This Course Guide has been taken from the most recent presentation of the course. It would be useful for reference purposes but please note that there may be updates for the following presentation.
PUAD A203
Introduction to Public Policy
Welcome to PUAD A203 Introduction to Public Policy, a middle-level, five-credit core course in HKMU's Bachelor of Social Sciences in Public Administration and Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in Public Administration.
PUAD A203 is designed for learners without prior knowledge from HKMU courses. The course is based on Hong Kong and Western research experience, and Hong Kong examples are used wherever appropriate.
Mode of delivery
This course is delivered in a print-based distance learning mode. The five study units in the course are self-contained and supplemented with necessary readings. Each unit includes a variety of guided activities and self-tests so as to engage you in your learning. You also have access to supporting materials on HKMU's Online Learning Environment (OLE).
Aims
The course aims to equip you with a thorough understanding of concepts and theories of public policy. In short, PUAD A203 aims to:
Critical learning outcomes
Upon the completion of PUAD A203, you should be able to:
Materials
In addition to this Course Guide, the course has the following important components.
Study units
The course has five units, as follows.
Unit 1 The study of public policy
This unit introduces you to the study of public policy. It examines various definitions of public policy and the major types of public policy. This unit also introduces a useful framework for studying the policy process, namely the policy cycle framework. Finally, it examines how political ideologies affect policymakers, and reviews different theoretical approaches to public policy studies.
Unit 2 The policy context and policy actors
This unit discusses different policy contexts and assesses their impacts on the policy-making processes. It then identifies both domestic and international policy actors and evaluates their influence on the policymaking processes. This unit also examines unofficial policy actors and their effects on the policymaking processes.
Unit 3 Agenda-setting and policy formulation
This unit studies what constitutes public problems and how public problems appear on government agenda. It reviews in detail the agenda-setting process. This unit also looks at what happens after a public problem is on the government's policy agenda -- policy formulation. The policy formulation process is heavily influenced by the choice of policy instruments, which is a topic that this unit examines in detail.
Unit 4 Public policy decision-making and implementation
This unit discusses the policy adoption process. It reviews different theories of public policy decision-making and explains why a policy option is being adopted. Next, it introduces different approaches to understand the policy implementation process. It also identifies different actors that are involved in the policy implementation process. Finally, the unit discusses factors that can affect the success and failure of the implementation of a public policy.
Unit 5 Policy evaluation and policy change
This unit examines the policy evaluation process, and reviews major types of policy evaluation. Next, it addresses the questions: 'Who evaluates public policy?' and 'What are the major problems in policy evaluation?' Finally, the unit discusses thoroughly what happens after the policy evaluation process, namely policy termination or policy change.
Set textbook
There is one textbook required for this course:
Howlett, M, Ramesh, M and Perl, A (2009) Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles & Policy Subsystems, 3rd edn, Ontario, Canada: Oxford University Press.
Supplementary readings
Selected readings from academic journals and book chapters are used to enhance your knowledge acquisition and learning experience. You are required to read these supplementary readings as directed in the study units.
E-Library E-Reserve readings
You may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read these items, go to the University E-Library and click E-Reserve. Log in, click Accept/Agree on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill in the Course Code box, and click Search.
Online and multimedia materials
You are required to have access to the Online Learning Environment (OLE) during the course of your studies.
Equipment needed (IT resources)
You will need to have access to a computer with an Internet connection to gain access to the OLE, as well as to some parts of the course.
Assignment File
For more information on the Assignment File, please refer to the Course Guide section on assessment that follows, and to the Assignment File itself.
Presentation Schedule
The Presentation Schedule is available on the Online Learning Environment (OLE). It gives the dates for the beginning and completion of each study unit, the due date of each assignment, and the dates of tutorials and the supplementary lecture.
Assessment
The study units include activities and self-tests for self-assessment so that you can monitor your learning progress throughout the course. In addition, the course has formal assessment requirements, including:
The assignments serve as continuous assessments within the study period, and contribute 50% of the total course mark. The other 50% is evaluated in the final examination.
Assignments
As noted above, there are two assignments for the course which together count for 50% of your total course mark. The assignments comprise essay-type questions in which you need to apply andintegrate course concepts/theories.
Final examination and grading
The final examination, which is at the end of the course, is of three hours' duration, and contributes 50% of the total course mark. The examination will consist of short and essay-type questions in which you again have to apply and integrate course concepts/theories.
The assessment items are outlined in the following table.
| Assessment | Course area covered | Weighting |
| Assignment 1 | Units 1–2 | 25% |
| Assignment 2 | Units 3–5 | 25% |
| Examination | 50% | |
| Total | 100% | |
The following table gives a general overview of the course structure.
| Units | Weeks | Assessment | |
| 1 | The study of public policy | 3 | |
| 2 | The policy context and policy actors | 3 | Assignment 1 |
| 3 | Agenda-setting and policy formulation | 3 | |
| 4 | Public policy decision-making and implementation | 3 | |
| 5 | Policy evaluation and policy change | 3 | Assignment 2 |
| Revision | 1 | ||
| Total | 16 | ||
Although a considerable number of topics and readings are covered in this course, you should find studying it enjoyable and rewarding if you:
Public policy is about what the government does, which, needless to say, can affect the wellbeing of each and every one of us — and so is highly related to your own daily life. If you pay attention to what happens in your home town and in other countries around the world, you will easily find relevant cases to illustrate concepts and issues covered in the study units. You are therefore encouraged to develop the habit of reading newspapers and surfing the Internet to keep track of what is happening both locally and around the world.
Last but not least, you are encouraged to discuss any issue pertinent to the topics covered in the study units and readings during tutorials and/or via the OLE, and with your tutor and Course Coordinator. The more you do so, the better you will be able to comprehend the subject matter of public policy.
Tutors and tutorials
Tutors conduct the face-to-face non-compulsory tutorial sessions with a group of students (approximately 30) over the course presentation, according to the tutorial schedule. At these sessions, key course concepts are reviewed and reinforced; group and individual exercises conducted; topical issues discussed; individual student questions answered; and assistance provided related to assignments.
Tutors also make themselves available for weekly telephone contact at a time and phone number arranged with their tutorial groups. In addition to the tutorial work and telephone tutoring, tutors mark your assignments according to marking guides provided by your Course Coordinator. Tutors are encouraged to provide comprehensive and timely feedback to you.
There are five two-hour tutorials and a two-hour supplementary lecture. Although these are not compulsory, you are strongly urged to attend all of these face-to-face sessions.
Online support
The course is supported by the Online Learning Environment (OLE). You can find course materials and the latest course information on the OLE. The Discussion Board on the OLE provides another learning avenue for you to interact with the Course Coordinator, your tutor, and your fellow students.
One can see a public policy as the blueprint for the government's action on a public problem. Put differently, public policies are the government's action plans that have a profound impact on the lives of all citizens. Understanding how the government makes policy, or why it decides to take action (or not take action) on a public problem should therefore be of concern to all of us. And since the world is becoming much more globalized than before, the roles of international actors and their influence on the domestic policymaking process is a subject that is attracting increasing attention in the study of public policy. This course also explores this topic in detail.
In order to understand the content of this course, you must study the course materials thoroughly and apply the concepts and theories learned to analyse real-life cases.
Good luck with the course. We think you will find it an interesting one that gives you a greater understanding of an important aspect of the society in which you live.
The course developer, Dr Percy Lui, is currently a member of staff in the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU).
Dr Lui has been involved in designing and teaching university courses in politics and public administration, and also teaches postgraduate courses in Liberal Studies. He is currently the Programme Leader of the Public Administration programme (distance learning mode).
