The University of Hong Kong Capstone project
Offer semester
Full-year course
Course description
This course aims to facilitate students to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills they acquired through the MCCC programme. In collaboration with community partners (CPs) in the field of media and culture, students have to conduct a research project in two semesters in a group of two students under the supervision of an academic supervisor assigned by the department. Each group has to develop a research topic related to the field of media, culture and creative cities with its supervisor or to select one research topic suggested by its CP.
Sample topics include but not limited to the following: evaluating the effectiveness of the web platform for preserving local history; the role of public engagement in cultural conservation projects; a comparison of the funding models for international art festivals; independent filmmaking in the digital age; gender identity and consumer culture in globalization; the opportunities and challenges of new media in business; the emergence of cultural clusters and art districts in global cities; a proposal for setting up a crafts museum in Hong Kong; assessing Hong Kong’s cultural policy after the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Each group is required to prepare a research proposal, two progress reports, one presentation of its project and a research report.
Project archive
A curated collection of past students’ final capstone reports is available on the HKU Scholars’ Hub.
A comprehensive list of titles of past student projects is also available.
Community partners
We have excellent connections to the practitioners and non-governmental bodies in the fields of media, culture, and creative cities, providing exceptionally strong external links for research and teaching input, especially in the capstone project. Below are the community partners who have agreed to participate in our programme:
- AIDS Concern 關懷愛滋
- Big Love Alliance 大愛同盟
- Bijas 一念素食
- City Contemporary Dance Company 城市當代舞蹈團
- CrossFit Typhoon
- Green Monday
- Hong Kong Art Gallery Association 香港畫廊協會
- Hong Kong Children’s Musical Theatre 香港兒童音樂劇團
- Hong Kong Dragon Kiln Concern Group 香港龍窯關注組
- International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC) 國際演藝評論家協會
- Likecoin
- LUSH
- PMQ Taste Library
- Spicy Fish Cultural Production (Fleurs des lettres) 字花
- St. James’ Creation 藝想
- The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe) 長春社文化古蹟資源中心
- Utopia Cantonese Opera Workshop 桃花源粵劇工作舍
- West Kowloon Cultural District Authority 西九文化區管理局 – Freespace 自由空間
- West Kowloon Cultural District Authority 西九文化區管理局 – Lyric Theatre Complex
- WOW Music 維高文化
- Young Master Brewery 少爺啤
Please note the availability of community partners varies from year-to-year.
Course learning outcomes
Upon completion of the capstone project, students should be able to:
- Conduct academic research in collaboration with a community partner;
- Integrate and apply the knowledge acquired from the programme to collect and analyze data;
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of theories related to media, culture and creative cities through presenting their research findings;
- Develop analytical skills and critical thinking through producing a research report.
Assessment
| Tasks | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Coursework | 100% |
Course co-ordinator and teachers
Travis S K Kong
Associate ProfessorResearch interests: Gender and sexuality studies, Cultural and media studies, Contemporary social theory, Qualitative research methodsSee full profileAu-Yeung Shing
Parttime LecturerResearch interests: Cultural policy, Production of culture, Sociology of art, New mediaSee full profileCarmen K M Tong
LecturerResearch interests: Education and schooling, Gender and sexualities, Self and identity, Media and cultural studies, Human-animal relationshipsSee full profileGary P F Wong
LecturerResearch interests: Contemporary China, Henri Lefebvre, Cultural history of Hong Kong, Media studies and popular culture, Social mobility, Urban sociologySee full profileVictor K W Shin
Assistant ProfessorResearch interests: Economic sociology, Organizations and institutions, Sociology of media and culture, Development and globalizationSee full profileTom McDonald
Assistant ProfessorResearch interests: Anthropology, China, Credit/debt, Communications, Digital money, Internet, Social media, TechnologySee full profile
Student view
The best part of this course is that students were granted freedom to explore any topic that we are interested in using mainly qualitative research methods. The data collection process provides a journey to truly experience the cultural aspects and discourses of a particular topic within the context of Hong Kong and Asia.
– Elizabeth Wang, year 2 MSocSc Media, Culture & Creative Cities student