The School of Governance and Policy Science (SGPS) was established in 2024 upon the transformation and expansion of the Department of Government and Public Administration, which has a history of 54 years. Building on the strong scholarship of political science, public administration, international political economy and data science, SGPS is dedicated to studying how rule-ruler-ruled relationships at various levels can be designed, managed and leveraged to tackle collective problems of different scales and scopes. SGPS takes pride in the rich tradition upon which it stands; and embraces new opportunities and potential that the new beginning brings.
We offer a comprehensive suite of programmes for students who are keen on public governance and policy. At the undergraduate level, we have programmes in Data Science and Policy Studies (DSPS), Global Studies (GLSD), and Government and Public Administration (GPA). As for taught master’s programmes, we offer Global Political Economy (MGPE), Government and Politics (Greater China) (GPGC), and Public Policy (MPUP). We also admit research postgraduate (MPhil and PhD) students on Government and Public Administration. These programmes are carefully designed to combine theory and practice, equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills for their career and social pursuits.
Looking ahead, SGPS will position itself to contribute to meeting two grand challenges: artificial intelligence (AI) governance and sustainability. As AI is reshaping every dimension of governance, from decision-making and service delivery to accountability and civic participation, it is imperative not only to understand how AI can be harnessed responsibly to serve public interest, but also to develop appropriate governance frameworks and ethical principles for integrating AI in public governance. Sustainability calls upon us to rethink the very meaning of growth and development, and to consider how long-term human well-being can be secured within ecological and resource constraints. Meeting the two challenges requires institutional innovation, cross-sectoral collaboration, and leadership. SGPS will help build these qualities through rigorous scholarship, forward-thinking education and translational knowledge exchange.
CUHK’s motto, “Through learning and temperance to virtue” (博文約禮), calls upon us to pursue broad knowledge with disciplined purpose, and to ensure that our scholarship answers the needs of the age. At SGPS, we are committed to building an intellectual community where contestation of ideas enhances understanding, and the meeting of theory and practice generates actions and impacts.
I warmly invite you to explore our programmes, engage with our community, and join us in this vital mission.
Professor LAM Wai Fung, Danny
Director, School of Governance and Policy Science
Faculty of Social Science
The Chinese University of Hong Kong