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Remembering the City’s History: Vancouver and Hong Kong in Comparative Context
Application deadline
February 27, 2012
Summary
This unique field study in Vancouver and Hong Kong will bring together students from Hong Kong University and UBC to compare the ways in which the memories of history within the urban landscape of each city has been shaped.
By viewing the two cities through the lens of historical migration patterns and city planning processes, you will acquire the ability to interpret and analyze the impact of these processes on the urban fabric of a city.
Key themes you will discuss include an investigation of the historical context of Asian migration to Southeast Asia and North America; forms and causes of segregation (i.e. colonialism, historical patterns of Chinese and other migrations); the ways in which the urban fabric of cities reflect both organic and planned processes of urban formation; and the changing livelihoods of residents and migrants over time.
Field excursions will complement in-class work, and will include: in Vancouver, Chinatown, the Downtown Eastside, Old Japantown and Richmond; and in Hong Kong, New Territories, Wanchai and Kowloon.
This group study program will consist of up to 12 students from each of the participating universities.
You will have the opportunity to work with your peers from Hong Kong University to answer a comparative research question and to complete a group research project.
Eligibility
- This course is suitable to upper-year undergraduate students
- You must demonstrate a willingness to engage with the learning themes of the course
- Preference will be given to those who have taken a course with Professor Henry Yu, or demonstrate evidence of prior study of the themes and issues of the course
- Preference will be given to those who have a basic understanding of the history of each city, and, in particular, how each has been shaped by planning processes and migration flows
- You will be selected based on personal and intellectual maturity and a demonstrated commitment to the learning theme and goals of the program
Language of instruction
English
Term offered
Summer Term 1 (May 21 – June 22, 2012)
Program fee
The program fee is approximately $1,300 - $1,600 and will include:
- Accommodation
- Two Group Meals
- Field trips
- In-country transportation in Hong Kong
- Guest lecturers
- $371 Go Global fee
Not included:
- UBC tuition
- Round trip airfare to Hong Kong
- Immunizations
- Visas
- Travel or health insurance
- Personal spending money
NOTE: Students enrolled in this program who have a 70% average over the most recent 24 credits will be automatically considered for the Go Global Award of approximately $1,000.
As this is a tentative schedule at this time, all dates are subject to change.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| February 27, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. | Application deadline |
| February & March 2012 | Screening of Applicants |
| March 17, 2012 | Mandatory pre-departure session |
| May 21 – 25 (UBC: 5 – 8 p.m.; HKU 8 – 11 a.m.), 2012 | Students in classes at home institution, with teleconferencing |
| May 26 - 27, 2012 | HKU students arrive in Vancouver |
| May 27, 2012 | First day of joint orientation for HKU and UBC students at UBC; welcome dinner |
| May 28 – June 8, 2012 | Joint classes at UBC; field trips and group work in Vancouver |
| June 9 – 10, 2012 | UBC and HKU students travel to Hong Kong |
| June 11, 2012 | Welcome lunch |
| June 11 – 22, 2012 | Joint classes at HKU; field trips and group work in Hong Kong |
| June 22, 2012 | Final group presentations |
Courses
You should expect an intensive study experience throughout the program which will compress course work for the duration of the program. Complementary activities and visit will expose you to various historical sites and cultural institutions in Vancouver and Hong Kong.
The course will be comprised of a combination of lectures, excursions and discussions throughout each day. The majority of the course time will be spent outside of the classroom. You will be responsible for visiting assigned locations within each city and preparing group presentations that link the lectures to their observations. A number of guest speakers and group field trips will assist you in providing context to their observations.
One course will be taught as part of this program and is valued at 3 credits
- History 482 (3 credits) or History 483 (3 credits), taught by Dr. Henry Yu, Associate Professor, Department of History, UBC
The class will divide into three teams, each of which is a mix of students from UBC and HKU. Each team will address the same research question by producing a 10 min video and a 12-15 page essay by the end of the course.
TOPICS COVERED BY COURSE:
1) Why were people moving?
- Investigation of the historical context of Asian migrations to Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and North America.
2) How did people integrate and/or how were people segregated from other populations in Southeast Asia and North America?
- Forms of segregation and what accounted for them (ex. colonialism, historical patterns of Chinese migration in Hong Kong and Vancouver)
3) What was the history of Chinese migrants in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and North America and how did they build urban economic enclaves in each of these regions?
4) How did the ethnic fabric of cities reflect both organic and planned processes of urban formation?
FORMAT
One module (or 3 UBC credits) taught on-site at HKU and UBC over a five-week period including field trips and classroom based workshops, and an initial one-week introduction.
For the first week, there will be five days of shared lecture/discussion of three hours per day. During the two weeks in Vancouver, and the two weeks in Hong Kong, there will be two-hour group sessions each morning during the first week in each city, with the second week devoted to group work.
Please contact your faculty advisor regarding how this course will fit into your overall degree requirements.
Application
- The final application deadline for this program is February 27, 2012 at 4:30 p.m.
- Start a new online application.
- Continue an existing online application.
- If you encounter any problems submitting your application via the Go Global Gateway, please direct them to Kerri Leeper at kerri.leeper@ubc.ca
- Eligible applicants will be invited for an interview prior to being accepted into the program.
Please send any questions about applying to this program to Kerri Leeper (Group Study Program Coordinator) at kerri.leeper@ubc.ca.
Group Study Program Refund Policy
If you decide to withdraw your application following submission, you need to make this request in writing by email to Kerri Leeper, the Group Study Program Coordinator. Please be sure to consult the Group Study Refund Policy terms.
