City University of Hong Kong

Course Syllabus

offered by the Department of Public Policy

with effect from Semester B 2017 / 18

Part I Course Overview

Course Title:

Urban Policy

Course Code:

POL3205

Course Duration:

One Semester

Credit Units:

3

Level:

B3

Proposed Area: (for GE courses only)

Arts and Humanities

Study of Societies, Social and Business Organisations

Science and Technology

Medium of Instruction:

English

Medium of Assessment:

English

Prerequisites: (Course Code and Title)

None

Precursors: (Course Code and Title)

None

Equivalent Courses: (Course Code and Title)

SA3205 Urban Policy

Exclusive Courses: (Course Code and Title)

None

Part II Course Details

1. Abstract (A 150-word description about the course)

This course provides an introduction to the role and importance of cities and to the essential

elements of urban policy. At the end of this course, students should have a good understanding

of modern processes of urban development and the nature of cities; knowledge of the key

elements of urban sociology such as access to urban opportunity, issues of social cohesion and

social exclusion; an appreciation of major urban policy issues facing Hong Kong; and an

understanding of the politics of urban development.

2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) (CILOs state what the student is expected to be able to do at the end of the course according to a given standard of

performance.)

No. CILOs# Weighting*

(if

applicable)

Discovery-enriched

curriculum related

learning outcomes

(please tick where

appropriate)

A1 A2 A3 1. Distinguish the role and nature of cities; global hierarchy and

evolution of cities; and the transformation of Hong Kong in the

global hierarchy.

✔

2. Critically assess the impacts of urbanization and globalization; the

importance of social cohesion and neighbourhood; and the

processes of social exclusion and social stratification.

✔

3. Examine some critical urban policy issues such as transport,

population, sustainable development, land administration,

tourism, culture, poverty and social movement and provide new

ideas and perspectives on tackling possible urban problems.

✔ ✔ ✔

4. Identify the process of urban policy decision-making and the

theoretical underpinnings in urban governance.

✔

5. Explain urban phenomena/policy outcomes by means of

concepts, theories and empirical evidence. ✔ ✔

# Please specify the alignment of CILOs to the Gateway Education Programme Intended Learning outcomes (PILOs) in Section A of Annex. A1: Attitude

Develop an attitude of discovery/innovation/creativity, as demonstrated by students possessing a strong sense of curiosity, asking questions actively, challenging assumptions or engaging in inquiry together with teachers.

A2: Ability Develop the ability/skill needed to discover/innovate/create, as demonstrated by students possessing critical thinking skills to assess ideas, acquiring research skills, synthesizing knowledge across disciplines or applying academic knowledge to self-life problems.

A3: Accomplishments Demonstrate accomplishment of discovery/innovation/creativity through producing /constructing creative works/new artefacts, effective solutions to real-life problems or new processes.

3. Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)

(TLAs designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs.)

TLA Brief Description CILO No. Hours/week

(if applicable)

1 2 3 4 5

Lectures Students will:

acquire knowledge of

the concepts, values and

development in urban

policy.

develop their analytical

and critical capabilities

to discuss urban policy

issues.

apply theoretical

knowledge to analyse

empirical cases.

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Self study and

reading Students will:

acquire knowledge of

the concepts, values and

development in urban

policy.

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Tutorials Students will

discuss and debate on

key issues in urban

policy.

give presentations on

selected topics in which

they will conduct

research and analysis.

write a term paper to

communicate their

knowledge and

understanding of their

tutorial topic.

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

4. Assessment Tasks/Activities (ATs)

(ATs are designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs.)

Assessment Tasks/Activities CILO No. Weighting

*

Remarks

1 2 3 4 5 Continuous Assessment: 60 %

Group presentation and paper ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 30% To test students’ ability

to organize their

arguments for examining

urban policy issues.

In course test ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 30% To test how well students

know the contents of the

required readings.

Examination ✔ 40% To test how well students

comprehend course

materials and relevant

readings.

Examination: 40% (duration: 3 hours if applicable) * The weightings should add up to 100%. 100%

Note:

If a course has both coursework and examination components, students are required to pass BOTH the

coursework assessment AND the examination before they can be awarded an overall passing grade of the

course.

Course Syllabus

POL3205

5. Assessment Rubrics

(Grading of student achievements is based on student performance in assessment tasks/activities with the following rubrics.)

Assessment Task Criterion Excellent

(A+, A, A-)

Good

(B+, B, B-)

Fair

(C+, C, C-)

Marginal

(D)

Failure

(F)

Group

presentation

Ability to critically assess the

literature on an important urban

policy topic and translate this to a

well-structured and informative

presentation; and

Capacity to organize time,

communicate effectively and

cooperate with classmates

High Significant Moderate Basic Not even reach

marginal levels

Term paper Ability to integrate information from

a wide variety of sources to formulate

a well structured and informative

group paper on an important urban

policy topic.

High Significant Moderate Basic Not even reach

marginal levels

In-class test Ability to individually study,

comprehend and reproduce core

knowledge from basic urban policy

literatures

High Significant Moderate Basic Not even reach

marginal levels

Exam Ability in demonstrating familiarity

with and understanding of the

knowledge delivered in the course;

and

Ability to translate this knowledge to

urban policy challenges in cities

High Significant Moderate Basic Not even reach

marginal levels

Course Syllabus

POL3205

Part III Other Information (more details can be provided separately in the teaching plan)

1. Keyword Syllabus

(An indication of the key topics of the course.)

Role and nature of cities; global hierarchy of cities; where is Hong Kong in the global hierarchy;

managing cities; institutional development; cities and money – who pays and who gains; providing

and paying for infrastructure; cities and capitalism; urban governance; poverty and social

exclusion; neighbourhood change; urban social movement; major urban policy issues in Hong

Kong.

2. Reading List

2.1 Compulsory Readings (Compulsory readings can include books, book chapters, or journal/magazine articles. There are also collections of

e-books, e-journals available from the CityU Library.)

1. Douglass, M. (2000) ‘Mega-urban Regions and World City Formation: Globalisation, the Economic Crisis

and Urban Policy Issues in Pacific Asia’, Urban Studies, 37(12), 2315-2335.

2. McKinsey Global Institute (2012) ‘The Policy Agenda Differs in Emerging and Developed Regions’, in:

Urban World: Cities and the Rise of the Consuming Class, pp.53-60

3. Thorns, D. (2002) ‘Industrial-Modern Cities’, in: The Transformation of Cities, MacMillan, New York, pp.

13-39.

4. Sassen, S. (2002) ‘The Global City: Introducing a Concept’, The Brown Journal of World Affairs, 11(2):

27-43-30.

5. Harvey, D. (1989) ‘From managerialism to entrepreneurialism: The Transformation in Urban Governance

in Late Capitalism’, Geografiska Annaler, Series B, Human Geography, 71 (1), pp. 3-17.

6. UN Habitat (2008) ‘Overview and Key Findings’, in: State of the World’s Cities 2010/2011: Bridging the

Urban Divide, London & Sterling (VA): Earthscan, pp. viii-xx.

7. Ross, H.B. & M.A. Levine (1996) ‘Who has the power? Decision Making and Urban Regimes’, in: Urban

Politics: Power in Metropolitan America, Fifth Edition, Itasca: F.E. Peacock Publishers.

8. Jessop, B. & N.L. Sum (2000) ‘An Enterpreneurial City in Action: Hong Kong’s Emerging Strategies in

and for (Inter)Urban Competition’, Urban Studies, 37(12), pp. 2278-2313.

9. Cervero, R. & J. Murakami (2009) ‘Rail and Property Development in Hong Kong: Experiences and

Extensions’, Urban Studies, 46(10), pp. 2019-2043.

10. Ma, N. (2009) ‘Social Movements and State-Society Relationship in Hong Kong’, in: Kuah-Pearce, K.E.

& G. Guiheux Eds. (2009) Social Movements in China and Hong Kong: The Expansion of Protest Space,

Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, pp.45-64.

11. Ng, Mee Kam (2002) ‘Property-Led Urban Renewal in Hong Kong: Any Place for the Community?’,

Sustainable Development, 10(3), 140-146.

12. Wissink, B., S.Y. Koh & R. Forrest (2017) ‘Tycoon City: Political Economy, Real Estate and the Super-

Rich in Hong Kong’, in: R. Forrest, S.Y. Koh & B. Wissink (Eds.) Cities and the Super-Rich: Real Estate,

Elite Practices, and Urban Political Economy, Palgrave MacMillan, London, 229-252.

2.2 Additional Readings

(Additional references for students to learn to expand their knowledge about the subject.)

1. Thorns, D. (2002) The Transformation of Cities, Palgrave Macmillan, New York.

2. Clark, D. (1996) Urban World/Global City, Routledge, London.

3. Fainstein, S. and Campbell, S. (1996) Readings in Urban Theory, Blackwell, Oxford.

4. Short, J (1996) Urban Order: An introduction to cities, culture, and power, Oxford: OUP.

5. Castells, M. (1977) The Urban Question: A Marxist Approach, London: Edward Arnold.

6. Paddison, R. (2001) Handbook of Urban Studies, Sage, London.

7. Castells, M. (1984) The City and the Grassroots: A Cross-Cultural Theory of Urban Social Movements,

London: E. Arnold.

8. Mottershead, T. (2004), Sustainable Development in Hong Kong, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University

Press.

Course Syllabus

POL3205

9. Susser, I. (2002) The Castells Reader on Cities and Social Theory, Malden, Mass.: Blackwell.

10. Bridge, G., & Watson, S. (2002) The Blackwell City Reader Oxford: Blackwell.

11. Euchner, C. & McGovern, S. (2003) Urban Policy Reconsidered. New York: Routledge.

12. Saunders, P. (1981) Social Theory and Urban Question London: Unwin Hyman.

13. Hill (2000) Urban Policy and Politics in Britain, Basingstoke, Hants: Macmillan; New York: St.

Martin's Press.

14. Hsing, Y. (2010). The great transformation: Politics of land and property in China. Oxford: Oxford

University Press.