GCAP3056 Course Hub

Fall 2025 · Thursdays 3:30--6:20pm · OEM 802

📚 Course Overview

Course Title

GCAP3056 -- Taking a Stand: Turning Research Insights into Policy Recommendations

👨‍🏫 Instructor

Dr. Simon Wang

Language Centre simonwang@hkbu.edu.hk

🎯 Course Objectives

• Critically analyze government and community responses to social problems in Hong Kong.

• Develop actionable policy recommendations using interdisciplinary research.

• Engage in public advocacy through Legco reports, SCMP letters, and social media.

• Collaborate in teams to produce impactful research and outreach.

• Utilize digital tools and AI for research, writing, and reflection.

Team Projects (2025)

Choose from the following topics (5--6 project teams, ~5 students each):

Hong Kong Observatory Chatbot
Emergency Alert System
Anti-scamming Education
Department of Health Port
Shortage of Mental Health Resources (dementia risk for elderly)
One team-selected topic (subject to instructor approval)

* Groups & topics finalized by end of Week 3.

📅 Course Roadmap & Module Notes

Workshops

Reflection

Report/Letter

Engagement

Final Deliverable

1-3

Orientation & Issue Discovery

Course intro, JRE case study, civil service careers.
Brainstorm project ideas; form teams; intro to Legco/SCMP writing.

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4-5

Data & Info Gathering

Code on Access to Info, drafting requests.
Gather background data, start info requests.

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6-7

Analysis & Writing Foundations

Seminar on "vibe coding" (tentative), field trip (tentative).
Legco report writing workshop, draft arguments.

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8-11

Argument & Engagement

Refine arguments, draft Legco reports & SCMP letters.
SCMP/JRE/Legco workshops.
Social media engagement & storytelling.

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12-13

Finalization & Reflection

Finalize and submit reports, letters, portfolios.
Reflective journal, peer review, optional showcase.

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📋 Assessment Guide

Argumentative Research Paper (25%)

Group work, policy analysis & recommendations
Framework: background, problem, data, review, argument, recommendations, call to action
Draft by Week 13, final by end of semester

📋 Individual (35%)

Reflective Learning Journal 35%

👥 Group (65%)

Argumentative Research Paper 25%

Community Engagement Portfolio 40%

GCAP3056 Course Hub

📚 Course Overview

Course Title

👨‍🏫 Instructor

🎯 Course Objectives

Team Projects (2025)

📅 Course Roadmap & Module Notes

Orientation & Issue Discovery

Data & Info Gathering

Analysis & Writing Foundations

Argument & Engagement

Finalization & Reflection

📋 Assessment Guide

Argumentative Research Paper (25%)

Community Engagement Portfolio (40%)

Reflective Learning Journal (35%)

📋 Individual (35%)

👥 Group (65%)