CCGL5005 Global Issues

Poverty, Development, and the Next Generation: Challenges for a Global World (Online)

This course is under the thematic cluster(s) of:

  • The Human Life Span (HL)
  • Gender, Sexuality, and Diversity (GSD)

Non-Permissible Combination:
CCGL9025 The Political Economy of Growth and Poverty in the World

Course Description

[Lectures and tutorials of this course will be delivered online.]

This course examines the ways in which poverty and inequality affect the lives of people around the world, with a special focus on the lives of young people. It is also related to critical issues relative to social and economic development, which pertain to sustainability, progress and civilization building. Some of the questions that the course will focus on are such as: What are the challenges faced by people living in poverty? To what extent are inequality trends transforming societies and bringing about new forms of poverty? What actions can individuals and organizations take to help young people better meet these challenges? We examine these questions in the context of current debates over international development as well as case studies of organizations involved in the fight against poverty.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

  1. Critically analyze the concepts of poverty and development and how they are used in various contexts.
  2. Examine the strategies used by individuals and organizations, including nations, multilateral agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals, to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development.
  3. Reflect on ways to reduce poverty and promote development, by assessing cases of poverty internationally and in Hong Kong.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

First semester (Wed)


Study Load

Activities Number of hours
Lectures 24
Tutorials 8
Out of class experiences 10
Reading / Self-study 46
Assessment: Group presentation (incl preparation) 34
Total: 122

Assessment: 100% coursework

Assessment Tasks Weighting
Reflective writing 15
Photo essay 15
Critique essay 15
Group presentation 30
Tutorial participation 15
Lecture participation 10

Required Reading

Excerpts from:

  • Goodstadt, L. (2013). Poverty in the midst of affluence: How Hong Kong mismanaged its prosperity. Hong Kong: HKU Press.
  • Stiglizt, J. E. (2016). The great divide. London: Penguin Books.
  • Wood, J. (2013). Creating Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the Battle for Global Literacy. New York: Viking.
  • Zhuang, J. (2023). Income and wealth inequality in Asia and the Pacific: trends, causes, and policy remedies. Asian Economic Policy Review, 18(1), 15-41.

Course Co-ordinator and Teacher(s)

Course Co-ordinator Contact
Professor H. Horta
Faculty of Education (Social Contexts and Policies of Education)
Tel: 2859 2525
Email: horta@hku.hk
Teacher(s) Contact
Professor H. Horta
Faculty of Education (Social Contexts and Policies of Education)
Tel: 2859 2525
Email: horta@hku.hk