A first master’s programme taught in Chinese focuses on the Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area economic initiatives
The Belt and Road initiative and planned economic developments in the Greater Bay Area are in the spotlight in Hong Kong and have attracted the interest of investors around the world. Businesses and governments can see the potential, with many already indicating they are keen to take part in upcoming projects.
However, there are also new opportunities for universities and other educational institutes, which are proactively stepping up related research efforts and introducing programmes to offer training and insights for professionals and academics looking to specialise in this area.
In 2018, Lingnan University has launched the new Master of Science in International and Development Economics (MIDE). It is the first such master’s programme in Hong Kong taught mainly in Putonghua and focuses on the Belt and Road initiative and economic development in the Greater Bay Area of South China.
The course is available in two modes - one-year, full-time or two-year, part-time - and is designed to give students interdisciplinary training in global economics and finance, while also allowing them to explore particular subject interests and deepen their understandings of the economic, financial, social, political and environmental impacts of the development policies of the Belt and Road and the Greater Bay Area from different perspectives.
To align with the development of the country, local governments have actively introduced various preferential policies. Many business managers are interested in grasping the opportunities incurred from the Belt and Road Initiatives and the Greater Bay Area, but due to their lack of backgrounds in economics, international politics and international relations, they may not be able to fully grasp the opportunities. Hence, our MIDE programme covers multiple disciplines and helps groom our students to be analytical thinkers to analyse problems from a global perspective. In addition, the curriculum is complemented with experiential learning and extracurricular experiences to provide students with a broader comparative and international perspective, enabling them to gather first-hand experience related to development issues and prepare them for participation in the major economic developments of these countries.
Grasp the business opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area “Go beyond” and “Bring into” investment opportunities
Hong Kong, as international trade and financial centre with a well-established infrastructure and sound law and order, with its geographical advantages and its status, we should expand our footprints such as Southeast Asia, Central Asia, or the Mainland and take advantage of its position and invest into these foreign countries, connecting them with the world economy. It will definitely facilitate the economic infrastructure of the Greater Bay Area.
Since China promoted the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, it has attracted the participation of many multinational enterprises and international investors. The Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area are new initiatives for the global and regional economies. Hong Kong, as the international business hub of the Greater Bay Area, will play an important role in the success of the Greater Bay Area. We should take advantage of our own excellent conditions with long term vision, and invest in some developing areas such as the Middle East, South Asia, and even Africa, explore and better understand these places, and assist and promote more enterprises to “go beyond” and “bring into” development opportunities.
In the early 80s, many developing countries have difficulty achieving favourable economic growth because their markets are not open enough or too many regulations and government controls impede progress. China had the same issues once before. But we achieved great success mainly because of our gradual reform measures such as establishing special economic zones and free trade zones. It helped to open up the economy at a steady rate. Regulations were loosened step-by-steps, making it possible to attract foreign companies and overseas investments.
We foresee many “special zones” in countries within the Belt and Road region in the years ahead and predict that they will contribute significantly to both economic and social development.
Experienced faculty and experts
The team teaching the MIDE programme includes experienced scholars from Lingnan’s Department of Economics, as well as renowned international experts and leaders of China-related enterprises. It ensures students will gain a thorough understanding of policy developments and objectives.
The MIDE programme is mainly intended for executives of leading companies and state-owned enterprises, civil servants, and professionals working in relevant sectors. What they learn about policy and economics will help them perform their jobs more effectively and thus enhance their career aspirations.
Those who work in foreign investment and policy studies will find the course improves their analytical skills and provides a good platform for meeting and networking with professionals from different backgrounds.