The University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE) is to offer a number of new post-graduate programmes to celebrate its 40th anniversary in September. Two of the more interesting programmes involve theatre studies, and sports and recreation management. Middlesex University, which runs Britain's diverse theatre programme, is offering a two-year (part-time and full-time) course that leads to a Master of Arts in East-West theatre studies. It is intended for professionals in art management, theatre performance and television broadcasting in the territory. It is also aimed at teachers in schools, tertiary and adult education institutions, Urban and Regional Council staff involved in performing arts, and graduates wanting to pursue advanced theoretical studies. The first year is a part-time programme in two modules. Participants will study Western theatre styles and then have a choice of either Asian performing arts or modern Chinese film in the final semester. Asian performing arts emphasises modern Chinese theatre and analyses its changing forms and styles. Modern Chinese film examines the cultural identity of Hong Kong, China and Taiwan as seen by film-makers. The course, which costs $35,000, will lead to a postgraduate Diploma in East-West Theatre Studies, the requirement to get into the full-time one-year Master's programme in Middlesex. The final year costs about $75,000. Students wanting to enter the postgraduate programme must hold a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate subject or possess relevant experience. In January, SPACE is offering a Graduate Diploma in Recreation and Sports Management, a requirement for a Master of Arts in recreation and sports management offered by the Victoria University of Technology (VUT) in Melbourne, Australia. It aims to provide professional skills and knowledge of a variety of recreation and sport settings to train candidates to manage public or private sports complexes. The course can be taken over one or two years. Undergraduates holding a Diploma in Recreation and Sports Management (SPACE, HKU), must enrol in the two-year programme. Students need to attend class for an average of nine hours a week. The first year, costing $22,000, is divided into two terms and involves eight courses and a practical. On completion, the student will receive a Graduate Diploma in Recreation and Sports Management (VUT, SPACE, HKU). Students with a credit or distinction in a related field can enrol directly for the second year. Candidates do not attend class but meet regularly with supervisors. The first term consists of 104 hours of directed study and 39 hours of graduate seminars during a 13-week time-frame. The second term is a choice between completing a minor thesis or a 247-hour syndicate research project. The fee for the final year is $25,000.
