COMPARATIVE FOCUS

Develop your comparative skills in the key areas of social policy:

• The IMCSP programme makes comparisons of the major social policies and challenges in managing rapid global changes the focal point of your studies.
• No taught Master’s programme offered by other institutions in Hong Kong incorporates the comparative analysis of social policy, development, and governance similar to the IMCSP programme.

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

Develop your international network in comparative social policy analysis:

• The IMCSP programme is delivered by international experts working at Lingnan University and benefits from the perspectives of leading international experts in guest lectures, workshops and regional field visits.
• A selection of students will have the opportunity to join an international pathway to study for one term in the Department of Social Policy & Social Work, University of York, as part of its MA on Comparative and International Social Policy.

CAREER BUILDING

Develop your personal career in social policy analysis, design and advocacy:

• All students benefit from personal career advice and tailored support to identify, and approach their dream employer in making a positive contribution to the well-being of people and many sectors of society.

Programme Curriculum:

In the Autumn Term students take five compulsory courses:

Globalization, Policy and Society:

This course provides students with an introduction to debates over the nature of globalisation and its consequences for social policy, well-being and social divisions.

Social Policy Analysis: Comparative Perspectives:

This course explores the field of policy analysis with particular focus on how policy is formulated and delivered in different institutional contexts.

Comparative Social Policy Research Methods:

This course offers students the opportunity to explore key dimensions of social policy through ‘hands on’ data exercises based on key research techniques in comparative social policy.

Understanding Social Indicators and Social Policies:

In this course you will explore major social indicators and learn to evaluate and compare processes of social change across different national contexts.

Comparative Social Policy in Greater China and East Asia:

In this course you will critically examine how governments, private enterprises and civil society actors in Greater China and East Asia respond to major social policy challenges.

In the Spring and Summer Terms students take three courses and complete a research project tailored to their own personal interest:

Dialogue with Policy Practitioners: Theory and Practice:

In this course you will engage in field visits to government offices, political parties, research and policy institutes in Hong Kong.

Asia Pacific Comparative Development and Policy Symposium:

This course will enable you to interact with leading international researchers in comparative social policy, development, and governance.

Regional Policy Study and Visit in Greater China and East Asia:

In this course you will have the opportunity to visit one major university Greater China and East Asia.

Comparative Social Policy Research Project:

In this course, you will demonstrate their analytical ability in the area of comparative social policy through the execution of an individually supervised research topic of your own choice.

Graduation Requirements:

IMCSP students will graduate upon the completion of 30 credits.

The minimum GPA requirement for graduation is 2.67.