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SCMP Reporter

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has joined with an Australian institute to launch a new undergraduate public policy degree that will enable more graduates to continue to choose the civil service as a career.

 From January, HKU will offer a conversion degree in public policy and management under an agreement with the University of Murdoch in Perth.

 Designed for professionals who want to pursue higher education, the programme will allow those who have completed either one year of university or a higher diploma to earn a bachelor's degree from Murdoch in 18 months. Courses, including those conducted by Murdoch professors, will be taught at HKU.

  Applicants with bachelor's degrees in other fields will be eligible for the programme.

   HKU Public Administration Department chief Professor John Burns said the civil service had been a top-quality operation since a major overhaul in the 1970s. International watchdog groups often cited it among the least corrupt in the world. The civil service's role was acknowledged as a critical factor in the SAR's economic success.

 But Mr Burns warned high standards could erode if a steady stream of qualified professionals were to choose other career paths.

  He said the programme had a broad-based curriculum which would appeal to business professionals looking to learn more about government.

  Core areas of study include public administration, public-sector management, public economics, administrative law, environmental politics, and government and business. Special courses on modern China will also be offered.

   'We hope this will be attractive to people interested or currently doing business in China,' Mr Burns said. 'We are offering the chance to learn about the government regulations, or lack of regulations, people must abide by in China.'   He said those earning the degree would also benefit from access to HKU's extensive alumni network now entrenched in the SAR Government.

 The programme will be co-ordinated by Mr Burns and his counterpart from Murdoch, Professor Ian Scott.

  Applications are now being accepted with student selection in December. Classes start in January.



HKU teams up with Murdoch to offer public policy degree