What motivated a Singaporean girl with two degrees earned in the United States and 7-year work experience in Singapore to come to Hong Kong and start an academic odyssey in the EdUHK? Vivien Tang, a student of the Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) program, has a lot to say.
Vivien Tang, student of Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM)[/caption] Born and raised up in Singapore, Vivien owns an enviable CV. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University at Buffalo and obtained her first master’s degree at Canisius College, a renowned liberal arts college in the US. Later on, she returned to Singapore and began her career. Encouraged by her family, Vivien was determined to step out of her comfort zone, and eventually decided to return to campus after seven years of social work services and professional research. She chose the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) to embark on a fascinating journey in the world of public policy here at the Department of Asian and Policy Studies (APS).
Vivien Tang, a studious, ambitious, but down-to-earth Singaporean girl, delightedly shares her study path at the EdUHK.
Tell us more about your academic background
After I received my first master’s degree at Canisius College, I returned to my hometown-- Singapore. During the master’s study, my career plan was to become a teacher, but then I gradually discovered my deep interest in research. Back to Singapore, I worked for two years in a university devoted to serving children with special needs. After that, I worked in a research center for one year. In this soul-searching period, I gradually developed my future goals. I have worked in the Fei Yue Community Services, a noted social work institution in Singapore, for more than two years. I was engaged in research on community services and social work. The recipients of our services ranged from children to the elderly. I have benefited tremendously from my job at Fei Yue. My supervisor took great care of me and provided me with generous opportunities for professional development. The two years of research experience have sharpened my insight and cultivated my spirit of being down to earth. Always looking forward to new challenges, I was eager to explore the vast ocean of knowledge. Encouraged by my family, I eventually went ahead and started my second master’s adventure in Hong Kong.
Why brought you to the MPPM Program at EdUHK?
When I was planning for my second master study, the first consideration was distance! As an ethnic Chinese, I’m very much a ‘family person’. I have a 98-year old grandfather and I lost much family time when studying in the US. The short distance between Hong Kong and Singapore, along with the excellent academic environment here, made Hong Kong the obvious choice. My professional life has given me a strong desire to do meaningful things for the betterment of the society. The field of social policy has inspired me enormously. By chance, I participated in a workshop at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The speaker was Dr Alex He Jingwei, the Associate Head of the APS Department. After the conference, Dr He shared with me his doctoral experience at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, and he warmly invited me to apply for the MPPM program at EdUHK. Dr He’s encouragement strengthened my determination to embark on a study at here.
Your impression of EdUHK
“How to make this place a better place” is the motto that always inspires me. The MPPM program at EdUHK offers exactly what I was longing for. The study here has strengthened my academic training in policy analysis, organizational behavior analysis, public sector management and development, and so forth, and has also cultivated my practical ability in public policy and management. The APS Department has a strong faculty. More importantly, professors are willing to nurture the future talents by providing them with best research opportunities without any reservation. Dr He, my supervisor, invited me to join his research project funded by the World Health Organization’s Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. He offered me lots of opportunities and suggestions on my own research. Two of our research papers are currently under review in leading SSCI journals. He is a great source of inspiration and mentorship in my study journey. When he knew that I had plans to pursue a PhD degree, Dr He enthusiastically shared his own academic experience with me, offering many helpful suggestions, which built up my confidence and allowed me to try and explore the unknown. Dr Isabella Ng Fung-sheung, another Associate Head of the APS Department, is sister-like professor. We have a very close relationship and often hang out together. She makes me and other international students feel at home in Hong Kong, so we never feel alone under the foreign sky. As the founder of the Hong Kong Society for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees, Dr Ng devotes herself to the noble enterprise of social charity services. She often invites students to join volunteer services to help disadvantaged groups in the city. I volunteered in the distribution of relief supplies to the underprivileged people during the difficult time of Covid-19. Dr Lina Vyas, the Program Leader of MPPM, is a helpful and caring professor. I will discuss with Lina when I get any questions about the program.
Share with us your life at EdUHK
The academic atmosphere of EdUHK is exceptional. Coming from very diverse backgrounds, my classmates share many interesting stories about their hometown. In the spare time before the pandemic, we often explored Hong Kong cuisine together and enjoyed the countryside. The classroom atmosphere of APS is particularly harmonious. When courses cover the case of Singapore, I was often invited as guest speaker. This made me very proud.
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced universities in Hong Kong to switch teaching to the online mode. Thanks to the sufficient resources that EdUHK has deployed, online teaching has not adversely affected us. The fantastic location of EdUHK makes it a paradise in Hong Kong. At the time of the ever-changing pandemic, looking at the lush greenery outside the window, my mood gradually turns good.
我們非常榮幸地在此宣佈，亞洲及政策研究學系的胡志強教授與數學與資訊科技學系的蘇賜福博士合作研發的項目＂個人成績線上評估系統（ OASIS）＂榮獲了2020年IIIC國際創新發明競賽中的金獎。
個人成績線上評估系統（ OASIS）是一種針對團隊項目而設計的評估方法，意在事前遏止搭便車行為（Free-riding: 指卻乘其他組員之便，不負責任的人），並在事後若發現存在這種行為時懲處搭便車者。OASIS已在美國，香港，中國內地和印度的9所大學中，對28名教師以及1,800名學生進行實施。並且成果顯著，發現OASIS能通過其合約承諾和表現計分制來鼓勵學生參與團隊項目，並檢測是否存在搭便車行為。其次，OASIS使用同儕審查能公平地評估團隊成員的個人貢獻。另外，OASIS對用戶友好，對各方持份者都有好處，不論是學生，老師還是大學管理層。基於當前用戶的積極反饋，胡教授和他的團隊預計在下一學年中使用OASIS的人將與日俱增，將有4所大學的1,000名學生從中受益。此外，新簽約的商業用戶（Goabroad Limited）表明OASIS在高等教育機構以的外的適用性，突顯了這教學發展補助金項目（TDG）的知識也能轉移到商界應用。
IIIC是大中華地區著名的創新活動，每年吸引來自亞洲，美國和歐洲國家的400多項創新發明。 結果展示了胡教授在技術整合中以創新性和適用性來豐富教育體驗，而亞洲及政策研究學系也期待OASIS能夠成為具有全球影響力的同儕評估方法。
Some 40 million people have been infected by the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide so far, resulting in over 1.1 million deaths. Apart from creating a severe public health crisis, the pandemic has also caused serious social and economic disruptions. Government capacity and leadership in crisis management is under major test in different countries and territories, and performance varies. Where does Hong Kong stand compared to others? Have government strategies, policy priorities and remedial measures been on the right track? What problems and deficiencies have been exposed? What lessons can be learned?
香港教育大學亞洲及政策研究學系本學年迎來第二位新成員──Stuti Rawat博士。Stuti於學系擔任博士後研究員，未來將會開展其個人研究，並與其他學系成員一同就公眾信任、網上教學及社會資本等議題合作進行研究。本學年，Stuti主要任教非營利機構戰略管理、政策科學基礎及公共管理等課程。同時，她亦會開設不同工作坊予碩士學生，教授學術寫作及研究的知識及技巧。
加入亞洲及政策研究學系前，Stuti今年於新加坡國立大學李光耀公共政策研究院獲得公共政策博士學位。她的博士論文著重於研究公共政策及發展的交叉點，以量化方法研究政府農業投資的成因與績效。她的博士論文榮獲2018年新加坡春金集團可持續發展最佳論文獎(Musim Mas Sustainability Dissertation Award)，以表彰她在可持續發展領域的卓越研究。在新加坡國立大學攻讀博士期間，Rawat博士積極參與各種研究競賽，並取得優秀成績。她獲得了2017年新加坡國立大學案例競賽大獎，並在NUS 3 Minutes Thesis Competition取得季軍的好成績。
Stuti曾於國際水管理研究所(International Water Management Institute)及The Abdul Latif Jameel貧窮行動實驗室擔任顧問及副研究員，這些工作經驗促使她對於農業政策展開全面的研究。目睹農業在印度等中低收入國家發展中的重要地位，她認識到完善的公共政策對經濟社會發展的關鍵作用。她的研究目標是為有效的政策制定提供證據，同時推進對政策制定過程及政策客體行為的理解。Stuti同時以此視角研究水資源、食物安全、氣候變化、行為轉變、自然災害及公共行政等議題。
Stuti過去曾於多間機構擔任兼職顧問，包括世界銀行、尼泊爾山區綜合發展國際中心(International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, ICIMOD)、The Vittorio Dan Segre Foundation (VDSF)等組織。最近亦於劍橋大學為東盟秘書處(ASEAN Secretariat)撰寫東盟發展展望報告(ASEAN Development Outlook Report)。
Stuti表示十分喜愛群山環抱中翠綠的教大校園，她亦十分期待疫情後可以與同學面對面交流，帶他們一同享受音樂和網球帶來的歡樂時光。
Since 1997, the implementation of 'one country, two systems' has been subject to test in major controversies especially over national security and constitutional issues. Post-national security law, the optimists hope for the end of disorder and arrival of a 'second transition' while the pessimists worry about the erosion of the city's autonomy and freedom. Apart from growing tensions and fatigue between the 'two systems', Hong Kong's political future also faces new turbulence and uncertainty because of escalating US-China conflict. Can the 'two systems' framework still work in the changing circumstances where past assumptions no longer apply?
本學年香港教育大學亞洲及政策研究學系迎來兩位新成員加入，分別是講師關仲然先生(Tommy)及博士後研究員Stuti Rawat博士(Stuti)。稍早前，小編們為他們進行專訪，讓大家認識及瞭解他們的研究興趣。本期先為大家介紹Tommy。
加入亞洲及政策研究學系前
Tommy於2015年在香港中文大學取得社會科學學士學位，其後到倫敦大學亞非學院繼續攻讀理學碩士；目前，他是倫敦大學亞非學院政治及國際關係學系博士候選人。他的研究興趣主要是台灣及香港政治，由此延伸到抗爭政治、政黨政治、以及候選人選拔這幾個範疇。他的研究興趣基礎從本科時期開始奠定。他認為，台灣政黨作為大中華地區發展最為成熟的代表，不論在課堂上抑或研究中國政治的學者都會關注的重點議題之一，這亦是他作為一個 「香港人卻在英國研究台灣」的主要原因之一。
Tommy的兩個母校，香港中文大學和倫敦大學亞非學院又碰巧是出了名的左派作風學校，他也曾在出版書《孤獨課》裡談及，在「左翼重鎮亞非學院」裡，學生都很喜歡參加抗議遊行。文化環境勢必會對人造成影響的，但帶來的並非是激進的，而是批判的思維方式，很難說這不是一種正向的薰陶。無論在香港、台灣或是世界範圍內，社會運動和政黨鬥爭都是今年非常「大」或者說熱門的話題，這也和他所研究的台灣政黨與社會運動關係的博士論文匯合了。
Tommy曾任德國杜賓根大學及台灣中央研究院作訪問學者，從香港到英國到德國再到台灣，最後回到香港，他說這是一段在不同且多元化學術氛圍裡不斷成長的經歷。研究生時期的Tommy與本科時期的Tommy有很大差別，就是更加投身於純粹的學術了。他提到在英國學習蠻深刻的一件事是，亞非學院的台灣研究中心每個星期都固定會舉辦許多活動，不局限主題，邀請不同的客座教授來做不同的分享。他還說到，由於地方局限性，香港學生本身都沒有很大的移動性（mobility），本科畢業離開香港以後，漂泊異地留學的這些年，他更能夠熟習獨立生活。
在教大裡的未來計劃
Tommy將會在新的學期裡教授一年級的2門課程，並同步完成博士論文。
在而今疫情已經成為新常態的新學期，他對於不能和學生面對面授課感到遺憾，與此同時，線上教學也給他帶來了挑戰。但毋庸置疑的是，這並不會影響他以朋友的方式來和學生們相處。拋開學術上的指導，也能和學生們一起聊聊校園生活的趣事或者提供一些力所能及的幫助。對於APS，他和一年級的新生們一樣是初來乍到，希望師生間能一起互相鼓勵打氣，盡快適應新環境。
當然，他對學生也有些期許：升入大學以後，一方面：除了上課，更要好好享受大學生活，珍惜短暫且珍貴的時間，勇於嘗試不同的新鮮事物；另一方面：牢記作為學生的本職，不要放棄讀書。