Postgraduate Courses
IPEN
Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship
- IPEN 5100Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course focuses on the practices and processes that managers in the business sector adopt to advance innovation and attention is also paid to the strategies that policy-makers from regulatory background pursue to manage innovation. Technological innovation will be examined through its process of exploring, executing, leveraging, and renewing from both the perspectives of entrepreneurs and regulators. Students will be guided to seek a collaborative governance mechanism that is workable for different players and sectors in innovation to achieve sustainable growth.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, relationships and challenges of innovation, policy and entrepreneurship.
- 2.Analyze the innovation system and open innovation.
- 3.Analyze the complex system in innovation and entrepreneurship
- 4.Analyze corporate stakeholders and collaborative governance in innovation using case studies.
- 5.Engage in academic discussions and present research work in front of
audience. - 6.Apply the theoretical tools learned in class to novel research questions.
- IPEN 5110Foundation in Public Policy[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThe course will provide an advanced foundation in the study and practice of public policy at the level required for graduate study. The course will cover both the historic foundations of policy studies, as well as emerging approaches and directions. As the study of public policy is inherently interdisciplinary, it will include perspectives from political science, public policy, economics, business and other aspects of social science. It will take a broad view of public policy, including taking up some of the core literature on public management and public administration.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate solid fundamental knowledge on how public policies are developed, approved, implemented.
- 2.Apply a public policy perspective to evaluate, compare core literature and current issues on public management and public administration.
- 3.Apply a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods to public research studies.
- 4.Develop holistic perspectives including political science, public policy, economics, business and other aspects of social science.
- IPEN 5111Public Management and Institutional Analysis[3-0-0:3]Prerequisite(s)IPEN 5110DescriptionThis course focuses on the theoretical and analytical perspective of public management and institutions. It introduces students to key concepts in the discipline of public management and institutional analysis. The course begins with a review of the evolution of thinking in this field. In the following sessions, students will be extensively exposed to theoretical frameworks. The course aims to equip students with theories that help students in building up their capacity toward academic research.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of key theories in public management and institutional analysis.
- 2.Demonstrate a clear and nuanced understanding of the types of management and institutional analysis.
- 3.Identify the institutional, organizational and structural challenges that public organizations face when managing and implementing complex policy portfolios.
- 4.Apply scholarly theories and perspectives to real-world cases and own experiences, to enhance problem solving capacity and improve public management practice.
- 5.Develop and apply public management skills required for advanced roles in public sector.
- IPEN 5120Research Design for Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship Studies[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThe purposes of the course are to introduce to students key concepts in research design, and to help them develop skills in the design of empirical research for conducting innovation, policy and entrepreneurship studies. Specific emphasis will be on the use of quasi-experimental designs in policy research, as well as on their potentials and limitations.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the logic of policy research on causal relationship.
- 2.Have a working knowledge on key research designs for generalized causal inference, with a good understanding of their potentials and limitations.
- 3.Put together a research proposal on a given research topic in their chosen fields.
- 4.Gain practical experience in conducting policy research.
- IPEN 5130Economics of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course introduces the economics of technology innovation and entrepreneurship through the combined perspectives of microeconomics and macroeconomics. It covers microeconomic core modules concerning consumers, firms, markets, and governments, as well as macroeconomic core modules on economic growth associated with entrepreneurship and innovation.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts and theories of economics of technology innovation and entrepreneurship.
- 2.Analyze innovation and entrepreneurship issues with the quantitative methods and the analytical tools in economics.
- 3.Evaluate and propose public policies of technology innovation and entrepreneurship.
- 4.Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- 5.Engage in academic discussions and presentations in front of audience.
- 6.Utilize the theories and tools learned in class to answer questions relevant to technology and policy.
- IPEN 5140Quantitative Analysis and Empirical Methods[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)IPEN 6100ADescriptionThis course introduces students to empirical methods and data management tools used in the current social science disciplines, with some special focuses on strategy, finance and applied micro-economics. The overall approach is to understand the common methods and research design used in the empirical research through intensive reading and replicating papers published in top journals. Students would also become proficient in the use of computer software that is widely used in analyzing quantitative data via empirical assignments.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand basic statistical concepts and methods used in social research.
- 2.Process and present data using proper approaches.
- 3.Assess a range of methods to choose the best approach for a specific empirical design.
- 4.Critique the analytical methods used in the existing analysis.
- 5.Write research proposals in which empirical design methods and regression models are properly used.(b)Alignment with program learning outcomes.
- IPEN 5160Big Data Applications for Business and Government[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course will cover the key concepts and technologies of big data and data analysis, with a focus on the application of big data in formulating business strategies and policies, and related research issues on how big data affects the direction of business and policy development. The course will provide students with practical training on big data and data analysis based on real-world business or policy issues, ranging from collecting and preprocessing to organizing and analyzing large-scale data.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the fundamentals of big data analysis
- 2.Identify business and government problems that can be solved with large scale data and data analytics
- 3.Apply appropriate data analysis method for the identified business and government problem
- 4.Collect and analyze the data of interest to provide results that can provide meaningful policy implications
- 5.Communicate and collaborate with other data scientists and engineers to solve business and government problems
- IPEN 5200Uncertainty, Information and Decision Making[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course introduces the economic theories of decision making under risk and uncertainty and how agents with heterogeneous information interact strategically. Sample topics include expected and non-expected utility theories, models of strategic communication, and information design. Students will apply the theoretical tools to understand and improve real world institutions, such as employee feedback systems and transparency in organizations.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of topics in the economic theories of risk, uncertainty and information.
- 2.Utilize economic theory to explain and analyze real-life economic issues.
- 3.Evaluate the contributions of a research paper and propose potential follow-up research projects.
- 4.Use critical thinking to guide their research.
- 5.Engage in academic discussions and present research work in front of audience.
- 6.Apply the theoretical tools learned in class to novel research questions.
- IPEN 5250Text Analysis and Machine Learning[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course serves as an applied introduction to machine learning methods for text analysis. Several approaches on text data management and analysis will be covered in this course including basic natural language processing techniques, document representation, text categorization and clustering, document summarization, sentiment analysis, social network and social media analysis, probabilistic topic models and text visualization.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the current development of concepts and frameworks of text analysis.
- 2.Identify academic/practical issues that can be solved using text analysis.
- 3.Choose, retrieve, and conduct analysis of text data.
- 4.Measure model performance with appropriate metrics.
- 5.Interpret the results, provide insights and meaningful discussions, and recommend possible actions from analytics performed on text data.
- IPEN 5260Corporate Governance Research[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course is designed to introduce students to the key corporate governance phenomena examined in the field of strategic management. We will review how economic and organizational theories are applied to explain the choices and outcomes of governance design. In addition, we will also investigate some behavioral or process-related factors affecting the functioning of governance mechanisms, especially the board of directors.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Deepen the understanding of the concepts, theories, and research in corporate governance.
- 2.Summarize, integrate, and evaluate research in corporate governance.
- 3.Develop new ideas or approaches that advance this research literature and that might serve as starting points for publishable research papers.
- 4.Master research process skills critical to success in an academic career such as the ability to think clearly and communicate effectively both orally and in written form.
- 5.Explore the possibilities of integrating corporate governance with research in other fields.
- IPEN 5270Corporate ESG Practice and Research[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course focuses on the development of the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) movement and its relationship with other long-standing concepts such as corporate social responsibility and sustainability. It aims to review the content, antecedences, and consequences of corporate ESG practices and stimulate new research ideas in related areas.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Have a comprehensive understanding of the ESG system.
- 2.Appreciate the variety and complexity of corporate social and environmental initiatives.
- 3.Identify institutional-, organizational-, and individual-level factors affecting ESG practices.
- 4.Challenge some of the deeply held assumptions in business theories.
- 5.Ask important questions on ESG and identify possible ways of answering them.
- 6.Critique empirical ESG research.
- 7.Develop own research projects on ESG.
- IPEN 5280Technological Catching-up Policies and Management[3-0-0:3]BackgroundKnowledge about business and policy would be helpful but not required. Quantitative analysis skills could be demanded but not essential.DescriptionThis course deals with various issues when late-comer firms and countries may encounter in the technological catching-up with the more advanced firms and countries. Technological stages and paths are studied and highlighted at the three different levels of country, sector and firms. Students will learn various theories regarding technological catching-up and have opportunities to apply them to real cases.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Indicate the procedures and strategies of technological catching-up.
- 2.List R&D, human capital, technology changes, technology transfer and other theories regarding major factors influencing technological catching-up of a company and a country.
- 3.Describe and explain technology development and innovation-related theories, and suggest the framework to develop technological catching-up strategies.
- 4.Recognize and argue what could be obstacles to implementing the strategies in the real world.
- IPEN 5290Public Policy Decision Making[3-0-0:3]BackgroundKnowledge about business and policy would be helpful but not required. Quantitative analysis skills could be demanded but not essential.DescriptionThis course is designed to provide learning opportunities regarding how to analyze and structure messy unstructured policy problems. This course consists of a series of different fake policy related cases to help students experience setting up, analyzing, and writing about policy problems. Over the course of the term, students analyze the cases quantitatively and qualitatively, and then propose solutions with an integrated manner of the analysis results. Much of the work is done in small groups or individually.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify quantitative analysis skills and apply those skills to understand policy-related problems.
- 2.Identify qualitative analysis skills and apply those skills to understand policy-related problems.
- 3.Integrate the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the problems and develop general problem-solving strategies.
- 4.Illustrate and argue the risks and uncertainties in implementing their policy solutions.
- IPEN 5300Experimental Economics and Organizational Behavior[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course introduces the methodology of experimental economics and related behavioral theories, with an emphasis on social-psychological elements of preference and organizational design. Experiments studied will include ones based on the prisoners’ dilemma, dictator game, ultimatum game, and especially the public goods game and the trust game, along with more complex designs for studying institutional and organizational problems such as creation of centralized punishment schemes and secure property.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and research methods in experimental economics.
- 2.Design economic experiments and analyze experimental data.
- 3.Apply workhorses within experimental economics.
- 4.Evaluate a research paper and propose potential follow-up research projects.
- 5.Use critical thinking to guide their research.
- 6.Engage in academic discussions and present research work in front of audience.
- 7.Utilize the tools from experimental economics in novel research questions.
- IPEN 5310Behavioral Economics and Public Policy[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course introduces behavioral economics - the incorporation of insights from psychology into economics - with an emphasis on its value for improving empirical predictions and policy decisions. Students will learn the major themes of behavioral economics and apply them to improve the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies in a wide variety of domains.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of the major findings and theories of behavioral economics
- 2.Apply the principles of behavioral economics to evaluate and improve existing public policies
- 3.Evaluate a research paper and propose potential follow-up research projects
- 4.Use critical thinking to guide their research
- 5.Engage in academic discussions and present research work in front of audience
- 6.Utilize the tools from behavioral economics in theoretical and practical problems relevant to IPE and public
policies in general
- IPEN 5400Climate Change: Science and Governance[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course prepares students to acquire the basic knowledge of climate change, which sits on the intersection of science and governance. It will review some of the scientific facts of climate change and contrast the scientific research findings with climate governance status. Case study on transforming to a low carbon society will be conducted in later part of the course. Aspects to consider include both scientific support and governance complexity of the low carbon city idea. Students are expected to build their own analysis of the climate change issue at the end of the course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Define climate change issue.
- 2.Calculate the temperature rise from the human-being activities.
- 3.Select the theories that could be used to understand the governance of climate change.
- 4.Identify problems, create solutions, innovate and improve current practices.
- 5.Show their finding about a certain climate change problem.
- 6.Use the basic framework to analyze a certain regional climate change issue.
- IPEN 5500Science, Technology and Innovation Policy[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThe course introduces the conceptualizations of innovation policy and its instruments. It also develops evaluation methods to analyze the effects of these policy instruments and policy mixes. Cases of conceptual and empirical studies focus on the issues of innovation funding schemes and publicly funded science systems.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of STI and STI Policy.
- 2.Assess STI development and the existing policy gap.
- 3.Define the trend and problems of STI development in the fourth industrial revolution.
- 4.Demonstrate an understanding of the risks, uncertainty and injustice hidden behind STI.
- 5.Address STI problems critically and analyze opportunities and challenges in a systematic way.
- IPEN 5700Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation[3-0-0:3]DescriptionTechnological innovation is increasingly the source of sustainable competitive advantage for firms worldwide. This course introduces a grounding in the field of technology and innovation, with an emphasis on economic policy and business strategy. The course will be highly interactive and apply multiple disciplines including economics, management, law and public policy.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of technology and innovation management;
- 2.Assess factors that facilitate innovation by innovative individuals and companies;
- 3.Understand the role of institutional environment in shaping innovation and technological management;
- 4.Apply novel research methods in advancing innovation and technological management research;
- 5.Comment on current innovation and technological management strategies of different companies;
- 6.Propose programs or data collection plans to evaluate innovation and technological management.
- IPEN 5800New Venture Creation[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis is an introductory course to entrepreneurship research. Entrepreneurship is defined as the creation and growth of business ventures, either as new organizations or inside existing ones, and as transformation of existing organizations. This course covers fundamental readings and current research with an emphasis on business venture creation. The objective is to give enough training that students can follow and contribute to entrepreneurship research.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Develop a good understanding about the entrepreneurial process;
- 2.Digest important strategies entrepreneurs can adopt to secure survival and achieve growth;
- 3.Get acquainted with the operations of venture capitalists;
- 4.Understand the effect of venture capital investments on new startups and the economic growth;
- 5.Propose novel research ideas in the field of entrepreneurship, especially about China.
- IPEN 5810Data Science in Empirical Economics[3-0-0:3]Prerequisite(s)IPEN 5140DescriptionIn the digital age, there is more data available than ever before on human behavior: from analyzing an elected official’s opinion on Twitter to identifying a farmer’s crop choices through satellite images. This course aims to familiarize students in applied economics, public policy, and relevant disciplines with recent research that has used big data to push the cutting-edge of the applied economic and public policy fields. Through a combination of problem sets and independent projects, students will acquire the statistical and computational tools needed for making use of big data in empirical research.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the core economic concepts in data science and applied economics.
- 2.Obtain a framework for evaluating the contributions, limitations, and the state-of-the-science on big data in economic applications and econometrics research.
- 3.Obtain hands-on experience with some of the tools and technologies that are used to analyze big data in empirical research.
- 4.Develop advanced data wrangling and visualization, and communication skills.
- 5.Collect and analyze the data of interest that can provide meaningful policy implications.
- 6.Develop and present a research project in groups.
- IPEN 5820Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis is a graduate-level interdisciplinary course focusing on the economics of environmental and sustainable development problems and the solutions to those problems. Students will learn to use tools from applied economics and relevant disciplines to better understand and evaluate a series of current policy questions, such as air and water pollution, climate change, environmental amenities, agricultural production, ecosystem services, and biodiversity.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the core economic concepts such as externalities, moral hazard, social cost, willingness to pay, time value of money (discount rates), and efficiency
- 2.Identify market failures and their causes, describe how they can result in inefficient equilibria, and interpret their effects across a range of settings.
- 3.Obtain hands-on experience with some of the tools and technologies that are used to analyze policy problems related to environmental protection and sustainable development.
- 4.Develop advanced data wrangling and visualization, and communication skil.
- 5.Collect and analyze the data of interest that can provide meaningful policy implications.
- 6.Develop and present a research project in groups.
- IPEN 5900Policy and Technology for Carbon Neutrality[3-0-0:3]DescriptionAll industries in China are actively taking effective actions to develop new and clean technologies in order to achieve the carbon peak and neutrality goal of shouldering the common destiny of human beings. This course examines the scientific, technological, and policy approaches that China and the rest of the world can take to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the technologies for carbon neutrality
- 2.Assess carbon neutral development and the existing policy gap
- 3.Define the trend and problems of carbon neutral technologies
- 4.Demonstrate an understanding of the risks, uncertainty and injustice hidden behind different technologies
- 5.Address innovation pathways for carbon neutral technologies
- IPEN 6000Independent Study[1-3 credit(s)]DescriptionIndependent study in a designated subject under direct guidance of a faculty member to provide students the advanced knowledge and research skill sets on a topic of Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship. Required readings, tutorial discussions, and submission of report(s) will be used for assessment. The course may be repeated for credit if different topics are studied. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Appreciate the importance of global and regional Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship development.
- 2.Communicate complex ideas in professional and other settings.
- 3.Explain the core ideas and concepts of Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship impacts.
- 4.Identify the different levels of organization and structure within Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship.
- 5.Analyze the efficiency and equity implications of government interference in various markets/stakeholders.
- IPEN 6100Special Topics in Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship[1-3 credit(s)]DescriptionThis course covers emerging topics of Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship concerns not covered in the present curriculum. The course aims to provide students with the advanced knowledge and research skill sets on an Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship topic. Required readings, tutorial discussions, and submission of report(s) will be used for assessment. The course may be repeated for credit if different topics are studied. May be graded by letter or P/F for different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize the importance of global and regional Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship development in the topic concerned.
- 2.Communicate complex ideas related to the topic in professional and other settings.
- 3.Explain the core ideas and concepts of Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship impacts in the topic concerned.
- 4.Relate the concepts and methodologies in the course topic to practical implementation in public sector.
- IPEN 6101IPEN Program Seminar I[1 credit]DescriptionThis course is expected to expose the RPg students to the current innovation, policy and entrepreneurship research and development, and provide them with opportunities to make social contacts with the speakers in both the environmental innovation communities and policy communities. This course will be an essential part of training for our RPg students. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe cutting-edge knowledge about IPE.
- 2.Solve a certain IPE problem.
- 3.Exemplify the basic framework to analyze an IPE issue.
- IPEN 6102IPEN Program Seminar II[1 credit]DescriptionThis course is expected to expose the RPg students to the current innovation, policy and entrepreneurship research and development, and provide them with opportunities to make social contacts with the speakers in both environmental innovation communities and policy communities. This course will be an essential part of training for our RPg students. Seminar II is an extension of Seminar I. While the overall design of the seminar course looks essentially the same, topics covered and guests invited will be differentiated. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe cutting-edge knowledge about IPE.
- 2.Solve a certain IPE problem.
- 3.Exemplify the basic framework to analyze an IPE issue.
- IPEN 6990MPhil Thesis ResearchDescriptionMaster's thesis research supervised by co-advisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Design, develop and conduct crossdisciplinary research in Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship.
- 2.Communicate research findings effectively in written and oral
presentations
- IPEN 7990Doctoral Thesis ResearchDescriptionOriginal and independent doctoral thesis research supervised by co-advisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Design, develop and conduct cross-disciplinary research in Innovation,Policy and Entrepreneurship.
- 2.Communicate research findings effectively in written and oral presentations.
