Public policy postgraduate courses at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) attract each year about 30 government officials and other interested professionals, programme leader Joshua Mok Ka-ho says. CityU offers its Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the broad fields of government and politics, public management, public policy, social and political philosophy, social policy and administration, and China studies. Dr Mok says his Department of Public and Social Administration also offers MA and postgraduate diploma courses in Public Policy and Management. 'The majority of students are government officials, from middle- to upper-level civil servants. They are general government officials, and some are from the disciplinary forces, such as the police, immigration and customs,' he says. CityU postgraduate courses also attract students from professional groups, such as accountants and lawyers. 'The courses are basically designed to upgrade the qualifications of people in the public sector. They aim to sharpen the participants' analytical and conceptual tools in understanding or analysing policy and management issues,' Dr Mok says. The postgraduate programme in public policy had its birth in 1992 as an MA course in public and social administration. It has since expanded, and the Public Policy and Management banner was adopted in 1995. One unique feature of the programme is that students are taken on educational tours outside Hong Kong, to places such as Singapore and Taiwan. The trips allow them to compare Hong Kong policy and management developments with other systems. 'Also, there are two residential sections during the two-year study period,' Dr Mok says. 'Each involves a few days of getting together in intensive study mode. It is like a study camp but based in a hotel. We take the students to Macau, Shenzhen and other places. Students use the time to reflect on public policy and management issues. We invite local speakers, such as civil servants, to talk to the students about policy and management issues. We have invited civil servants and academics from Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the past. 'The programme has an international flavour and a regional focus, with discussions about issues such as China. The programme also offers globalised study suited to SAR needs.' Dr Mok began the regional study trips in 1995, with a visit to Singapore. Macau and Shenzhen followed, and visits to Taiwan are planned for the future. Subsidies are available for students following CityU postgraduate courses, and studentships worth HK$14,500 a month are available for applicants who qualify. Students can also apply for research-tuition scholarships, conference grants, and research expenses grants. 'The entire programme costs a student about HK$42,000,' Dr Mok says. English is the language of instruction, and the primary pre-qualification is a good honours degree. The MPhil degree can be taken as a two-year full-time programme, or up to four years part-time. The PhD degree takes three to four years full-time, or up to six years part-time. CityU has about 15 full-time academic staff devoted to its postgraduate public policy programme, with the addition of occasional guest speakers from Hong Kong or overseas. Most of the programme's coursework takes place at the university. There are two three-hour sessions a week, one evening session, and one on Saturday mornings. Each master's course involves preparing a thesis of between 9,000 and 12,000 words. Typical areas of research under the postgraduate programme include public services in Hong Kong, organisational studies, comparative government and politics, comparative public management and applied social ethics. Health and environmental studies, labour studies and specialist fields relating to China and Japan are part of the programme spectrum. Graduates of the course will have a better critical understanding of public policy and management themes, Dr Mok says. Participants also gain improved methodology and skills in the domestic and international environments.