New CLASS Department Builds Greater Synergy

CityU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) has merged its Department of Asian and International Studies and Department of Public Policy, to establish the new Department of Public and International Affairs (PIA), effective 1 August 2022.

Tracing back to 1986, the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Public and Social Administration programme was one of the first two degree programmes established in CityU. For more than three decades, the department had moved with the times to offer various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, aiming to equip students with broad and in-depth knowledge to meet the challenges brought by the ever-changing world, and be more competitive in different situations.

Today, by bringing over 40 faculty members from the two former departments under one roof, the merger is envisaged to augment productive synergy and enhance academic competitiveness. Dean of CLASS Professor Richard M WALKER has great aspirations for this new milestone, hoping the one-of-a-kind department in Hong Kong will further inspire interdisciplinary collaborations in the college and across the campus, leading the way in professional education and research and societal impact.

Professor Alfred HO, the Department Head of PIA, believes the new department will make a broader, more visible and more meaningful impact. It is expected that the new department will conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research on development, international relations and comparative governance, politics, public and non-profit management, urban management and development, and public policy, and has particular expertise in the study of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, China, and East and Southeast Asia.

Living in this rapidly changing world, it is crucial for students to apply what they have gained in their university life to make a difference to the world, tackle the societal challenges head-on, and contribute to the betterment of society. By providing students more diversified coursework options, experiential learning opportunities and international study experience, PIA will give students a vibrant academic environment to guide them to think critically and creatively about local, regional and global policy challenges, so as to dissect problems and recommend societal improvements.

Visit the new Department’s website to learn more:
https://www.cityu.edu.hk/pia/