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黃灝玄
- Adjunct Professor
- Honorary Associate Professor
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
The DPA programme boasts a diverse student body with experience spanning the public, corporate, nonprofit, and social sectors.
The programme has been carefully designed to accommodate working professionals, with candidates expected to complete it on a part-time basis within four to six years. A typical cohort is small, targeting up to 18 students.
Over the years, DPA graduates have advanced to serve in the upper echelons of the HKSAR Government. At the forefront of politics and public administration education is commitment to excellence in training our students to become future leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
To view DPA students starting from 2013, please refer to the links below.
I am a 4th year PhD Candidate in Political Science, working with Prof. Austin Strange (primary supervisor) and Prof. Kai Quek (co-supervisor). My research interests revolve around broad areas of race and ethnicity in International Relations, Chinese foreign policy, and soft power and public diplomacy. My PhD project investigates how ethnic Chinese Thais perceive themselves, identify with China, and engage with China's diplomatic outreach, using qualitative interviews, survey experiments, and statistical analysis. Parts of the project have been presented in international workshops and conferences, including the International Studies Association Annual Convention (Chicago 2025) and Asia-Pacific Region Conference (Tokyo 2023), the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting (Philadelphia 2024), and CUHK's Workshop on Political Psychology in East Asia (2024). Besides, I have received financial support from PPA, HKU, and the Hong Kong government to gain more technical skills and global perspectives at the IPSA-NUS Summer Methos School (2023 and 2024) in Singapore and NYU Shanghai in China, which contributed tremendously to the early development of this project.
Apart from my scholarly research, I also regularly participate in policy-oriented symposia related to global security affairs, endeavouring to capture both academic and practitioner sides of political science. From late 2022 to early 2023, I collaborated with Pacific Forum (a Honolulu-based think tank) to analyse Thailand's brain drain challenges, leading to an article in their edited volume. In 2023, I travelled to Washington D.C. to work with Southeast Asian and American early-career professionals in seeking plans to alleviate the media illiteracy problem in Southeast Asia. In 2024, I joined the National Committee on American Foreign Policy as a next-gen Korean Peninsula Specialist. I discussed the Korean Peninsula security issues with other fellows and obtained policy analysis skills from high-ranking authorities in the field. In the same year, I also participated in the inaugural South China Sea Dialogue in Manila, the Philippines. These programmes are all highly competitive, and I would not have been selected to be part of them had I not been equipped with rigorous academic skillsets and all-round personal development in PPA.
My PhD journey in the PPA has been incredible! Although the academic standards here are undoubtedly top-notch, they are very meaningful to me. I always receive unwavering support from my supervisors, faculty members, and supporting staff, to whom I am wholeheartedly grateful. Indeed, my special appreciation should go to Prof. Austin Strange, a mentor who pushes me hard and inspires me to be ambitious but is always there to get my back. I would not have come this far without him.
If I could go back in time and decide again where to study for a doctorate, would I still choose PPA at HKU? The biggest YES, I would say!
Throughout my undergraduate studies, many individuals have helped me tremendously, and Prof. Dov H. Levin is one of them.
During my sophomore year, I secured funding to conduct research and attend conferences in the U.S. I seized every opportunity to explore archival practices and materials, beginning with a visit to the Hoover Institution. I formulated the topic “California Dreamin’ – Chinese Immigrants in California and U.S. Policies, 1949-70,” aiming to understand the political science theories from Prof. Levin, a departure from factual historical research.
My argument centers on the perpetual identity crisis faced by Pardee Lowe, a Chinese American, torn between his American and Chinese identities. This struggle is evident in his collections of newspapers – Pardee Lowe Papers – addressing the welfare and education of Chinese immigrants, highlighting his powerlessness to influence U.S. immigration policies.
I have visited many archives in the U.S., including the National Archives in College Park, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, as well as the Presidential Libraries of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan in 2023. Additionally, I have attended conferences and seminars at Harvard, Stanford, and the University of British Columbia in Canada. These experiences have allowed me to interact with academics, politicians, scientists, engineers, economists, and diplomats.
At Stanford, I attended my first-ever ECON101 lecture by Prof. John Taylor, who coined the Taylor rule. His mention of Milton Friedman reminded me of my introduction to international relations class with Prof. Levin. I also had the privilege of talking to former United States Secretary of State Prof. Condoleezza Rice about Putin and democracy.
Coming back to Hong Kong, I realized that my identity as a Hongkonger allows me to understand perspectives from both the U.S. and China. I seized the chance to attend the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan in 2024, where I met numerous prime ministers and presidents from different countries and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon. Using the knowledge I gained from political science, I was able to fathom the geopolitics, tensions, and strategic calculations between countries. These eye-opening experiences will remain dear to my heart, and everything that happened still feels like a dream to me.
I am grateful to Prof. Levin for his guidance in political science and to HKU for all the opportunities it has offered me.
Why should early 20-year-olds spend four precious years at university before starting their life-long careers?
This is a question worth asking if you’re considering investing four years here at HKU.
At HKU, you’ll have access to unparalleled resources to pursue your goals—study under leading scholars, immerse yourself in a vibrant cultural environment, launch a startup with like-minded peers, and much more. It’s okay not to have everything figured out yet; exploring new opportunities is always better than wasting time! Here are a few things I encourage you to do during your time at HKU:
- Engage in discussions with classmates and professors about the political or social issues you care about: Some of my most valuable learning experiences came from interactive sessions on major global events, such as the Russo-Ukrainian war and the Israel-Gaza conflict. While professors may have more experience analysing geopolitical events, they, too, grapple with uncertainty and concern.
- Take interdisciplinary electives outside your major: The PPA programme opens doors to a wide range of career paths, many of which may not even exist yet. While venturing outside your major might challenge your GPA, it’s an investment in your future versatility.
- Stay adaptable and embrace new opportunities: Your university experience may differ greatly from what you imagined in high school. Small setbacks can lead to unexpected opportunities—the key is to remain resilient and open-minded.
Lastly, allow me to share some wisdom from humanity’s greatest minds that have guided me on my journey:
‘If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.’ – Issac Newton.
‘Education is the process of turning cocksure ignorance into thoughtful uncertainty’– George Bernard Shaw.
‘Frederick Douglass taught that literacy is the path from slavery to freedom. There are many kinds of slavery and many kinds of freedom, but reading is still the path.’ – Carl Sagan.
LAU Ka Yi Athena, Year 4 Majors: History and Politics (Undergraduate Student)
Throughout my undergraduate studies, many individuals have helped me tremendously, and Prof. Dov H. Levin is one of them.
During my sophomore year, I secured funding to conduct research and attend conferences in the U.S. I seized every opportunity to explore archival practices and materials, beginning with a visit to the Hoover Institution. I formulated the topic “California Dreamin’ – Chinese Immigrants in California and U.S. Policies, 1949-70,” aiming to understand the political science theories from Prof. Levin, a departure from factual historical research.
My argument centers on the perpetual identity crisis faced by Pardee Lowe, a Chinese American, torn between his American and Chinese identities. This struggle is evident in his collections of newspapers – Pardee Lowe Papers – addressing the welfare and education of Chinese immigrants, highlighting his powerlessness to influence U.S. immigration policies.
I have visited many archives in the U.S., including the National Archives in College Park, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, as well as the Presidential Libraries of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan in 2023. Additionally, I have attended conferences and seminars at Harvard, Stanford, and the University of British Columbia in Canada. These experiences have allowed me to interact with academics, politicians, scientists, engineers, economists, and diplomats.
At Stanford, I attended my first-ever ECON101 lecture by Prof. John Taylor, who coined the Taylor rule. His mention of Milton Friedman reminded me of my introduction to international relations class with Prof. Levin. I also had the privilege of talking to former United States Secretary of State Prof. Condoleezza Rice about Putin and democracy.
Coming back to Hong Kong, I realized that my identity as a Hongkonger allows me to understand perspectives from both the U.S. and China. I seized the chance to attend the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan in 2024, where I met numerous prime ministers and presidents from different countries and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon. Using the knowledge I gained from political science, I was able to fathom the geopolitics, tensions, and strategic calculations between countries. These eye-opening experiences will remain dear to my heart, and everything that happened still feels like a dream to me.
I am grateful to Prof. Levin for his guidance in political science and to HKU for all the opportunities it has offered me.
Jeffrey Long-Fung Yeung
Why should early 20-year-olds spend four precious years at university before starting their life-long careers?
This is a question worth asking if you’re considering investing four years here at HKU.
At HKU, you’ll have access to unparalleled resources to pursue your goals—study under leading scholars, immerse yourself in a vibrant cultural environment, launch a startup with like-minded peers, and much more. It’s okay not to have everything figured out yet; exploring new opportunities is always better than wasting time! Here are a few things I encourage you to do during your time at HKU:
- Engage in discussions with classmates and professors about the political or social issues you care about: Some of my most valuable learning experiences came from interactive sessions on major global events, such as the Russo-Ukrainian war and the Israel-Gaza conflict. While professors may have more experience analysing geopolitical events, they, too, grapple with uncertainty and concern.
- Take interdisciplinary electives outside your major: The PPA programme opens doors to a wide range of career paths, many of which may not even exist yet. While venturing outside your major might challenge your GPA, it’s an investment in your future versatility.
- Stay adaptable and embrace new opportunities: Your university experience may differ greatly from what you imagined in high school. Small setbacks can lead to unexpected opportunities—the key is to remain resilient and open-minded.
Lastly, allow me to share some wisdom from humanity’s greatest minds that have guided me on my journey:
‘If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.’ – Issac Newton.
‘Education is the process of turning cocksure ignorance into thoughtful uncertainty’– George Bernard Shaw.
‘Frederick Douglass taught that literacy is the path from slavery to freedom. There are many kinds of slavery and many kinds of freedom, but reading is still the path.’ – Carl Sagan.
The Politics and Public Administration Association (PPAA) is a student-led organisation at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
It serves as a platform for students interested in politics, public administration, and related fields to engage in academic, professional, and social activities. It is vital in promoting a well-rounded and socially conscious student community.
The Government and Laws Committee (GLC) at HKU is the flagship student community for the Bachelor of Laws (BSocSc (Govt & Laws) & LLB) programme.
Since 1999, the Bachelor of Laws (BSocSc (Govt & Laws) & LLB), jointly offered by the Department of Politics and Public Administration and the Department of Law at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), has brought forth cohort after cohort of outstanding graduates. These include lawyers in public and private practice, government administrative officers (Aos), professors, business professionals, and leaders in the non-profit sector
2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the programme.
PhD/MPhil Graduates
The department takes pride in its diverse and international alumni body. Our alumni come from a wide range of countries and regions around the world: Canada, Colombia, Chinese mainland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan (China), United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Myanmar, Morocco, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia.
Our recent MPhil graduates have continued their PhD studies at prestigious universities such as:
- Columbia University
- University of California, Berkeley
- Yale University
- The Pennsylvania State University
Additionally, our recent PhD graduates have been appointed as assistant professors or equivalents at universities worldwide, including:
- Australian National University (Australia)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (China)
- Fudan University (China)
- Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR, China)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong SAR, China)
- King’s College London (United Kingdom)
- Shanghai University (China)
- Shanghai Jiaotong University (China)
- South China Normal University (China)
- Thammasat University (Thailand)
- University of Hong Kong Business School (Hong Kong SAR, China)
- University of International Business and Economics (China)
- University of Macau (Macau SAR, China)
- University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)
- Yonsei University (South Korea)
With the encouragement and support of their supervisors, our RPG students have received numerous prestigious academic awards or positions in recent years, including the Li Ka Shing Prize for Outstanding Research Postgraduate Students at HKU, Pi Sigma Alpha Best Paper by a Graduate Student Award at the Midwest Political Science Association, and the Don Lavoie Fellowship of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
