The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

The GPIA is pleased to announce the return of the IFP in Hong Kong, a truly unique hybrid metropolis drawing on its colonial legacy of the rule of law, stable investment climate, and well-educated population to function as the center of concentric circles comprising the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the dynamic Pearl River Delta region of Hong Kong-Shenzen-Macau-Zhuhai-Guangzho, China (including Taiwan), and Southeast Asia. With the recent return of Hong Kong from British rule to China under the "one country-two systems" formula, Hong Kong is simultaneously a democratic experiment; a major global node for trade, business, and finance; a center for cultural production; the foremost location for NGOs operating in Asia dealing with human rights, urban issues, environmental concerns, and civil society issues; and a media hub with offices of over 130 international media organizations and a vibrant press in English and Chinese. It is an exceedingly cosmopolitan city due to both international business activity and migrant labor. Though the largest group by far is ethnically Chinese, there are large numbers of expatriates from the U.S., Western Europe, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka and a sizeable population of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis who are citizens of the Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong is very safe and boasts arguably the best public transportation network in the world.

The GPIA Hong Kong program will be based at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University through a partnership with the Hong Kong-America Center and will focus on matching students with internship in the following areas: Urban Affairs - Hong Kong's population density and pace of life has led to novel approaches to solving urban problems. Hong Kong's urban planningóexemplified by its world-class public transportation, innovative housing policies, and well trained civil serviceóoffers lessons for any student of urban affairs. Media - Hong Kong is a global media center for print and television journalism. Almost all international news outlets have offices in Hong Kong. Hong Kong also has a thriving film industry. Human Rights - The unique postcolonial position of Hong Kong, with a commitment to the rule of law and a measure of civil liberties, has resulted in a clustering of NGOs dedicated to human rights in China, Asia, and the world. Environment - Hong Kong is also a center for environmental action, with offices of the World Wildlife Fund, Friends of the Earth, Hong Kong Econet, World Wide Fund for Nature, HKSAR Environmental Services, and the Clean Environment Campaign.

The Faculty Coordinator will work with a placement coordinator based in Hong Kong to match student interests with specific internship opportunities as best possible. Potential internship organizations include the Asian Human Rights Commission, HK Human Rights Commission, United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL), Asian Migrant Center, Amnesty International Hong Kong, Oxfam, UNICEF, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants, Asia Monitor Resource Center, Hong Kong Voice of Democracy, Freedom Movement, Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, various political parties, the Law Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Housing Society, among many others.

The program will comprise an internship, a course that meets once a week, and some optional group outings. Students will also travel to Sun Yat Sen University in Guangzhou for a three-day student conference.