Course opens door to those with an interest in international relations
A postgraduate master's degree in international public affairs at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is proving a draw for members of Hong Kong's disciplinary services keen to take the next step on the career ladder. The Commissioner of Police, Tang King-shing, is a graduate of the programme.
The international public affairs master's programme is the only one of its kind in Hong Kong, according to programme director James Tang and was first offered in 2000. It is intended for people in mid-career and is available either full time over one academic year, or part time over two. Over the past eight years, students from more than 20 nations have entered the programme with a growing trend of overseas applicants.
'We always have students from different backgrounds in terms of their professional and academic backgrounds and also nationalities,' Professor Tang said. 'But the pool of international applicants seems to have grown in recent years.
'The international relations degree is particularly relevant for police working in or aspiring to work in areas with international dimensions. Some might have been posted to Interpol and returned knowing that it is an area they want to pursue.'
HKU's master's of international public affairs is a professional programme, which means that it is open to those who don't have related undergraduate degrees in disciplines such as politics or economics.