This course aims to

• discover new knowledge and most updated details about the major policy challenges in contemporary China through social research and interaction with officials, scholars and practitioners in the Chinese city (Beijing/Shanghai) being visited;
• critically examine and test theories and the application of knowledge to policy problems in contemporary China;
• develop team working roles and skills and enhance group bonding through engagement in a variety of collaborative and competitive extended team-based exercises; 
• examine comparatively and critically key governance and public policy principles and practices in the city being visited; and
• master the abilities required to conduct the background research, design, implementation, on-site data collection, data analysis and final report writing and presentation of a study comparing policy issues and public perceptions of a key policy area in the city being visited.