about sustainability.”

The growing importance that companies are placing on sustainability means that executives with a good understanding of the subject can stand out from the crowd.

“This is a growing trend for business and if [executives] don’t have this kind of understanding or exposure, they will be left behind,” Dou says.

Having recognised the issue’s increasing importance, CityU introduced a compulsory “Sustainable Business” course as part of its MBA programme in 2011, to make sure that all MBA students were able to develop a broad understanding of the subject. “We want every MBA graduate of CityU to have a strong and comprehensive understanding of sustainable business,” Dou says.

The course begins by introducing students to the basic idea of sustainable business by examining what it is and why it is so

important. Students then study different concepts such as economics, sociology and environmental science from the angle of sustainable business.

“For instance, we look at two economic theories,” Dou says. “One is the traditional [theory of] shareholder profit maximisation.

Then we also introduce a new thinking in economics called ‘enlightened profit maximisation’, which considers a broader range of stakeholders.”

Another part of the course examines various business functions, such as marketing and supply-chain management, and how these can be done sustainably. The final section studies how companies can actually measure sustainability and develop appropriate strategies.

The course is taught through a combination of lectures, case studies and group exercises. Students also go on field trips to investigate sustainability issues first-

“

Leaders have to ‘walk the talk’ on sustainability, as they are the ones to drive planning, allocate resources and make decisions - Katherine Lau General manager of corporate quality and sustainability, Fuji Xerox (Hong Kong)

”

Wenyu Dou, associate dean, CityU College of Business

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 21

MBA

hand. “Last semester, students went to different companies’ factories in Dongguan,” Dou says. “They interviewed the company (representatives), did a site visit, and explored sustainability challenges and developed solutions. This is a key component of the learning: to engage students in a real company project on sustainability.”

At the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School, MBA students are also given a broad understanding of sustainable business and corporate social responsibility (CSR). One way it does this is through its annual CUHK MBA CSR Conference.

The school started holding the conference in 2007 after seeing the growing importance attached to the discussion of sustainability.

Each year, CUHK’s MBA students both organise and participate in the event, bringing them into contact with many different business executives who share their ideas and experiences relating to sustainability.

“The speakers come from diverse backgrounds and from across different industries with different business issues,” says Lawrence Chan, administrative director of marketing and student recruiting for MBA and EMBA programmes at CUHK. Alongside the conference, CUHK has introduced an elective module into its MBA programme that focuses on sustainable investment. Chan says companies are increasingly looking at how the investment decisions they make might harm or benefit society and the environment. “The investment

Lawrence Chan

Professor Carlos Lo

community and society at large are very concerned about this,” he says.

The “Managing Sustainable Investment” module teaches students the analytical skills needed to effectively evaluate an investment opportunity. It does this by getting them to look at the financial concepts and key

“

Narrow cost consciousness and profit drive are not taught as the sole ends of business

”

- Professor John Mathews Professor in management, MGSM

22 Professional Education

measures that they might consider when making a decision. “[The module] talks about a lot of issues in terms of the key measures, criteria and concerns from the more mature investment community about what they do and don’t invest in,” Chan says.

He adds that the module also gives students the tools for thinking through complex investment decisions. “We train students to have a good understanding of how to evaluate a business, not just from the financial point of view, but by looking at other things,” Chan says. “When they are involved in making an investment decision about a certain kind of business and are analysing the company, we teach a methodology for how to deal with that.”

Australia’s Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) partners with the Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA) to offer its MBA programme in Hong Kong. This programme also aims to gives its students a good understanding of important “enlightenment” issues such as ethics and sustainability, as well as a thorough grounding in traditional business areas such as profit and growth.

“MGSM expects its graduates to be leaders in their professions,” says John Mathews, professor in management at MGSM. “That means that they need to be able to take a broad view of their own and their companies’ responsibilities. Narrow cost consciousness and profit drive are not taught as the sole ends of business.”

Recognising the growing importance attributed to sustainability, the programme seeks to equip its students with an understanding of this topic. “MGSM emphasises a ‘global mindset’ in all its courses, and to the extent that business is moving in a green direction globally, MGSM feels it has a duty to make its graduates aware of these trends,” Mathews says.

Rather than offering specific modules focused on sustainability, MGSM seeks to incorporate discussion and appreciation of sustainable business practices into every part of its MBA programme. This looks at sustainability on three different levels: the practices within a company; actions a company makes which impinge on others; and a company’s position within a cluster of companies or its particular industry.

“MGSM ensures that all courses in the MBA programmes taught both in Hong Kong and Sydney uphold certain basic and fundamental values. These are leadership,

Sustainability lessons that form part of the CityU MBA programme involve field trips that allow students to investigate issues first-hand.

global mindset, sustainability and good corporate citizenship,” Mathews says. “These are not offered as separate standalone courses, but as values that infuse all the MGSM course offerings.”

For example, during the MBA’s “Strategic Frameworks” core course, students might learn about the fundamentals of strategising by doing projects about sustainable and green industries. In the past, they have done projects on topics such as the solarphotovoltaic industry and the wind-power sector in China.

Over at the Faculty of Business of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU),

MBA students are taught about sustainability as part of a broader teaching of business ethics and the ways that businesses might act to benefit society.

“We approach sustainable business practices from a stakeholder’s perspective,” says Carlos Lo, professor and head of the university’s department of management and marketing. “The core of sustainability business practices is the ongoing commitment to care for and improve the well-being of individual stakeholder groups in business operations.”

The PolyU MBA programme presents the argument that becoming socially responsible

in general, and assessing the impact your actions have on different stakeholders, is the best way for companies to achieve sustainable business practices. Its “Business Ethics” module shows students how they might go about making socially responsible decisions as a leader.

“We position our MBA programme to cultivate responsible business executives to help achieve business sustainability,” Lo says.

“Hence, CSR and business ethics provide the theoretical foundations for sustainable business practices. We teach both theoretical and practice dimensions of sustainable business practices.”

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 23

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School of Business, Hong Kong Baptist University Master of Business adMinistration (MBa)

Contact: Miss Ying Yum WLB 801, 8/F, The Wing Lung Bank Building for Business Studies, Shaw Campus, 34 Renfrew Road, Kowloon Tong Tel: (852) 3411 5357 Fax: (852) 3411 5588 Email: hkbumba@hkbu.edu.hk mba.hkbu.edu.hk

Programme Summary “Excel in China & Global Businesses” is the theme of the programme. The programme aims to develop well-rounded executives who have the knowledge, skills and leadership ability to respond effectively to an increasingly versatile local and international business environment. The curriculum covers a wide range of management and business disciplines. It helps students acquire business knowledge in major functional areas of management and develop the necessary personal skills to become leaders within their organisations. The curriculum balances the need for executives to acquire a global mindset, while understanding the business environment on the mainland. Besides the formal curriculum, a series of non-classroom activities, including business field studies, corporate visits, seminars, workshops and international exchange programmes, is incorporated.

Accreditation The School has been accredited by AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA. We are among the 1% of the world’s business schools to have been tripleaccredited.

Programme Schedule Classes are scheduled on weekends, both Saturdays and Sundays.

Language of Instruction English Programme Fee HK$198,000 (for 2014 intake)

Mode of Delivery Part-time Duration of Programme Two years

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 25

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Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Sydney MBA / MAster of MAnAgeMent, MgsM, sydney

Contact: Carol Wong / Mani Ng 16/F, Tower B, Southmark, 11 Yip Hing Street, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2774 8585 (Carol Wong) / (852) 2774 8534 (Mani Ng) Fax: (852) 2365 1000 Email: carolwong@hkma.org.hk / maning@hkma.org.hk www.hkma.org.hk/mgsm

Programme Summary MGSM has been a leading provider of postgraduate education for more than 40 years and has been in Hong Kong continuously since 1994. It has an international reputation for excellence in management education and is consistently ranked in the top tier of business schools worldwide.

The MGSM MBA transforms managers and professionals into leaders with a global mindset. MGSM’s students, originating from over 35 different countries, are mature professionals who bring with them a wealth of experience, knowledge and diversity.

MGSM offers students a highly interactive, flexible and rigorous learning experience. The building block aspect of MGSM’s postgraduate programs allows students to select the point at which to commence study that best suits their individual needs, and the flexibility helps them manage their work/life balance. The programs are offered in Hong Kong and Sydney, and are taught in person by MGSM world class faculty, many of whom have extensive experience in business at a senior level in addition to possessing stellar academic credentials.

MGSM hosts regular business networking events in Hong Kong. They allow students and alumni to meet outside the classroom and share ideas and experiences that are relevant to both their learning and professional environments. In addition, it introduced the Dean’s Awards in 2006 to recognize outstanding students. Students become eligible for a Dean’s award by scoring the highest grade in a particular subject unit.

The awards are usually conferred on students during networking functions.

Accreditation AACSB Accredited – fewer than 5% of business schools have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education Programme Schedule The content is delivered in block format with 40 contact hours for each module. The classes are scheduled on Friday nights (6pm to 10pm), Saturdays (2pm to 10pm) and Sundays (9am to 5pm).

Mode of Delivery Part-time Duration of Programme 1.5 years (Master of Management); 2.5 years (MBA)

Rankings • Top 100 Global MBA • #1 Australian MBA Program taught in Hong Kong • #1 globally for ‘increase in salary’ and #2 globally for ‘post MBA salary’ Above rankings: The Economist 2013 Language of Instruction English Programme Fee HK$176,200 (Master of Management); HK$281,920 (MBA)

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 27

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Australian School of Business, The University of New South Wales AGSM MBA HonG KonG ProGrAM

Contact: Ms Jovy Yeung Unit 2006, 20/F, Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2841 2805 or (852) 2841 2802 Fax: (852) 2588 1724 Email: contact@agsm.com.hk www.agsm.edu.au/hk

Programme Summary AGSM MBA Programs have more than 35 years of history of leadership in Australia and are recognised internationally for the rigour, relevance and the unique learning experience provided for students.

AGSM MBA Hong Kong Program is an innovative, customised management education program specially designed with ‘Flexibility’ for busy executives: • Four intakes a year – apply and commence during the year • Intensive mode of delivery – balance work and study commitments • World-class faculty – learn from UNSW academics • Subject choice – with more than 20 electives offered, you can design your program experience to suit your career ambitions • Financial flexibility – pay as you learn over 16 subjects • Flexible completion time – complete your MBA between 1.5 to 7 years and progress at your own pace

Accreditation • First Australian business school to receive AACSB accreditation • Received EQUIS accreditation in 2010 Mode of Delivery Part-time, face to face, offered in Hong Kong Duration of Programme 1.5 – 7 years (progress at your own pace)

Language of Instruction English Class Size 20 – 40 Programme Fee Fees per course in 2014 are HK$18,930*.

This includes tuition and course materials. * Fees are subject to change annually.

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 29

Data FaCtSheetS

The Open University of Hong Kong Master of arts in applied translation

Contact: Dr Kelly Chan School of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University of Hong Kong, 30 Good Shepherd Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2768 5730 Email: kkychan@ouhk.edu.hk www.ouhk.edu.hk/maat

Programme Summary The programme is specially designed for translators and those who are interested to embark on a career in translation and jobs of related natures. The programme is also suitable for individuals who wish to enhance language proficiency and translation capacity. Unlike most other postgraduate programmes in translation, this programme is unique in reducing theory to a minimum and offering students opportunities to learn to translate through practices. In the training process, students will be able to obtain the necessary translation skills and the professional experience through studying “Principles of Translation”, “Translation Practicum” and “Translation Project”. Apart from these, students will also be able to acquire high-level techniques in dealing with literary texts in both English and Chinese. What is more, translation aspects in terms of different text types and genres are included too, such as literary translation (classical and modern), media translation and business translation.

Awareness towards society is being considered through translation of social sciences texts.

Information Sessions Hong Kong Date : 14 Dec 2013, 3:45pm-4:30pm Venue : The Open University of Hong Kong Details : www.ouhk.edu.hk/OUday

Shenzhen, China Date : 8 Jan 2014 Venue : Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel Details : www.ouhk.edu.hk/sz

Programme Schedule The programme offers full-time and part-time modes of study.

Classes are normally to be held during weekday evenings or weekends, with elective choices. Part-time tutorships are available.

Students will be evaluated by assignments, presentation and/or examinations.

Language of Instruction Mainly English for all courses, supplemented with Chinese (Cantonese and/or Putonghua subject to needs)

Mode of Delivery Full-time / Part-time

Programme Fee The tuition fee is approximately HK$76,800.

Each credit accounts for HK$1,280. (subject to regular review)

Duration of Programme Full-time: 1 year Part-time: 2 years

Class Size 30 – 60 (with flexibility of class arrangement)

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 31

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Master of Business adMinistration (MBa)

Contact: Research and Postgraduate Studies Section Faculty of Business R802 Shirley Chan Building The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2766 7047 Fax: (852) 2365 7415 Email: fbmba@polyu.edu.hk www.polyu.edu.hk/fb/rpss/mba

Programme Summary The PolyU MBA programme has been developing General Managers in Hong Kong since 1990 and in Mainland China since 2002. Its structure, content and teaching approaches have been benchmarked against the best programmes in the world.

Leadership in the Asian context is one major focus at our programme. Under the strategic partnership with KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL, PolyU and Korn/Ferry will together deliver a Leadership Development Programme within the MBA programme. Students will be thoroughly appraised with respect to their leadership competences, those competences will be developed using Korn/Ferry’s established methodologies, and each student will receive advice on how to continue developing themselves when the programme is completed.

Class Profile – Intake of 97 students in 2013 – Average 13 years of work experience – Average age of 36 – 70% are managers, directors or professionals

Accreditation We are among a small group of business schools worldwide with Triple Accreditation: – AACSB – EQUIS – AMBA Programme Schedule The programme requires a total of 45 credits, consisting of 12 core management subjects, 2 elective subjects, the PolyU Korn/Ferry Leadership Development Programme, and an Investigative Report.

Ranking The Faculty is ranked No. 65 by the University of Texas at Dallas Top 100 Business School Worldwide Rankings based on research published in 24 top business journals from 2008 to 2012.

Language of Instruction English Programme Fee HK$211,500 (Subject to review)

Mode of Delivery Part-time Duration of Programme 2 years (Maximum: 4 years)

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 33

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE

Creating a better statement

Finance courses at PolyU teach students about the various dilemmas in selecting accounting standards.

P

rofit might still be the main driving force behind accounting and finance departments across the land, but questions about how to minimise environmental impact, exemplify high ethical standards, and support causes in the broader community have taken on a new urgency.

Such questions are being boosted by the growing popularity of transparency and accountability. These can range from stricter post-financial-crisis corporate governance to

34 Professional Education

reporting a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

An example of the latter can be seen in the rise of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a non-profit organisation which produces one of the world’s most prevalent standards for sustainability reporting. Currently, almost 6,000 companies worldwide have published reports through the GRI, including Procter & Gamble, Exxon, General Motors and Hewlett Packard.

Understandably, the academic world is

also alive to these developments. As a result, business- and finance-based programmes are being suitably updated or adapted to deal with these issues, either in special electives or as part of classroom discussions in other courses.

Dr Samuel Chan, programme director of the Master of Corporate Governance programme at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), says that the first of his programme’s intended learning outcomes is for students to “appreciate the importance

Photos: PolyU

John Cremer looks at how new reporting methods affect finance and business courses

of business ethics pertaining to various corporate governance issues”.

This is not something separate or optional.

It is a core theme which runs through the whole programme and is meant to shine a spotlight on attitudes and outlooks.

“The course is different from the usual MBA, which is more general in terms of techniques for managing a company,” Chan says. “Instead, we focus a bit more on shaping corporate behaviour and understanding best corporate practices. We look at moral hazards, ethical considerations, and dilemmas in selecting accounting standards. Students must be able to identify business-ethics issues and know about individual standards of behaviour and corporate codes of conduct.”

Dr Hsieh Po-an, director of the DBA programme at PolyU, says that ethics, sustainability and the environment are all relevant for a company’s reputation in the long run. “Therefore, professors in finance, management and marketing will introduce them in different [DBA] courses, as well as include corporate social responsibility in seminars. Students will be expected to include these topics in their research,” he says.

Hsieh notes that more DBA students are now specifically focusing their research on projects that come under the banner of CSR. In addition, an increasing number of applicants now come from NGOs and nonprofit organisations, rather than the usual corporate backgrounds. Once their empirical work is done and their theses completed, these students hope to use their new-found expertise to make a career in this area.

“Many students in the manufacturing sector are starting to look at the ‘green supply chain’, which is something we are very happy to see,” Hsieh says. “And this year, one [student] has a project collaborating with Ocean Park and the panda reserve in China to teach children about the balance between economic development and environmental protection.”

The presence of people from NGOs in the DBA group has proved an excellent way of introducing new viewpoints and, in effect, teaching the professors and fellow classmates about key issues and approaches that work. “[NGO students] have some very different and very valuable perspectives about how to run organisations,” Hsieh says. “As professors, we can provide the theoretical side, but we know there is more for all of us to learn about corporate social responsibility and charity to help our business studies.”

For Dr Maria Balatbat, associate professor at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and co-teacher of the “Reporting for Climate Change and Sustainability” elective that forms part of the school’s MBA Hong Kong programme, the starting point is to realise that education must help in addressing the risks and challenges that confront modern society.

The school has, therefore, embedded the goal of sustainability in its curriculum and, in the “Reporting for Climate Change and Sustainability” elective, seeks to highlight aspects of social and ethical significance, which are often overlooked in profit-based business transactions and standard courses.

“The success of the elective depends on the extent of its influence in changing the behaviour of students and the way they think about sustainability,” Balatbat says. “In developing the course, it was vital to engage with stakeholders – employers, scientific experts, students and alumni – to understand expectations and determine the topics included. The content has to give students knowledge of issues relevant to business and which can keep companies competitive.”

This includes proposed policy frameworks such as those set out by the GRI, and dealing with the transparency and accountability required in reporting a company’s ESG performance.

“These are key aspects tracked by socially responsible investors,” says Dr Wendy Green, senior lecturer at AGSM who also co-teaches the “Reporting for Climate Change and Sustainability” elective. “Nowadays, it is also essential for businesses to measure and manage their carbon footprint, so we teach students about the trends in accounting and reporting for greenhouse gas emissions and about environmental management systems.”

Since the subject is still evolving, Green emphasises the importance of ongoing engagement with practitioners and experts from both the business and scientific communities to ensure course material is cutting edge and always up to date.

“The response from students has been very positive,” Green says. “We believe it is a unique opportunity for them to develop a vision of sustainability and future business strategies which will generate revenue [in the right way].”

“ Dr Samuel Chan, Master of Corporate Governance programme director, PolyU

[NGO students] have some very different and valuable perspectives about how to run organisations - Dr Hsieh Po-an DBA programme director, PolyU

”

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 35

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ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) ACCA QuAlifiCAtion

Contact: ACCA Hong Kong Office, Room 1901, 19/F, World Wide House, 19 Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2524 4988 Fax: (852) 2868 4909 Email: hkstudents@accaglobal.com www.accaglobal.com www.facebook.com/ACCA.HongKong

The ACCA Qualification is a business-relevant, worldwide-recognised professional qualification to those looking for a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. With it, one can build a successful career as a complete finance professional in any sector anywhere in the world. To qualify as an ACCA member, students will need to complete: • Exams - a minimum of five of 14 exams (nine are eligible for exemption) • Experience - record 36 months’ experience in a relevant role • Ethics - the Professional Ethics module.

ACCA offers exemptions to students who have studied other relevant qualifications. No matter whether you are undergraduate, sub-degree graduates, accounting or non-accounting students, you can start your studies at a level that is consistent with the knowledge and skills gained from prior learning, providing you with the quickest route to ACCA membership.

On the way to ACCA membership, there are lots of qualifications students can achieve along the way. These include a Diploma in Accounting and Business; an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business; and a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting awarded by Oxford Brookes University.

The study mode for ACCA is highly flexible. Students can choose face-to-face tuition or online classes with ACCA Approved Learning Partners (ALPs) – ACCA currently has 5 ALPs in HK. They are Executive Training Company, FTMS, HKUSPACE, HKCA, and Kaplan.

Accreditation The ACCA Qualification consists of two levels – Fundamentals and Professional. Exemptions from a maximum of nine papers at the Fundamentals level of the ACCA Qualification can be awarded. Check out the ACCA Exemption enquiry database at the ACCA global website for details.

Duration of Programme ACCA students have up to ten years to complete their exams.

On average, one would take 3-4 years to obtain their Qualification.

Programme Schedule ACCA exams are held twice a year, in June and December. There are 400 ACCA exam centres around the world. Students can choose to register for the ACCA preparatory and revision courses for June and December exams offered by the ACCA Approved Learning Partners.

Programme Fee Initial Registration £79; Annual Subscription £81 Please visit our website for the current exemption & exam fees

Language of Instruction All ACCA exams are in English

Mode of Delivery Students can choose to study full-time or part-time through an ACCA Approved Learning Partner. Both face-to-face and distance learning choices are available.

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 37

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City University of Hong Kong Master of arts in Global business ManaGeMent

Contact: Mr. Tony Ho Department of Management, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tel: (852) 3442 7892 Fax: (852) 3442 0309 Email: mgtony@cityu.edu.hk www.sgs.cityu.edu.hk/programme/P07

Programme Summary The first of its kind in Hong Kong, this specialist programme aims to help participants to acquire the unique skills and insights that are needed to successfully conduct business across political, economic and cultural boundaries and become highly competent in integrating the global dimensions of key business functions.

One of the unique aspects of our department is that our faculty members are truly international as they come from four continents.

The majority of the applicants put this programme as their only choice when they apply.

Core Courses • Accounting Issues for the Global Manager • Financial Management and the International Firm • Global Human Resources Management • International Organisational Behaviour • Managing Innovation and Technology Globally

• • • • •

Accreditation CityU College of Business is accredited by AACSB International and EQUIS Programme Schedule Part-time: two to three evenings per week; Full-time: four to five evenings per week.

Global Information Systems International Business & the Global Geopolitics for Managers MAGBM Research Project Emerging Issues in Multinational Strategic Management One elective from elective pool

Language of Instruction English Class Size 45 Programme Fee HK$4,880 per credit (Minimum no. of credits required: 30)

Mode of Delivery Combined Mode Duration of Programme Full-time: 1 year; Part-time: 2 years

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 39

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HKUST Business School MSc in Accounting MSc in inveStMent MAnAgeMent

Contact: MSc Program Office Room 2037, 2/F, Lee Shau Kee Business Building, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2358 6404 Fax: (852) 2705 9596 MSc in Accounting: Email: msac@ust.hk www.msac.ust.hk MSc in Investment Management: Email: mscimft@ust.hk www.mscim.ust.hk

Programme Summary • Master of Science in Accounting (MSAC) caters for accounting and non-accounting majors from business disciplines who are thinking of developing, or further enhancing, their careers in accounting and other related fields. Through this program, the graduates will derive knowledge in accounting and business related areas at postgraduate level and will be eligible to be accredited by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) Qualification Programme (QP).

• Master of Science in Investment Management (MScIM) is structured to meet the growing and specialized demands of the finance industry.

The full-time study mode will be launched in 2014 as an extension of the well-established part-time program. It begins with a solid foundation of courses in accounting, economics, quantitative and computing skills, investment analysis and financial derivatives, which form the core subjects in the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) examinations curriculum. Students can also further build on this broad knowledge base by choosing advanced courses and specialized electives that lead to concentrations in Asset Management or Risk Management.

Accreditation On successful completion of the program, students will receive the: • “Master of Science in Accounting” for MSAC • “Master of Science in Investment Management” with either/both concentration(s) in “Risk Management” or/and “Asset Management” for MScIM Programme Schedule Both programs commence in September and complete in May of the following year. Students are required to fulfil 30 credits for graduation.

MScIM program provides the option to extend for one more semester for additional courses up to 38 credits.

Language of Instruction English Class Size 40-60 for each program Programme Fee HK$200,000 for MSAC HK$300,000 for MScIM

Mode of Delivery Full-time Duration of Programme • 1-year for MSAC • 1 to 1.5 year for MScIM

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 41

LAW

Mastering the fine line

CityU law students take notes during a video-link lecture.

T

hese days, universities and law schools have their work cut out to try and keep pace with new laws – and new interpretations of existing laws – that cover everything from the welfare of the planet to the challenges presented to intellectual property (IP) rights in a digital age.

“Alongside developments in society, many new areas of law also need to be developed,” says Professor Gu Minkang, associate dean of the School of Law at the City University

42 Professional Education

of Hong Kong (CityU). “These areas include cyber-trade law, the law on the protection of the environment and concerning energy, and animal-welfare law. Our school is fully aware of the potential in these areas and intends to offer relevant courses step by step.”

An example of how CityU is keeping its law teachings up to date can be seen in the recent establishment of its Hong Kong Centre for Maritime and Transportation Law, which offers a Master of Laws (LLM) in Maritime and Transportation Law. There

are also plans to establish a new LLM in the intellectual property stream.

Other LLM tracks available include a general stream, Chinese and Comparative Law, International Economic Law, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, and Common Law. “CityU is proud to be the first [university] in Hong Kong offering an LLM for Chinese and Comparative Law, and a Juris Doctor [JD] and LLM in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution,” Gu says.

JD programmes offer a general legal

Photos: CityU and HKU

LLM courses teach where invention ends and infringement begins, writes John Brennan

education, and graduates from these programmes must complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) programme if they want to become a lawyer. “Our Postgraduate Certificate in Laws adopts skill-based teaching and learning within small-size classes so that our students have sufficient time to express themselves,” Gu says.

The Faculty of Law at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is also striving to equip its students with the legal knowledge that they will need in a rapidly changing world.

While arguments between companies over issues such as patents are nothing new, the digital era does throw up specific challenges – such as the ongoing disputes between Apple and Samsung over user interfaces, among many other technology-related matters.

Professor Anne Cheung is the programme director of HKU’s LLM in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law. Within the programme, she notes high demand for two specific courses.

“From our students’ point of view, our most popular course is ‘Management and Commercialisation of Intellectual Property’,” she says, noting that besides LLM students, the course also attracts lawyers and other non-LLM IT professionals. “It is a very practical course that talks about the latest challenges in the IP field and how to avoid problems through contract or licensing agreements. The other course that is getting more and more popular is ‘Privacy and Data Protection’.”

Cheung points out that laws alone can only achieve so much when it comes to the fiery issues that erupt over IP. “Many scholars and commentators have pointed out that IP law in China is very comprehensive and probably

Professor Gu Minkang, associate dean, CityU School of Law

HKU offers a popular LLM in IT and IP Law. Keeping up to date with the latest legal issues.

better than that in Hong Kong. Most people would agree that enforcement is the most difficult challenge in China when it comes to intellectual property protection.”

The current cause célèbre in local legal circles, Cheung explains, concerns what is often known as secondary creation.

“The reform of the Copyright Ordinance has generated a debate on whether the law should grant an exception to parody,” she says. Such an exemption, she adds, would allow netizens to continue to make fun of officials using clips from movies or photographs.

“

Enforcement is the most difficult challenge in China when it comes to IP protection

”

- Professor Anne Cheung Programme director, LLM in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, HKU

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 43

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The Chinese University of Hong Kong TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE LAW PROGRAMMES • POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN LAWS (PCLL) • JURIS DOCTOR (JD) • MASTER OF LAWS (LLM)

Contact: Faculty of Law 6/F., Lee Shau Kee Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shatin, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3943 4310 Fax: (852) 2994 2505 Email: lawpgadm@cuhk.edu.hk www.law.cuhk.edu.hk

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Faculty of Law offers the following taught postgraduate law programmes in 2014-15: • PCLL • JD • LLM in Chinese Business Law • LLM in Common Law • LLM in International Economic Law All programmes are taught by a highly international academic faculty with professors from seventeen different jurisdictions. An uncompromising dedication to teaching, research and international exchange implemented through an innovative and student-centred approach ensures worldclass legal education.

Classes are delivered at the CUHK Graduate Law Centre in Central with state-of-the-art teaching facilities creating an ideal teaching and research environment.

Scholarships are available for academically outstanding students. Please visit the Faculty’s website for details.

Accreditation The JD is a recognized law degree for admission to the PCLL. The PCLL is a skill-based training programme required for admission to the legal profession in Hong Kong under the Legal Practitioners Ordinance.

Programme Schedule All programmes commence in September. Each academic year has two 13-week terms (Term One: September – December; Term Two: January – May). For the JD Programme there is also a 7-week summer term (May – June).

Mode of Delivery Full-time (PCLL, JD & LLM) Part-time (JD & LLM)

Language of Instruction English Programme Fee Tuition Fee for 2014-15*: • PCLL: HK$42,100 for local UGC-funded places and Distinguished Scholarship places. HK$120,000 for non-local UGC-funded places and Distinguished Scholarship places. HK$145,500 for Self-financed places.

• JD: HK$4,410 per unit for a total of 72 units within the normative study period.

• LLM: HK$4,410 per unit for a total of 24 units within the normative study period. *Subject to approval.

Duration of Programme PCLL: 1 year JD: 24 months (Full-time) / 42 months (Part-time) LLM: 1 year (Full-time) / 2 years (Part-time) The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 45

Data Factsheets

City University of Hong Kong School of Law

Contact: School of Law City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue Kowloon Tong, Kowloon Tel: (852) 3442 8008 Fax: (852) 3442 0190 Email: lwgo@cityu.edu.hk www.cityu.edu.hk/slw

Programme summary CityU School of Law offers the following postgraduate law programmes: • JD • JSD • LLM

• LLMArbDR • MPhil & PhD • PCLL

The School of Law aspires to be an internationally-renowned centre for research and teaching in law in the Asia-Pacific region. Our School is staffed by a stellar international faculty with a multicultural profile, bringing with them a diversity of quality.

With joint efforts of staff and students, our School has established expertise in a wide range of fields including Chinese law, comparative law, Hong Kong Basic Law, commercial law, environmental law, constitutional law, human rights, criminal justice, WTO law, international trade and investment law, international economic law, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution.

accreditation • JD: a law degree recognized to apply for admission to PCLL. • LLMArbDR: upon completion of the programme and subject to fulfilling certain requirements, graduates are eligible to apply for professional recognition both within and outside of Hong Kong.

• PCLL: a skill-based training programme required for admission to the legal profession in Hong Kong under the Legal Practitioners Ordinance.

Mode of Delivery Full-time: JD, MPhil, PCLL & PhD Part-time: MPhil, PCLL* & PhD Combined mode: JSD, LLM & LLMArbDR

Duration of Programme (Normal study Period) JD: 2 years JSD: 3 years LLM, LLMArbDR: 1 year (FT)/ 2.5 years (PT) MPhil: 2 years (FT)/ 4 years (PT) PhD: 3-4 years (FT)/ 6-8 years (PT) PCLL: 1 year (FT)/2 years (PT)*

Programme Fee Please refer to the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies (SGS) website: http://www.sgs.cityu.edu.hk/

*Last part-time PCLL programme will be offered in 2014-2015

46 Professional Education

Language of Instruction English (except for LLM Chinese Module: Predominantly Chinese (Putonghua))

Data FactShEEtS

The Hong Kong Institute of Education Postgraduate diPloma in education Programme

Contact: Admissions and Registrations Section, Registry Information Centre, Room A-G/F-11, Administration Building The Hong Kong Institute of Education 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2948 6886 Fax: (852) 2948 6162 Email: admission@ied.edu.hk www.ied.edu.hk/acadprog/pgde

Programme Summary Postgraduate Diploma in Education Programme (PGDE) aims to prepare university graduates to become competent and confident teachers in schools in Hong Kong. If you are holding a recognised bachelor’s degree and wish to receive teacher training, PGDE would be a good choice for you.

The Hong Kong Institute of Education offers the following PGDE programmes in 2014-2015: • PGDE (Early Childhood Education) Programme • PGDE (Primary) Programme • PGDE (Primary) Programme – Mathematics Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy • PGDE (Professional & Vocational Education) Programme • PGDE (Secondary) Programme

Mode of Delivery Full-time / Part-time Duration of Programme One year for Full-time Two years for Part-time Language of Instruction Chinese and/or English

Programme Fee Full-time PGDE Programmes Local students: HK$42,100 per annum Non-local students: HK$100,000 per annum Part-time PGDE Programmes Local students: HK$21,050 per annum Non-local students: HK$50,000 per annum

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 55

SECTION TWO

People and the Environment

The Annual Postgraduate Guide 路 December 2013 47

HUMAN RESOURCES

Shining the light on people

AGSM students learn how to develop strategic HR practices to support business objectives.

T

he modern HR function is under siege, beset by boundaryblurring globalisation, a chronic shortage of talent and rapidly evolving technology.

Meanwhile, employees are working longer hours and new generations of staff are entering the workplace who place a much stronger emphasis on work-life balance and meaningful work – and are less loyal to employers than ever before. Altogether, the challenges that face HR are getting more complicated by the day.

To help HR professionals deal with this rapidly changing environment, business schools in Hong Kong are seeking to ensure that they can provide training in HR topics

48 Professional Education

that go beyond the traditional realms of management and training.

For example, at the University of Hong Kong’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE), in addition to its MSc in Human Resources Management and Training programme – run in collaboration with the UK’s University of Leicester – it also offers an MSc in Performance Management and Workplace Learning. This programme teaches students about the factors that contribute to performance and how to enable learning to take place within the workplace.

The school also offers an MSc in Industrial Relations and Workplace Learning, as well as a Doctor of Social Sciences degree which focuses on HR development.

“We are also moving into areas of HR that focus on developing and communicating with staff, and have introduced [such] brandnew areas in our curriculum,” says Pansy Lam Mi-ying, senior programme director in the College of Humanities and Law at HKU SPACE. One such area, Lam says, is that of coaching. In March, the school launched a new Master of Arts in Coaching and Mentoring Practice course, in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University in the UK. This two-year, part-time degree is the first of its kind in Hong Kong and aims to provide students with theoretical knowledge on coaching techniques and how to apply them in the workplace.

Photos: HKU SPACE, AGSM and HKUST

HR courses are shifting focus from admin to human development, writes Raymond Ma

Last year, the school also began offering an Executive Certificate in Mediation and Workplace Conflict. Lam says that the course teaches participants the characteristics of workplace conflicts and provides professional training in mediation techniques. Since it was offered, the course has been attended by more than 100 students in three cohorts.

According to Caroline Trotman, executive director of Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Executive Education, HR is becoming more and more involved at the executive level. The function is getting a bigger say in boardroom decisions, and basic HR concepts are being incorporated into the decision-making process alongside financial, marketing and operational considerations.

“Human resources is moving away from an administrative function that is focused solely on administration and control, to one that articulates a people strategy that is fully aligned with its business strategy,” Trotman says.

She adds that AGSM Executive Education courses on the topic tend to focus on human behaviour, interpersonal relationships, and frameworks for developing strategic HR management practices which support an organisation’s business objectives.

“

We are moving into areas that focus on developing staff

”

- Pansy Lam Senior programme director, College of Humanities and Law, HKU SPACE

“

HR is moving away from [being] focused solely on administration and control

”

- Caroline Trotman Executive director, AGSM Executive Education

“Unless you’ve got an HR strategy that puts the right people in the right places at the right time, you can’t execute your [business] strategy,” Trotman says.

Professor Elizabeth George, director of the Center for Business Education (CBE) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Business School, agrees that HR is being taken more seriously at C-suites and above, and that this is affecting how it is taught in the postgraduate space.

“One big difference in how human resources is being taught is that instead of teaching it purely as a functional area that you know for the sake of knowing, you now see the connection between HR strategy and the overall strategy of the firm,” she says.

George teaches a course on “Strategic Management of Human Assets”, which forms part of HKUST Business School’s MBA programme. The course is designed to help managers build an effective workforce by learning how to align its people with its processes to execute business strategy.

George says that students nowadays recognise that they need to understand how HR affects strategic business decisions, but despite the increased focus on HR, there is still room to improve – especially in financefocused Hong Kong. She adds that many companies and their executives still do not adequately appreciate the importance of HR considerations in strategic decision-making.

George expects the biggest changes to HR to come from shifts in technology and in laws limiting where people are allowed to work.

Globalisation and the blurring of borders will open up labour markets, while technology will continue to shorten distances between people and revolutionise how hiring is carried out.

Traditional HR topics, she says, such as recruitment and selection, and payroll and benefits, will still remain relevant and taught in business schools. However, macroeconomic and technological changes will affect how these topics are applied in the field.

“These are topics that the human resources function will continue to have to deal with,” she says. “How you reach out will be different, but you’re still doing the same tasks as before.”

“

You now see the connection between HR strategy and the firm’s overall strategy

”

- Professor Elizabeth George Director, CBE, HKUST

Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 49

PSYCHOLOGY

Drawing up mental maps Master of Educational and Child Psychology programme leader Cynthia Leung (centre) teaches a class at PolyU.

I

f you think that studying psychology is exclusively for modern inheritors of Sigmund Freud’s school of psychoanalytical counselling, then think again. Today there are a range of courses on offer at the postgraduate level for everyone from laymen to learned academics.

These can take the form of elective courses tied to business programmes that consist of just a few classes a week for a semester, all the way up to specialist courses that require several years of full-time study.

One example on the elective end of the spectrum is the “Managerial Psychology” elective that is offered as part of the MBA and Master of Management programmes at the Macquarie Graduate School of

50 Professional Education

Management (MGSM), which runs its programmes in conjunction with the Hong Kong Management Association. The elective examines theories of personality, motivation, managerial values, group dynamics, occupational stress and counselling – particularly the latter’s relevance to management and how it is applied.

Steven Segal, senior lecturer in management at MGSM and instructor for the elective, says that it is designed to give MBA students a glimpse into the so-called “underbelly” of behaviour in modern business organisations. As opposed to the ideal situation – where organisational direction and strategy are set and executed through rational and scientific decision-making –

modern organisations are affected by the impulses, desires and emotions of the fallible human beings that they are composed of.

The elective allows its participants to better understand and deal with both the positive and negative aspects of such irrational behaviour within modern organisations.

Segal adds that the elective has seen an increase in interest from students in recent years due to a greater appreciation of management beyond its merits as a technical competence. He says that students are increasingly aware that management requires an understanding of what makes people tick – something that psychology can offer.

The elective, which has been on offer since 1996 and is taught in classes of between

CUHK Photos: PolyU, MGSM and CityU

Raymond Ma analyses the psychology courses that are giving new insights into behaviour

35 to 50 people, is attended mainly by general managers, but also sees significant participation from HR practitioners.

For those who are interested in gaining a broader understanding of psychology, the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) offers a Master of Social Sciences in Applied Psychology, a conversion programme that admits students without a prior undergraduate degree in psychology.

It aims to provide them with the knowledge to analyse human behaviour, the ability to conduct research within the field, and the skills to pursue related career opportunities.

Available one-year full time or two-year part time, the programme requires students

Steven Segal, MGSM senior lecturer in management and instructor of the “Managerial Psychology” elective

to take seven courses on theoretical knowledge, three research courses, and one elective course based on a specialist topic, such as advanced health psychology, counselling psychology, educational psychology and psychopathology.

Programme leader Julian Lai Chuk-ling says that the master’s was first offered as a postgraduate diploma in 1993. While at first its students came from teaching, social work and health-care backgrounds – all closely associated with the practice of psychology – this has since broadened to include people from sectors such as business and investment.

“We are seeing an increase in students from areas such as public administration, banking, financial analysis and investment,” Lai says. “They’re not the majority, but the number has been going up over the past few years.”

Lai adds that some students see the course as a stepping stone to a career related to psychology – such as clinical psychology – after further training. Others, meanwhile, simply seek to apply what they learn to their current jobs. He says that the school receives as many as 400 applications each year for 60 places on the programme, indicating that interest in the field has remained consistently high.

Child psychology is also an area in which interest has grown in recent years, in no small part due to an increasing focus on the stressful lives of Hong Kong children.

Those with a professional interest in the subject have several study options available, including the Master of Educational and Child Psychology programme at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).

Among the entry requirements for the course – which lasts two years full time or three years part time – are a bachelor’s degree with honours in psychology or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Hong Kong Psychological Society. The degree only admits students in alternate years and only the full-time mode will be offered for 2013-14. Fifteen students are admitted during each intake.

The course is designed to provide knowledge and training in both the theoretical and practical aspects of applied educational psychology. This leads to a professional qualification for psychologists seeking to work in institutions such as mainstream kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, NGOs, special-needs schools, and

“

We are seeing an increase in students from areas such as public administration ... financial analysis and investment

”

Julian Lai (above) Programme leader, Master of Social Sciences in Applied Psychology, CityU

the counselling and student affairs units of tertiary institutions. Upon graduation, students can apply for full membership of the Hong Kong Psychological Society’s division of educational psychology.

“The basic requirement is that students must have a first degree in psychology, and we prefer people who have had some experience with children or adolescents,” says Cynthia Leung, the degree’s programme leader. “Teachers are ideal candidates, but people with a background in social work, or who work with children or adolescents, are also relevant.”

Leung adds that while the requirements for entry tend to favour students with an education or social-work background, from time to time, the university also admits people with research experience involving the youth or children.

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 51

ENVIRONMENT AND ARCHITECTURE

Protecting and preserving A studio review session in progress at CUHK looks at architectural conservation.

A

glance out of the window on a particularly smoggy day, or a trip to a local beach strewn with flotsam and jetsam, tells you all you need to know about how far Hong Kong and the wider region are from being a green idyll. But along with the will required at all levels of society to tackle our environmental ills, appropriately qualified professionals are also needed.

The “greening” of local university programmes in science, engineering and architecture has been occurring for some time, and the breadth and popularity of the courses on offer continue to grow.

The number of students accepted onto the MSc in Environmental Science and

52 Professional Education

Management programme run by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has increased from 20 in 2009 to 40 this year, with one out of every 3.5 applicants being offered a place.

Professor Arthur Lau, director of the programme, believes that it contains a good mix of theoretical, technical and managerial elements.

“The curriculum is well balanced between the environmental sciences,” he says. “It covers issues such as atmospheric aerosols, oceanography, climate and weather, the engineering and technology components that involve treatment and controls, and the management questions that fall under headings such as health, law and policy.”

He adds that practical courses such as “Environmental Impact Assessment” and “GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for Environmental Professionals” are also welcomed by students, in addition to the fact that the curriculum provides them with the chance to work on projects under faculty supervision.

Once graduates are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge, Lau sees them entering the environmental field with NGOs, as consultants, or as corporate social responsibility (CSR) or environmental managers.

Looking to the future, Lau expects issues such as sustainable development, the mitigation of and adaptation to climate

Photos: CUHK, HKUST and OUHK

MSc courses prepare students for boom in environmental projects, writes John Brennan

change, and energy policy to be at the forefront of the environmental agenda.

“We will review the curriculum at two- to three-year intervals so that the courses offered will meet the trends developing in this field,” he says.

At the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), the MSc in Energy and Environmental Sustainability programme has been running for the past four years.

The learning activities on the part-time programme include lectures, workshops, laboratory classes, field visits, site surveys, seminar presentations and project reports.

“In recent years, with the continuous improvement in people’s lives, their awareness of environmental protection has also been enhanced,” says Dr Yau Yiu-hung, programme leader of the Environmental Studies and Safety Science programme in OUHK’s School of Science and Technology.

“With more green and energy-saving products needed, and with the market focusing on resource utilisation, professional knowledge in this field is very much needed.”

The compulsory courses for the MSc in Energy and Environmental Sustainability programme comprise “Energy Management and Audits”, “Cleaner Production and Green Technology” and “Environmental Leadership and Decision-making”.

Yau says programme applicants are keen to pick up the practical expertise offered by these courses.

“According to the feedback we’ve received, over 80 per cent of graduates agreed that one of their learning objectives was to integrate knowledge, legislative requirements and management skills in energy management, environmental protection and environmental stewardship,” he says.

Professor Puay-peng Ho, MSc Architectural Conservation and Design director, CUHK

HKUST Environmental Science and Management students visit the Kwun Tong Law Courts Building.

Urban planners and developers in Hong Kong have long had a reputation for tearing down the old to make way for the new. Despite this, Professor Puay-peng Ho, director of the MSc programme in Architectural Conservation and Design at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), sees a local architectural conservation movement taking firm root.

Ho says that the number of active conservation projects, led both by the government and the private sectors in Hong Kong and on the mainland, has mushroomed over the past five years.

“This is due to increased awareness, more media reporting and very vocal activists,” he says. “The Hong Kong government is also

Dr Yau Yiu-hung, MSc Environmental Studies and Safety Science programme leader, OUHK

encouraging more conservation efforts in making historic buildings work for modern uses. Many strategies have been attempted.

These are all due to the appreciation of historic architecture, the questioning of Hong Kong identity, and pressure from the public. Private owners are also interested in conservation and beginning to initiate projects for conservation.”

The Architectural Conservation and Design programme at CUHK has been running for two years. Ho says the one-year, full-time course is split into two distinct areas.

“There are two design studios: one on neighbourhood conservation, and one on the adaptive reuse of individual historic buildings by inserting new architecture,” he says.

“These are supplemented by required courses, including ‘Introduction to Architectural Conservation’, ‘Materials and Construction in Architectural Conservation’ and ‘Issues in Architectural Conservation’.

Students will go on several field trips, receive talks from lecturers from outside Hong Kong, and are required to write a dissertation.”

Ho says that graduates will need to posses several vital skills to work in the field after graduation.

“They will need to understand the principles and practices of architectural conservation, materials and construction, and the history of Hong Kong architecture,” he says. “The practical skills can be picked up while carrying out course projects.”

Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 53

DAtA FActSheetS

The University of Hong Kong Faculty oF EnginEEring

Contact: Room 529, Haking Wong Building, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.

Tel: (852) 2859 2407 or (852) 2859 2803 Email: enggtpg@hku.hk www.asa.hku.hk/admissions/tpg http://engineering.hku.hk

Programme Summary HKU Faculty of Engineering offers the following Master’s degree programmes: Master of Science in engineering in - Building Services Engineering - Electrical and Electronic Engineering - Energy Engineering - Environmental Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering

-

Master of Science in - Computer Science

- Electronic Commerce and Internet Computing

Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management Infrastructure Project Management Mechanical Engineering Structural Engineering Transportation Engineering

Our premier Master’s degree programmes are taught by high calibre HKU faculty, internationally renowned professors from prestigious overseas universities, leading industrialists and practitioners.

Programme Structure The programmes comprise of 12 modules. Lectures and seminars are normally held in evenings and on Saturdays. Lectures of a few courses may be given during daytime of weekdays for full-time students.

Mode of Delivery Full-time / Part-time Duration of Programme For full-time candidates, the duration for completion is 1 to 2 years.

For part-time candidates, the duration for completion is 2 to 3 years.

Language of Instruction English Programme Fee MSc(Eng) and MSc(CompSc) programmes: $9,000* per module MSc(ECom&IComp) programme: $12,000* per module * Subject to the University’s approval.

Application Deadlines Main Round: February 28, 2014 Clearing Round: April 15, 2014

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 57

Data FaCtSheetS

School of Hotel and Tourism Management The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Doctor of Hotel anD tourism management

Contact: 1) Dr Henry Tsai, Programme Leader 2) Mr Jason Chau, Executive Officer School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 17 Science Museum Road, TST East, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel : 1) Dr Tsai - (852) 3400 2239 2) Mr Chau - (852) 3400 2198 Fax : (852) 2362 9362 Email : 1) henry.tsai@polyu.edu.hk 2) jason.chau@polyu.edu.hk www.polyu.edu.hk/htm/dhtm

Programme Summary Launched in 2007, the Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management (D.HTM) programme is the world’s first professional doctoral programme in hotel and tourism management designed for senior industry executives, academics and senior staff in governmental and non-governmental hospitality and tourism organisations. The programme provides an alternative path to a doctorate than the Ph.D., integrating course work and research with a focus on innovation, creativity and anticipating future trends. The D.HTM’s specific Asian focus, unique combination of subjects and research, and flexible delivery pattern enable industry professionals to advance their careers by developing innovation, creativity and needed research skills within an Asian context. Since its inception, the D.HTM has been attracting a range of professionals from experienced practitioners and government representatives to academics who are interested in augmenting their careers. The programme’s truly global student base has hailed from as far and wide as Ghana, Japan, Korea, Macau, Taiwan and the United States.

Programme Schedule Students must complete 51 credits to earn a D.HTM which consists of nine subjects (27 credits) and a 24-credit thesis. Unique to the programme, the mixed mode format offers flexible study options to students.

Language of Instruction English

Mode of Delivery Full-time / Part-time

Programme Fee HK$331,000 (subject to revision)

Class Size Small class size

Duration of Programme 2.5 – 8 years (usually 3 years for full-time and 4 to 5 years for parttime) Ranking Ranked No. 2 internationally, PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management is a world-leading provider of hospitality and tourism education offering programmes at levels ranging from Higher Diploma to Ph.D.

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 59

SECTION THREE

Professional Postgrad Tips

The Annual Postgraduate Guide 路 December 2013 61

PROFESSIONAL POSTGRAD TIPS

A well-prepared case is key to persuading your employer to fund costly further study, writes Nicholas Olczak

S

o you’ve decided you want to enrol on an MBA or Executive MBA course. This will equip you with a wide range of skills and broad understanding that will help you excel in your role and lead your company to future success.

There’s only one problem in your way – the high cost of taking the programme. Many universities charge fees of more than half a million Hong Kong dollars, which is a sizeable sum for anyone to find for an MBA or EMBA. One solution to this may be to ask your company to fund or part-fund your study.

Tony Bego, consultant for recruiting and career services at Ivey Asia, says that while this is still possible, it is getting much more difficult.

“Many large and mid-size companies have some level of learning and development departments in-house, and given this spend, they tend to steer staff to specific areas of improvement rather than to a wider scope of education,” he says.

He adds that due to recent global events, companies are showing an increasing tendency to control their budgets and spending much more tightly. “Now the spend can go down to the individual team’s cost centre. This makes it more of a challenge for the decision-makers as they may have to sacrifice compensation or travel budget to accommodate outside education for an employee,” he says.

Bego advises that those trying to get their employers to provide funding should prepare their request well before approaching their bosses.

“Spend a lot of time planning and understanding where you and the business you support – or for which you are responsible – currently are, and where you are going,” he says. “[Think about] how further education will help the business,

62 Professional Education

as well as yourself, to get there. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is a key component as well.”

He also suggests that it is a good idea to find out about your company’s attitude to giving out this kind of funding and tailor your proposal accordingly. “Do research on your company’s policy and past educational spending habits for things like MBAs, PhDs and master’s degrees,” he says. “Most companies have their own policy, so make sure you know it and are prepared with notes on how your study will benefit the business before you make your first approach.”

Finally, Bego says that you should be ready to be turned down. “Be prepared to be talked out of it or directed to in-house learning and development,” he says. “Try not

“

Do research on your company’s policy and past educational spending habits

”

- Tony Bego Consultant for recruiting and career services, Ivey Asia

Photo: Ivey Asia

Securing that sponsorship

to be emotional or offended when you hear ‘Sorry, we just don’t have the budget.’”

If this turns out to be so, another option for funding your study, Bego says, may be to take out a loan from the Hong Kong government’s Student Financial Assistance Agency. “The Hong Kong government has a great loan programme to help increase access to higher education,” he says.

The “non-means tested loan scheme” allows Hong Kong permanent residents, and those who have lived in Hong Kong continuously for three years prior to starting their course, to borrow up to HK$312,300, subject to approval. Repayment can be spread over a maximum of 15 years after graduation with a comparatively low interest rate, Bego adds.

Staying engaged with the alumni community can open doors that might otherwise stay shut, writes Raymond Ma

M

any people take MBA courses as much for the knowledge to be learned as for the opportunity to expand their business networks within a community of ambitious, like-minded executives. Success in business is often as much about who you know as it is about what you know – and in the modern business world, nothing gets you through the door faster than a shared education background.

Professor Richard Petty, executive director (international) and professor in management (accounting and finance) at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM), says alumni networks allow graduates to stay connected to, and collaborate with, likeminded business executives.

“Alumni and student events are an important part of the MBA experience,” Petty says. “Success in business is all about making connections and one of the key benefits for an MBA graduate is the access to a large, global network of successful, likeminded business people from all sectors and vocations from all over the world.”

Petty says that the most important thing MBA graduates can do is to stay active within the network. “When networking, think about what you have to offer that someone might value, and learn to articulate your brand.

If you receive a lead or if you are invited to collaborate, follow up on it. Remember to always thank your contacts if they assist you with a lead or an idea,” he says.

MGSM has an alumni network of 16,500 members located in 135 countries around the world – over 3,000 of which are graduates from Hong Kong. The school endeavours to help its graduates stay connected through a monthly e-newsletter, as well as a web community and online directory. It also hosts regular business-networking events in Hong Kong to ensure that its students and alumni

know each other outside of the classroom setting. This allows them to meet and share ideas and experiences relevant to both the learning and the professional environments.

At the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), quarterly alumni events are held with a view towards offering their participants some sort of takeaway – be it access to interesting speakers or discussion on topical industry trends.

Caroline Trotman, executive director of AGSM Executive Education, agrees that the most important ingredient in getting the most out of an alumni network is to stay engaged. For senior executives, one way to stay engaged with the network is to consider relevant speaking opportunities at networking events as a way to connect with other alumni.

“

When networking, think about what you have to offer that someone might value

”

- Professor Richard Petty Executive director (international) and professor in management (accounting and finance), MGSM

Caroline Trotman, executive director, AGSM Executive Education

Photos: MGSM and AGSM

Communicate and collaborate

Another thing is to not be shy. “It’s a lifelong network, and just because you may not have been engaged is not a reason not to re-engage,” Trotman says. “It will always be there to support you. When an opportunity arises, and you need help from somebody, you should never be concerned and not seek that help.”

The shared background that is characteristic of alumni networks helps foster a certain level of trust, which in turn promotes the development of career and business opportunities, Trotman adds. She also points out that many schools have social-network communities that have been established either by the school or collectively by former students, which enable alumni to stay in touch through the latest online tools.

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 63

PROFESSIONAL POSTGRAD TIPS

Smooth sailing for overseas study

Itziar de Ros, admissions director for the IESE MBA programme in Barcelona, gives some useful advice on studying in Europe

Photo: IESE

S

tudying abroad is a very enriching experience. You get to thoroughly immerse yourself in a different culture and language while enjoying your student life. But in order to avoid lastminute surprises, it is useful to carefully read the tips that business schools offer for new students. At IESE Business School, we have gathered a few recommendations for you to take into account when coming to Barcelona – which are also applicable to many other major European cities – to ensure you make the most of your MBA experience.

First of all – and most importantly – when coming to Europe, it is necessary to check you have all the documents necessary. Even to study an MBA in Spain, you will be asked to obtain a certain student visa. Also, once you arrive in Barcelona, you will have to obtain a residence permit.

All this paperwork might seem a bit tedious, but it will be necessary for further legal and tax matters – from opening a bank account to renting an apartment or proving legal residence in Spain. Normally, business schools help admitted students with their visa and residence-permit applications, offering them information on all the requirements.

At IESE, we have a welcome guide with practical tips, where new students can find out all they need to know before starting their course.

Second, if you want to have everything ready before starting your MBA, it is recommended to arrive in Barcelona during the summer. As well as you having the opportunity to enjoy the lovely weather, June is the best month to rent an apartment. You should be able to arrange all your documents and even have time to take a crash course in Spanish. (Barcelona is a very touristy city

64 Professional Education

but, for day-to-day issues, you will eventually need some basic Spanish knowledge.)

Once in Barcelona, it’s time to find a place to live. The city is pleasant and colourful, full of interesting districts. You can look for accommodation information through agencies or by checking private ads in local newspapers. It’s interesting to know that, once you have found an apartment, you have a month to check that everything works properly and report it to the owner.

Also, although Spain is famous for its good weather, make sure your apartment has a good heating system, since winters can be quite cold.

Regarding transportation, students can opt for private or public transport. Once you have your residence permit, you can

obtain a Spanish driver’s licence. However, the driver’s licence from your home country may be valid if you want to rent a car or if you maintain the foreign licence plates on your car.

Nevertheless, as in most large cities, traffic during rush hour is slow and parking is difficult, so many students end up purchasing a scooter or use public transport to get around.

As an MBA student at IESE, there are numerous opportunities to immerse yourself in student-run activities on campus, in the vibrant city of Barcelona, and even in other parts of Europe. There is also a strong network for spouses and families to create a supportive atmosphere and integrate them into the IESE community.

“

Normally, business schools help admitted students with their visa and residence-permit applications

”

- Itziar de Ros MBA admissions director, IESE Business School

Raymond Ma looks into whether the time spent studying a postgraduate course can be better spent on the job

H

ow valuable are letters after your name, as opposed to miles on your career clock? Two seasoned recruitment experts – Peter Yu, director of Randstad Hong Kong, and Adam Jeffes, manager of global banking and markets at Morgan McKinley – assess when, and for whom, acquiring postgraduate qualifications is a valuable use of time and money.

“Employers today are looking for a portfolio of marketable skills in addition to a solid education,” Yu says. “They want to know that new employees will add value to their organisations from day one. A degree, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, is not a single indicator of success in the workplace. In fact, a master’s can offer very little value for money if the academics haven’t been balanced by some meaningful work experience.”

Jeffes takes a global perspective. “The impact of postgraduate education on job prospects varies by country,” he says. “In the US and Australia, for example, many will employ MBA graduates into their management and fast-track programmes.

In investment banking, particularly in US firms, MBA graduates will come in at associate level, bypassing the first three years as an analyst in the bank. For other countries, such as the UK or others in Europe, this practice is less commonplace.”

Jeffes adds that while some companies value an MBA less now than they used to, there are still certain industries in which an advanced qualification is vital. “Talking to the global head of recruitment for a large Australian conglomerate recently, he said that when they’re looking for a lateral hire, they attributed far less weight to candidates with an MBA than they did five to 10 years ago,” he says.

“In trading and research, however, it can

certainly benefit candidates to have studied further in quantitative disciplines – to MSc or doctorate level – due to the complex nature of markets,” he adds. “In terms of professional vocational qualifications – for example, the CPA for accountants – full qualification can have a large impact on pay when transferring roles.”

Jeffes says, however, that some supposed differences in pay levels can disappear on closer examination. “Professionals joining [a bank] as an MBA graduate will generally be better compensated than peers who join at undergraduate level. But this is relative, as peers who joined straight from university will have seen their pay increase incrementally each year to the same level,” he says.

“However, in trading and research,

Peter Yu, director, Randstad Hong Kong

“

The impact of postgraduate education on job prospects varies between countries

”

- Adam Jeffes Manager of global banking and markets, Morgan McKinley

Photos: Randstad Hong Kong and Morgan McKinley

Qualifications vs experience

the salaries of those candidates who have studied a quantitative discipline at master’s level are higher than those of undergraduates. In general, though, talking to peers across our industry groups, postgraduate qualifications are no substitute for experience and knowledge.”

In the light of all this, Yu recommends a more flexible approach to professional education. “The best advice is for professionals to be switched on to improving and broadening their subject-matter expertise throughout their career,” he says. “Training and education models have progressed in such a way that e-learning opportunities and outlets are providing accessible, highly credible and affordable avenues to further develop skills without breaking the bank.”

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 65

Data FaCtSheetS

Department of Anthropology The Chinese University of Hong Kong M.A. in Anthropology

Contact: Room 407 Humanities Building, New Asia College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3943 7670 / 3943 7677 Fax: (852) 2603 5218 Email: anthropology@cuhk.edu.hk www.cuhk.edu.hk/ant/ma.htm

Programme Summary The Programme is designed for people who have not majored in anthropology but wish to receive a formal education in the discipline. The goal of the programme is to teach students the basic theories and methods of social and cultural anthropology and to give them a broad understanding of anthropology’s different topics. Students will learn to develop their abilities of critical, independent and creative thinking in analyzing contemporary social and political issues, and understanding the diversity of human cultures and societies.

A key feature and major advantage of the Programme is that students are able to take courses that fit their background and interest. For example, foreign students can concentrate on Chinese society and culture, while students working in museums can concentrate on the anthropology of tourism, museums, archaeology, and other areas relevant to their work.

Programme Schedule Students have to complete 8 courses.

The contact hours of each course is 3 hours (13 – 14 weeks) Deadline of application: 31 March 2014 Mode of Delivery Full-time / Part-time Duration of Programme One year for Full-time Two years for Part-time

Language of Instruction English Class Size Varies from 12 in some electives to 50 in required courses.

Programme Fee HK$84,000 per year (Full-time) HK$42,000 per year (Part-time)

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 67

DAtA FACtSheetS

The University of Hong Kong Master of arts in Literary and CuLturaL studies (MaLCs)

Contact: Miss Carmen Luk Department of Comparative Literature (MALCS) Room 958, 9/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, H.K. Tel: (852) 3917 2760 Fax: (852) 2857 7955 Email: malcs@hku.hk Programme information: www.complit.hku.hk/malcs/ Online application: www.asa.hku.hk/admissions/tpg

Programme Summary The MALCS programme introduces students to a wide range of theoretical, literary and filmic texts, exploring historical and contemporary issues within frames of modernity and globalization. An interdisciplinary approach is adopted in the programme: all courses are informed by critical and cultural theory, and the study of film and literature engages the perspectives of post-structuralism, deconstruction, psychoanalysis, feminism, postmodernism, Marxist and post-colonial criticism. At the end of their coursework, students are expected to complete individual projects which contribute to the body of knowledge in liberal studies and humanistic inquiry.

The courses in MA in Literary and Cultural Studies include: Cultures between Art and Industry Fabrications of Identity Film and Popular Culture Hong Kong and Beyond Postmodernism

Accreditation The M.A. degree is awarded by the University of Hong Kong.

Language of Instruction English is the language of instruction and writing in all courses

Programme Schedule All courses in our programme are offered during weekday evening hours from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

Class Size Class size stays in the range of 16 to 40 persons.

Mode of Delivery Full-time or Part-time

Programme Fee HK$75,000 for 1 year Full-time and HK$37,500 for 2 years Part-time paid in two instalments annually.

Duration of Programme One year for Full-time Two years for Part-time

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CELEBRATING

HONG KONG

INDEX

EMBA & DBA Institution

Programme Name

Page number

Columbia Business School London Business School The University of Hong Kong

EMBA-Global Asia

13

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Business

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

15

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program

18

Western University Ivey Business School - Asia

Executive MBA

17

Institution

Programme Name

Page number

Hong Kong Baptist University School of Business

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

25

Macquarie University Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Sydney

MBA/ Master of Management, MGSM, Sydney

27

The University of New South Wales Australian School of Business

AGSM MBA Hong Kong Program

29

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Business

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

33

Institution

Programme Name

Page number

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)

ACCA Qualification

37

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST Business School

MSc in Accounting MSc in Investment Management

41

Institution

Programme Name

Page number

City University of Hong Kong Department of Management

Master of Arts in Global Business Management

39

MBA

ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

BUSINESS MANAGMENT

72 Professional Education

INDEX

LAW Institution

Programme Name

Page number

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law

• PCLL • JD • LLM in Chinese Business Law • LLM in Common Law • LLM in International Economic Law

45

City University of Hong Kong School of Law

• • • • • •

46

JD JSD LLM LLMArbDR MPhil & PhD PCLL

EDUCATION Institution

Programme Name

Page number

The Hong Kong Institute of Education

Postgraduate Diploma in Education Programme

55

Institution

Programme Name

Page number

The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Engineering

Master of Science in Engineering in • Building Services Engineering • Electrical and Electronic Engineering • Energy Engineering • Environmental Engineering • Geotechnical Engineering • Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management • Infrastructure Project Management • Mechanical Engineering • Structural Engineering • Transportation Engineering

57

ENGINEERING

Master of Science in • Computer Science • Electronic Commerce and Internet Computing

HOSPITALITY Institution

Programme Name

Page number

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel and Tourism Management

Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management

59

Institution

Programme Name

Page number

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Department of Anthropology

M.A. in Anthropology

67

The University of Hong Kong Department of Comparative Literature

Master of Arts in Literary and Cultural Studies (MALCS)

69

The Open University of Hong Kong School of Arts and Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Applied Translation

31

ARTS

The Annual Postgraduate Guide · December 2013 73