HKU Bulletin February 2013 (Vol. 14 No. 2)

Teaching and Learning The Faculty of Arts in extending its curriculum with three new majors within 12 months. The three are Korean Studies, Hong Kong Studies and Global Creative Industries (GCI). The philosophy behind the first two, according to Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures Dr Kendall Johnson, is primarily an expansion of Asian Studies in general to increase coverage of the whole region and to enable students to focus across countries. “Korean Studies fits well with Japanese Studies and our focus on China,” he says, “while Hong Kong Studies – which will begin this September when the new Programme Director arrives – is in many ways overdue. Hong Kong is such a unique and fascinating place, both historically and in our contemporary moment. A Major dedicated to the history and creativity of this place is important.” Professor Louise Edwards was the main architect of the new Major, which will grow and develop with the arrival of its new Director, Professor Stephen Chu. The course will focus on the political, historical, creative aspects of Hong Kong, as well as its language. students to nurture their creativity then turn it into something valuable. They will also find it easier to make the transition to working in industry after graduation.” While developing the content, Dr Wong did extensive research into similar courses run in the US, the UK and Australia, then extended those ideas to take in Hong Kong’s unique commercial position within the context of China and of Asia. Comparative approach “I also took a global comparative approach – that is, comparing the situation in Hong Kong with that in Europe, the US – and also within the context of the Asian region – China, Japan, “Hong Kong is very conscious of language, whether that language is Cantonese, English or Putonghua,” says Dr Johnson. “It is important to the way we think about the city’s history, as a former colony and now again as part of China, and to its creative capacity both in literature and film.” The other two new majors are up and running and it is Global Creative Industries which is attracting a lot of attention, as well as large numbers. Creativity as business Describing the course as a new and innovative approach to cultural production, Dr Johnson says: “It looks at cultural creativity not only as an artistic endeavour, but also as a business. It’s the commercial side of producing art, including how you market, copyright, distribute and advertise creative products.” “The course is aimed at artists and creatives of various kinds – music, fashion designers, film- makers, writers, etc. It teaches them how to think at various levels about artistic creativity and to place it in the market.” Associate Professor Dr Dixon Wong, who has been Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures for the past five years, spent two years developing the course. “The Arts Faculty has always fostered creative talent,” he says. “Now we want to help students convert those artistic talents into commercially viable opportunities, to bridge the knowledge between creative output and industry.” Dr Wong has a business background, having been an investment banker before converting to academia, and is a specialist in the rise of Asia’s creative economy. He explains that GCI takes an overview of the various creative industries and delves into the mechanics of business operations, developing business models and the rise of Asian creative economy. “We are not trying to be a business school,” Dr Wong emphasises, “but the Faculty can train NewMajors Expand Arts’ Reach HKU’s Faculty of Arts is introducing three new major programmes within a year, a mark of its efforts to expand and address the need for cross-disciplinary subjects in arts industries. We want to help students convert artistic talents into commercially viable opportunities, to bridge the knowledge between creative output and industry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orea and so on. We are facilitating taking this comparative learning further – all students are strongly encouraged to do an overseas internship as part of the programme.” Dr Wong thinks the course will appeal not only to creative people, but also to non-creatives who feel they have a flair for business but would like to use those skills in a creative industry. “The main qualities we are looking for in people who enroll for this Major – creative or not – is the ability to think critically. We want students to be critical of the current business set-up, we want to introduce a humanities element into business model.” Another important element is the issue of intellectual property (IP) and the protocols in different parts of the world. Says Dr Johnson: “With the internet, the rapidity with which new creations – whether it is songs, ideas, music – get picked up today is astounding. Artists need to know how to protect their product.” While IP is covered in the current GCI programme, Dr Wong wants to strengthen this aspect and is going to discuss with the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Business and Economics about developing a specific IP element to the course. “We also want to expand to offer specialisation in individual industries – for example, advertising, film and media, and fashion and luxury,” he says. M 31 February 2013 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin