IMPORTANT NOTICE This student handbook is designed to provide basic information of the Department of Real Estate and Construction and the Master of Science degree programmes in Construction Project Management and Real Estate. Although every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this handbook is correct at the time of printing (July 2010), students should note that the contents are subject to change any time during the academic year. This handbook is provided for information and guidance only and does not form part of a contract between students and the University.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Programme and Award 1

2. Modes of Study and Dates of Semesters 4

3. Contents of the Programmes 5

4. Assessment 8

5. Referencing Guidelines 10

6. Examination Arrangements and Regulations 11

7. Criteria for passing 11

8. Programme Administration & Contacts 13

9. Frequently Asked Questions 14

Appendix I : Regulations and Syllabuses 17

Appendix II : Supplementary Information for QS and GPS majors 35

1. Programme and Award Master of Science (MSc) in Construction Project Management and Master of Science (MSc) in Real Estate Our MSc programmes are modular programmes that comprise of prescribed modules and elective modules. Successful completion of all prescribed modules and elective modules plus the dissertation module (or 2 other elective modules) will qualify a candidate for the award of MSc in Construction Project Management (CPM) or MSc in Real Estate (RE). (See Figures 1 and 2 and Appendix I of this Handbook.) Alternatively, if a candidate wishes to pursue one of the majors in each of the MSc programmes, the relevant prescribed group of elective modules must be selected. The MSc (CPM) majors are Construction Business Administration, Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, and Project Finance. The MSc (RE) majors are Facility Management, Planning and Development, and Real Estate Investment and Finance. Subject to satisfying certain pre-requisites, graduates of the MSc (CPM) and MSc (RE) programmes will have direct entry to the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in the UK. Students are reminded that their offer of the majors is subject to the availability of modules and the discretion of the Department. The MSc (CPM) major in Quantity Surveying, MSc (RE) major in General Practice Surveying, MSc (RE) major in General Practice Surveying and Planning and Development, and MSc (RE) major in General Practice Surveying and Facility Management carry professional accreditation from the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. They include additional components comprising three further specialist modules. (See Appendix II of this Handbook.) Selection of electives is subject to availability of the module and the approval of the Committee for Postgraduate Modular Programmes. Please note that as a general rule, modules will not run in a given year if student numbers are not viable. Please check with the programme administrators for the status and availability of electives.

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MSc in Construction Project Management

Economics for professionals (RECO6003)Management theory and construction projects (RECO6006)

Law for the real estate and construction industry (RECO6042)Research methods (RECO6047)

Project workshop (CPM) (RECO6058)Contract strategies and project management techniques (RECO6005)

Any 4 elective modules in the CPM syllabus

Construction economics (RECO6004)Business process engineering (RECO6027)

Procurement systems (RECO6028)PLUS

1 elective module

Modern developments in the law of construction contracts (RECO6018)

Alternative dispute resolution (RECO6031)Law and practice of arbitration (RECO6032)

PLUS1 elective module

Construction economics (RECO6004)Real estate investment (RECO6069)

Real estate finance (RECO6070)Project finance (RECO6017)

Any 4 elective modules in the CPM syllabusPLUS

3 STUDIO modules:Development case studies (QS) (RECO6060)

Workshop report (QS) (RECO6062)Professional report (QS) (RECO6064)

MSc (CPM) MSc (CPM) majoring inConstruction Business Administration

MSc (CPM) majoring inConstruction Law and Dispute Resolution

MSc (CPM) majoring inProject Finance

MSc (CPM) majoring inQuantity Surveying #

PLUS either Dissertation (RECO6020) or 2 other elective modules

Professional Institution

RICS

HKIS

Accredited Curriculum

MSc in Construction Project Management and all majoring options

MSc in Construction Project Management majoring in Quantity Surveying

# Students with a non-construction-technology background will be required to enroll on and exam in the pre-course programme: Construction Technology. The pre-course programme is a self-learning package with tutorial support and exam will commence in advance of the main programmes.

For Illustrative Purpose Only

Figure 1. Roadmap of MSc (CPM) Programme

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MSc in Real Estate

Figure 2. Roadmap of MSc (RE) Programme

For Illustrative Purpose Only

2. Modes of Study and Dates of Semesters The MSc programmes in Construction Project Management and Real Estate are offered in both full time and part time modes of study. Normally, the duration of full time study is one year, whilst for part time study the duration is two years. (Please refer to Appendix II of this Handbook for additional information on the majors in Quantity Surveying and General Practice Surveying.) The maximum period of study is five years. Students not able to complete the programme within the maximum period will be recommended for discontinuation. There are two semesters per year and each semester is of approximately 12 weeks duration. Examination will normally be held after the end of each semester. Most of the taught modules are delivered during evenings and/or weekends for both full-time and part-time students. There are a number of daytime modules for full-time students. Dates of semesters in the 2010-11 academic year are listed below for your reference: 1st semester

Teaching period: 1 Sep to 30 Nov 2010 Examination period: 8 to 21 Dec 2010

2nd semester

Teaching period: 10 Jan to 21 Apr 2011 Examination period: 3 to 21 May 2011

There will be NO reading week for MSc programme in the 2010-11 academic year. Dates of semesters are subject to change. Students are advised to check the latest information in the student area in the Departmental web site at http://rec.hku.hk/MSc/studentarea/.

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3. Contents of the Programmes Details of the taught modules (including syllabus, course content, learning outcomes, reading lists, etc.) can be accessed at http://rec.hku.hk/MSc/studentarea/. Combinations of particular modules have been determined to be core plus other modules required for ‘majors’ to ensure that suitable and coherent themes of study are undertaken, commensurate with the resulting award. This philosophy is extended into the project workshop, the selection of elective modules and the determination of topics of study for the dissertation. Students not pursuing the generic MSc in Real Estate or Construction Project Management could select any “major” field of study.

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The maximum number of modules, including prescribed modules, can be taken per semester is: Full-time students: 7 modules Part-time students: 4 modules Minimum: 1 module Students not enrolled in any module must provide reason in writing to the department. Otherwise, a voluntary withdrawal will be assumed.

(Modules offered in 2010-11 are subject to approval)

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Research Method and Dissertation Competence in research skills is one of the essential learning outcomes of our MSc programmes. To ensure that our graduates have acquired the fundamental research skills and techniques, Research methods (RECO6047) is designed as a prescribed core module for all students. Students who have achieved grade C+ or above in Research methods are allowed to enroll in the Dissertation (RECO6020) module. Despite an elective module, Dissertation is an important part of the programme. It constitutes a major, individual, research-oriented piece of work and, as such, provides a unique opportunity for programme participants to use and to demonstrate their skills and abilities in systematically investigating a topic in depth. Dissertation shall be on an approved topic relevant to the curriculum. Candidates are required to complete a dissertation, with a minimum number of words specified in the academic year, on the approved topics. The title of the dissertation shall be submitted for approval not later than one month before the start of the final academic semester of study viz. 10 December 2010 for full time students or four months before the start of the final academic semester of study viz. mid-September 2011 for part-time students. The dissertation shall be presented not later than twelve months after the start of the final academic semester of study. The candidate shall submit a statement that the dissertation represents his own work undertaken after registration as a candidate for the degree.

4. Assessment Programme participants are requested to refer to the latest edition of the Regulations of the University. Reference should be made to the General Regulations as well as those for the MSc in Construction Project Management and MSc in Real Estate. In keeping with the philosophy and scope of the programme, assessment takes a variety of forms. Most commonly, taught modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and examination. However, modules may be assessed exclusively by either examination or coursework as determined by the examiners. Coursework may take a variety of forms and formats, including essays, reports, case studies and oral presentations; coursework may be undertaken by individuals or in groups, at the discretion of the examiners. Allocation of the form of assessment for each module and the assessment weighting shall be determined by the examiners. The assessment and weighting for each module as well as cover-page of all coursework submissions will be posted in student area in the Departmental website http://rec.hku.hk/MSc/studentarea/. The submission deadline for each item of course work will be stated in the coursework handout. Coursework assignments must be submitted either by hand, or by registered post to the General Office of the Department, or any other means specified by the module teacher, on or before the relevant submission date and time.

Location of assignment drop-in box (next to room 501, General Office, Department of Real Estate and Construction, Knowles Building, HKU)

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Any student who fails to present himself/herself for an oral presentation of coursework/oral examination will be awarded a zero mark for that assessment/component. The non-submission of a task constitutes automatic failure of that task. Late submission without prior approval from the Programme Director will have the mark on that task reduced on a sliding scale: Submitted within 2 weeks after deadline – 20% deduction Submitted after 2 weeks within 4 weeks – 30% deduction Submitted after 4 weeks – 50% deduction However, an extension of up to a maximum of 2 weeks may be approved by the Programme Director on written application to the Programme Administrator by a student at least 5 working days before the submission deadline for the relevant task. Grounds for an Extension of Time (EOT) request together with substantiation (e.g. employer’s letter, medical certificate) where possible must be included with the written application. In cases where students, due to various personal reasons, find it difficult to meet most of the submission deadlines and to attend the programme itself, they are strongly advised to talk to the Programme Director in order to determine whether a Leave of Absence should be granted. Applications for leave of absence without strong reasons will not be considered. Plagiarism Plagiarism is defined by the University’s Regulations Governing Conduct at Examination (Regulation 6) as: “… the unacknowledged use, as one’s own, of work or another person, whether or not such work has been published.” In simple terms, plagiarism is about copying. It does not matter whether the work that has been copied has been published or not. The important points are that work was copied from someone else and that no acknowledgement was made of this fact. All written submissions (including coursework and the Dissertation, and for QS and GPS majors, studio tasks and the Professional Report) must be fully and correctly referenced. Any student who is adjudged to have plagiarised work (i.e. intentionally passed-off the work of another person as the work of the student in question) will have a zero mark awarded for that piece of work. Further disciplinary action may be taken as the examiners and the University authorities deem appropriate. Please refer to the HKU booklet “What is Plagiarism?” and visit http://www.hku.hk/plagiarism for more information.

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5. Referencing Guidelines Quotations, paraphrasing and similar use of the published work of other people (from a source, such as a book, periodical or journal article) must be properly referenced to show where the information has come from. Enough detail must be given to enable other people to identify the reference without having to re-do the search; this information is given both in the text of the submission and as a list of references at the end of the text. (If the sources are used as ‘background’ information only – i.e. no direct quotations or paraphrasing has been used the list is a bibliography.) Much frustration can be avoided by making sure that literature references are always clear and accurate. It is good practice to record the full details of the reference at the time of using it. Colin (2007) provides very good guidelines in referencing. Colin, N. (2007), The complete guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism, Open University Press, Maidenhead. Referencing Style Whichever style of referencing is adopted, it is essential to be consistent! There are a number of internationally recognised referencing styles – Harvard, APA and Numeric. The Harvard system is the preferred style for submission to the Department of Real Estate and Construction. To manage your references and citation in appropriate style, the bibliographical management software called EndNote is recommended which available at http://lib.hku.hk/endnote/. Harvard Style of Referencing Within the text, refer to references by family name of the ‘lead author’ (without initials) and year as illustrated in the following passage:

“Although first prepared by Benedikt (1879) its structure was not confirmed until much later (Osborn and Jay, 1955). Fox, et al. (1973) have recently shown that it is a good chlorinating agent.”

Whenever a paper written by two authors is cited, give both authors’ names. Where there are more than two, give the first name only followed by "et al.". It is very helpful to refer to specific pages in a work by putting the page numbers after the year, e.g. Martindale (1972:57-85). If the author is not named, give the corporate author, e.g. Monopolies Commission, or title, instead. Avoid using footnotes. List references in alphabetical order at the end of the text under the headings References or Bibliography (as appropriate). Include only those works cited in the text as references. When referring to more than one paper by the same named author in the same year add a, b, c, etc. after the year, e.g. 1976a, 1976b. More examples showing how to quote references in the list of references or bibliography at the end of text can be accessed at http://rec.hku.hk/MSc/studentarea/.

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6. Examination Arrangements and Regulations Students will be notified the dates, times and venues of examinations at appropriate times in advance of the examination. Students may also visit the web site of Examinations Unit http://www.hku.hk/exam/ to check examination time-tables and any latest amendments. Besides, students are strongly advised to familiarize themselves with Regulations Governing Conduct at the Examinations (document 107/909 amended) and other information available from the above website. As a general reminder, any candidate who is unable because of illness to be present for any paper in the examination or who believes that his state of health either immediately before or during the examination significantly affected his performance should: (a) write to the Examinations Secretary immediately setting out his case; and (b) arrange to submit a Form of Medical Certificate (40/1008 re-amended available from Examination Unit website). He should complete Part I and then give or send this form to his doctor with a request that it be completed within 2 days of the date of the examination concerned and sent by the doctor directly to the Director, University Health Service. The completed form must reach the Director of the University Health Service not later than 14 days after the examination. 7. Criteria for Passing Normally, a programme participant must achieve a minimum of 40% in each module to achieve a pass in that module. Any candidate who completes the programme and consistently achieves the highest grades in all modules and an average overall mark in the highest grade may be considered by the examiners for the award of MSc (Construction Project Management) or MSc (Real Estate) with Distinction or Credit. Grades are awarded as follows (Subject to Approval):

Grade (to be recorded in transcripts)

Range of Marks

A- / A / A+ 75 and above

B- / B / B+ 60-74

C- / C / C+ 48-59

D / D+ 40-47

F below 40

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As a general rule, standards-referenced assessment is employed. The assessment criteria and expected levels of student performance follow the SOLO (Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes) taxonomy developed by Biggs and Collis (1982)1 and Biggs (1992)2.

Grade A-/A/A+ - Excellent (75% - 100%) “The coherent whole is conceptualized at a higher level of abstraction and is applied to new and broader domains.” Grade B-/B/B+ - Good (60% - 74%) “Understanding in the sense of relations between the whole and its parts. An approach that integrates a collection of data. Applying concepts to a familiar set of data or problem.” Grade C-/C/C+ - Satisfactory (48% - 59%) “Presentation of adequate information but not structured to convey comprehension of the topics as a coherent whole.” Grade D/D+ - Pass (40% - 47%) “Outcomes at the lowest acceptable level of understanding: naming, dealing with terminology, focusing on single issues with little relationship of facts or ideas” F – Fail (39% and below) Unsatisfactory work. The evidence is irrelevant, inaccurate or misjudged.

1 Biggs, J.B., & Collis, K.F. (1982), Evaluating the quality of learning: The SOLO taxonomy, Academic

Press: New York. 2 Biggs, J.B. (1992), “A qualitative approach to grading students”, HERDSA News, vol. 14(3), p.p. 3-6.

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8. Programme Administration and Contacts The programmes are administered by the Department of Real Estate and Construction. Acting Head of Department:

Prof. K. W. Chau Tel: 2859 2146 Email: hrrbckw@hku.hk

Programme Director : Dr. F.F. Ng Tel : 2857 8628 Email : Ng.Fung.Fai@hku.hk

Dr. S. W. Poon Tel : 2857 8628 Email : swpoon@hku.hk

Programme Administrators :

Miss Catherine Cheng Tel : 2857 8628 Email : catherinehlc@hkucc.hku.hk

Department of Real Estate and Construction Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong 5/F, Knowles Building Pokfulam Road Hong Kong Fax : 2559 9457 Students should contact the Faculty of Architecture regarding enrollment issues, application for Leave of Absence, Extension of Time etc. The application forms can be downloaded from http://rec.hku.hk/MSc/studentarea/. MSc Programme Administrator The Faculty of Architecture 4/F, Knowles Building The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road Hong Kong

Miss Claren Chan Tel : 2219 4409 Fax: 2857 2852 Email: claren@hkucc.hku.hk

Office Hours: Monday : 0900 - 1300 and 1400 - 1800 Tuesday to Friday : 0900 - 1300 and 1400 – 1745

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9. Frequently Asked Questions Can I take a longer period to complete my study? In normal situation, a full-time student should complete our programme in one year (without dissertation) or one and a half year (with dissertation). A part-time student should complete our programme in two years (without dissertation) and three years (with dissertation). However, students are allowed to take fewer modules with respect to their workload and spread their study over a longer period of time. The maximum period of study is five years for both full-time and part-time students. Students not able to complete the programme within five years will be recommended for discontinuation. How many modules could I enroll in each semester? Normally, a full-time student should enroll 6 modules per semester while a part-time student should enroll 3 modules per semester. However, we allow full-time students to enroll 1 to 7 modules per semester and part-time students to enroll 1 to 4 modules per semester. Hence, students could manage their study load and work load with respect to their own situations. If a student does not enroll any module then the student must submit a written explanation to the department. Otherwise, a volunteer withdrawal from the programme will be assumed. How to apply for Leave of Absence? As students have the flexibility to balance their study load and workload by enrolling appropriate number of modules per semester, application for Leave of Absence is not necessary and will not be granted without special reasons. If a student does not enroll any module then the student must submit a written explanation to the department. Otherwise, a volunteer withdrawal from the programme will be assumed. How much should I pay to complete the programme? The total composition fee of the programme in any academic year is for reference only. The actual final composition fee varies according to the period of study and the number of modules enrolled. Students should pay the tuition fee on a semester basis according to the number of modules enrolled and the current tuition fee of modules in that academic year. As tuition fee will be revised annually, the final sum of tuition fee varies according to the length of study and number of modules enrolled in each academic year as illustrated in the following hypothetical example: Student A Student B Student C

Semester 1 6 modules: $39,600

3 modules: $19,800

3 modules: $19,800 Academic

Year 20x1 $6,600 per module Semester 2 6 modules:

$39,600 3 modules: $19,800

2 modules: $13,200

Semester 1 3 modules: $21,000

3 modules: $21,000 Academic

Year 20x2 $7,000 per module Semester 2 3 modules:

$21,000 0 modules: $0

Semester 1 2 modules: $15,000 Academic

Year 20x3 $7,500 per module Semester 2 2 modules:

$15,000 Total Tuition Fee for 12 modules: $79,200 $81,600 $84,000

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What will happen if I fail a module? If the failed module is a core module, then the student is required to re-take the module again in another semester (i.e. enroll and pay the tuition fee of that module again in another semester). If a student has failed a core modules 3 times then the student will be recommended for discontinuation. If the failed module is an elective module, then the student could either re-take the module again in another semester (i.e. enroll and pay the tuition fee of that module again in another semester) or select another elective module. If a student has failed an elective module 3 times then the student will be recommended for discontinuation. Can I enroll in modules offered by the other programme? Students enrolled in a specific programme are allowed to enroll in any modules offered in that programme. If a student wants to enroll in a module offered by another programme, then written application must be submitted to the department for approval by the module leader and programme director. Can I change my mode of study, say from full-time to part-time? The entry requirements of full-time and part-time students are different, as there is an additional requirement of 2 years working experience for part-time students. Therefore, it should not be a problem for changing the mode of study from part-time to full-time. There may be a problem in changing from full-time mode to part-time mode of study. In any case, written application has to be submitted to the department for consideration and approval. How can I switch from one major to another major during my study? When a student is admitted to our MSc programme, the major is an indication of interest which is not part of the contract. The major obtained will be determined according to the modules successfully completed when the student graduates. Hence, students have the flexibility to select any modules to obtain the desired major according to their own interests. How can I get a double major? Starting in 2009 academic year, students are able to obtain double major by completing additional prescribed modules. No triple major or other multiple major will be considered or granted. The general rule to obtain a double major is to complete 12 modules for one major plus the additional prescribed modules of the second major, and each module should only be counted once towards the requirements of the major. Examples in the following table show the possible scenarios:

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Student A Student B Student C Student D RE Core Modules 5 Core modules

for all RE students

5 Core modules for all RE students

5 Core modules for all RE students

5 Core modules for all RE students

Prescribed modules for first major in Real Estate Investment and Finance

Real estate investment (RECO6069); Real estate finance (RECO6070); Real estate investment and the capital market (RECO6015); Land economics (RECO6016); Project finance (RECO6017)

Real estate investment (RECO6069); Real estate finance (RECO6070); Real estate investment and the capital market (RECO6015); Land economics (RECO6016); Project finance (RECO6017)

Real estate investment (RECO6069); Real estate finance (RECO6070); Real estate investment and the capital market (RECO6015); Land economics (RECO6016); Project finance (RECO6017)

Real estate investment (RECO6069); Real estate finance (RECO6070); Real estate investment and the capital market (RECO6015); Land economics (RECO6016); Project finance (RECO6017)

Elective modules for first major

Hong Kong land administration (RECO6037); Facility management practice (RECO6033); Information management in construction (RECO6027)

Hong Kong land administration (RECO6037); Facility management practice (RECO6033); Information management in construction (RECO6027)

Facility management practice (RECO6033); Facility maintenance management (RECO6034); Advanced facility technology (RECO6035)

Hong Kong land administration (RECO6037); Facility management practice (RECO6033); Information Management in Construction (RECO6027)

Prescribed modules for second major

Nil Development case studies (GPS) (RECO6061); Workshop report (GPS) (RECO6063); Professional report (GPS) (RECO6065)

Planning and markets (RECO6044); Planning and building development (RECO6039); Development projects (RECO6041)

Completed modules: 12 15 12 15

Major achieved: Real Estate Investment and Finance

Double major in Real Estate Investment and Finance and General Practice Surveying

Student has an option to select either majoring in Real Estate Investment and Finance or majoring in Facility Management

Double major in Real Estate Investment and Finance and Planning and Development

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Appendix I

Regulations and Syllabuses for

MSc (Construction Project Management)

and

MSc (Real Estate)

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REGULATIONS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT (MSc[ConstProjectMan]) (See also General Regulations) Any publication based on work approved for a higher degree should contain a reference to the effect that the work was submitted to the University of Hong Kong for the award of the degree. Admission requirements Ar201 To be eligible for admission to the curriculum for the degree of Master of Science in Construction Project Management a candidate

(a) shall comply with the General Regulations; (b) shall hold

(i) a degree or other qualification of equivalent standard awarded by this University or by another university or comparable institution accepted for this purpose; or

(ii) a professional qualification and membership of an appropriate professional body accepted for this purpose; and

(c) shall satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination if required. Qualifying examination Ar202

(a) A qualifying examination may be set to test a candidate's formal academic ability or his ability to follow the courses of study prescribed: such an examination shall consist of one or more written papers or their equivalent and may include a project report.

(b) A candidate who is required to satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination shall not be permitted to register until he has satisfied the examiners in the examination.

Award of Master degree Ar203 To be eligible for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Construction Project Management a candidate

(a) shall comply with the General Regulations; and (b) shall complete the curriculum and satisfy the examiners in accordance with the regulations

set out below.

Length of Curriculum Ar204

(a) The curriculum of the Master of Science in Construction Project Management shall extend over not less than one academic year of full-time study or two academic years of part-time study and shall include all examinations administered in accordance with the regulations and syllabuses set out below. The maximum period of study is five years.

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(b) To complete the curriculum a candidate

(i) shall follow courses of instruction and complete satisfactorily all prescribed written work and practical work where appropriate;

(ii) shall satisfy the examiners in all prescribed modules in any prescribed form of examination;

(iii) shall satisfy the examiners in the manner specified in these regulations and syllabuses in either (1) 72 credits including prescribed and elective modules; or (2) 72 credits including prescribed and elective modules plus 18 credits of

specialist modules for majors that carry professional accreditation where required.

The examiners may at their discretion prescribe an oral examination in any module or on the dissertation.

Selection of modules shall be subject to the approval of the Committee for Postgraduate Modular Programmes.

Dissertation Ar205 The title of the dissertation shall be submitted for approval not later than one month before the start of the final academic semester of study for full time students or four months before the start of the final academic semester of study for part-time students, and the dissertation shall be presented not later than twelve months after the start of the final academic semester of study. The candidate shall submit a statement that the dissertation represents his own work undertaken after registration as a candidate for the degree. Examinations Ar206 (a) A candidate shall be recommended for discontinuation of studies under the provisions of General

Regulation G12 if he / she has: (i) failed to satisfy the examiners in three modules or more in any semester or (ii) failed to satisfy examiners of any one module at the third attempt during the period of his /

her studies or (iii) failed to complete the curriculum by the end of the maximum period of studies.

(b) A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in less than three modules in any semester:

(i) must repeat the module if it is a prescribed module; and (ii) may either repeat the elective modules of failure or take other elective modules to satisfy

the examiners in accordance with the regulations. (iii) may be permitted to present himself for re-examination subject to the approval of the

programme director. Ar207 A candidate who has presented an unsatisfactory dissertation, but has satisfied the examiners at the written examination or re-examination, shall be permitted to revise the dissertation and to re-present it within a specified period to be determined by the Board of Examiners; and should he/she fail to satisfy the examiners at the re-examination, he/she shall be recommended for discontinuation of studies under the provisions of General Regulation G12.

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Examination results Ar208 At the conclusion of the examination, a pass list shall be published. Candidates who have shown exceptional merit at the whole examination may be awarded a mark of distinction or credit, and this mark shall be recorded in the candidates’ degree diploma. Advanced Standing Ar209 A candidate may be given advanced standing for up to 3 modules or 18 credits on the ground that equivalent modules or courses or subjects have been passed at another university or comparable institution accepted by the faculty for this purpose: provided that no candidate shall be eligible for the award of the degree set out in these regulations without having completed at least 54 credits in this programme.

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REGULATIONS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN REAL ESTATE (MSc[RealEst]) (See also General Regulations) Any publication based on work approved for a higher degree should contain a reference to the effect that the work was submitted to the University of Hong Kong for the award of the degree. Admission requirements Ar221 To be eligible for admission to the curriculum for the degree of Master of Science in Real Estate a candidate

(a) shall comply with the General Regulations; (b) shall hold

(i) a degree or other qualification of equivalent standard awarded by this University or by another university or comparable institution accepted for this purpose; or

(ii) a professional qualification and membership of an appropriate professional body accepted for this purpose; and

(c) shall satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination if required. Qualifying examination Ar222

(a) A qualifying examination may be set to test a candidate's formal academic ability or his ability to follow the courses of study prescribed: such an examination shall consist of one or more written papers or their equivalent and may include a project report.

(b) A candidate who is required to satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination shall not be permitted to register until he has satisfied the examiners in the examination.

Award of Master degree Ar223 To be eligible for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Real Estate a candidate

(a) shall comply with the General Regulations; and (b) shall complete the curriculum and satisfy the examiners in accordance with the regulations

set out below.

Length of Curriculum Ar224

(a) The curriculum of the Master of Science in Real Estate shall extend over not less than one

academic year of full-time study or two academic years of part-time study and shall include all examinations administered in accordance with the regulations and syllabuses set out below. The maximum period of studies is five years.

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(b) To complete the curriculum a candidate

(i) shall follow courses of instruction and complete satisfactorily all prescribed written work and practical work where appropriate;

(ii) shall satisfy the examiners in all prescribed modules in any prescribed form of examination;

(iii) shall satisfy the examiners in the manner specified in these regulations and syllabuses in either (1) 72 credits including prescribed and elective modules; or (2) 72 credits including prescribed and elective modules plus 18 credits of

specialist modules for majors that carry professional accreditation where required.

The examiners may at their discretion prescribe an oral examination in any module or on the dissertation.

Selection of modules shall be subject to the approval of the Committee for Postgraduate Modular Programmes.

Dissertation Ar225 The title of the dissertation shall be submitted for approval not later than one month before the start of the final academic semester of study for full time students or four months before the start of the final academic semester of study for part-time students, and the dissertation shall be presented not later than twelve months after the start of the final academic semester of study. The candidate shall submit a statement that the dissertation represents his own work undertaken after registration as a candidate for the degree. Examinations Ar226 (a) A candidate shall be recommended for discontinuation of studies under the provisions of General

Regulation G12 if he / she has: (i) failed to satisfy the examiners in three modules or more in any semester or (ii) failed to satisfy examiners of any one module at the third attempt during the period of his

/ her studies or (iii) failed to complete the curriculum by the end of the maximum period of studies.

(b) A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in less than three modules in any semester:

(i) must repeat the module if it is a prescribed module; and (ii) may either repeat the elective modules of failure or take other elective modules to satisfy

the examiners in accordance with the regulations; and (iii) may be permitted to present himself for re-examination subject to the approval of the

programme director. Ar227 A candidate who has presented an unsatisfactory dissertation, but has satisfied the examiners at the written examination or re-examination, shall be permitted to revise the dissertation and to re-present it within a specified period to be determined by the Board of Examiners; and should he/she fail to satisfy the examiners at the re-examination, he/she shall be recommended for discontinuation of studies under the provisions of General Regulation G12.

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Examination results Ar228 At the conclusion of the examination, a pass list shall be published. Candidates who have shown exceptional merit at the whole examination may be awarded a mark of distinction or credit, and this mark shall be recorded in the candidates’ degree diploma. Advanced Standing Ar229 A candidate may be given advanced standing for up to 3 modules or 18 credits on the ground that equivalent modules or courses or subjects have been passed at another university or comparable institution accepted by the faculty for this purpose: provided that no candidate shall be eligible for the award of the degree set out in these regulations without having completed at least 54 credits in this programme.

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SYLLABUSES FOR THE MODULAR MASTERS DEGREES PROGRAMMES IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND REAL ESTATE

Programme Structure The aim of the Modular Programmes, on a faculty-wide basis, is to provide advanced tuition in all aspects of the project and land development processes, allowing students maximum flexibility in module selection within their chosen disciplines. Where appropriate the programmes will be related to developments not only in Hong Kong but also the Peoples' Republic of China and the Southeast Asian region. Some of the modules listed below may not be offered every year. To receive the award of Master of Science in Construction Project Management or Master of Science in Real Estate, a candidate must complete either

(1) 72 credits including prescribed modules and elective modules; or (2) 72 credits including prescribed modules and elective modules plus 18 credits of specialist

modules for majors that carry professional accreditation where required.

The prescribed modules for Master of Science in Construction Project Management are: RECO6003 Economics for professionals; RECO6005 Contract strategies and project management techniques; RECO6006 Management theory and construction projects; RECO6042 Law for the real estate and construction industry; RECO6047 Research methods; and RECO6058 Project workshop (CPM). The prescribed modules for Master of Science in Real Estate are: RECO6003 Economics for professionals; RECO6006 Management theory and construction projects; RECO6042 Law for the real estate and construction industry; RECO6047 Research methods; and RECO6059 Project workshop (RE). Selection of elective modules shall be subject to the approval of the Committee for Postgraduate Modular Programmes. RECO6001. Urban planning: theory and practice (6 credits) This module examines the evolution of Urban Planning and Urban Planning Theory both in developed regions including Hong Kong and in developing parts of the world. It looks at contemporary planning issues and the challenges faced at the local as well as the strategic planning levels. RECO6003. Economics for professionals (6 credits) This module examines the nature of economic inquiry, a demand and supply model for real estate markets, monopoly of durable goods, pricing under demand uncertainty, search theory, asymmetric information on quality, agency theory, property rights, theory of price control, external effects, public goods, and Coasian critique of Neo-classical firm.

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RECO6004. Construction economics (6 credits) This module examines the following aspects in construction economics: Building cost control, life cycle costing, design economics, introduction to modelling, cost modelling - techniques, problems and recent developments, the Hong Kong construction industry, cost, price, value and competition. RECO6005. Contract strategies and project management techniques (6 credits) This module examines risk management, contract strategies, organization form, relational contracting, planning techniques, value management, quality management, operations research, sustainable construction. RECO6006. Management theory and construction projects (6 credits) This module examines the fundamental knowledge in management theory and its application in construction procurement: the project organization, management, schools of thought, the project life cycle, organization structure, team roles, case studies of projects, project management tools. RECO6007. Real estate and construction management practice (6 credits) This module provides a framework for analyzing management practice in the real estate and construction industry: people in organizations, orgainizational culture & climate, leadership, motivation, commitment, cooperation & collaboration, decision aiding technologies, decision making, negotiation, meetings, presentation techniques, conflict management. RECO6014. Real estate management (6 credits) This module approaches real estate management from a total asset management viewpoint. It covers the real estate asset management environment, strategic decision-making in real estate, property asset management, and real estate portfolio management from corporate and institutional perspectives. It also deals with real estate agency and marketing principles. RECO6015. Real estate investment and the capital markets (6 credits) This module provides a framework for analyzing real estate investment within a capital markets theoretical framework. It deals with real estate investment and modern portfolio theory, the capital asset pricing model and portfolio performance measurement, and real estate market efficiency. The module highlights comparative problems in the application of modern investment theory to real estate investments and real estate markets. Pre-requisites: RECO6069. Real estate investment

RECO6070. Real estate finance Co-requisite: RECO6017. Project finance

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RECO6016. Land economics (6 credits) This module covers the fundamental determinants of location of economic activities: the concept of rent, marginal productivity and land rent, bid rent analysis and the formation of a land market, economic regions and retail locations, industrial locations, land use control, property rights and zoning, social cost and pollution problems, development timing and problems of urban redevelopment. RECO6017. Project finance (6 credits) This module deals with project finance from an international financial markets perspective, and includes real estate project financing. It covers international project finance and principles of financial risk management. The module contains a substantial self-study component, and candidates are required to present a detailed case study as part of module requirements. Pre-requisites: RECO6069. Real estate investment

RECO6070. Real estate finance RECO6018. Modern developments in the law of construction contracts (6 credits) This module examines the modern development in the laws of contract and torts: interpretation, comparison and application of various standard forms of building and civil engineering contracts and sub-contracts: programmes, interim certification, set-off of payments, pay when paid clause, variation and architect’s instruction, delay and extension of time, liquidated damages; preparation, evaluation and presentation of claims; contractual, non-contractual and ex-gratia claims; global claims; advanced claims techniques; contractual and common law remedies; bankruptcy and insurance in the context of the construction industry. RECO6020. Dissertation (12 credits) This module requires candidates to conduct a research and present the findings as a dissertation. The dissertation shall be on an approved topic relevant to the curriculum. Pre-requisite: RECO6047. Research methods RECO6027. Business process engineering (6 credits) This module covers the concepts of business process engineering and reengineering. It introduces the principles of business models, business processes analysis and design, workflow management, techniques and supporting tools. RECO6028. Procurement systems (6 credits)

This module examines the strategic and emergent issues in construction procurement: a definition of procurement systems; organising the project procurement process; organisational design; organisational learning as a vehicle for improved building procurement; culture; conventionally orientated to developmentally orientated procurement systems; use of world wide web technologies

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and procurement process implications; applying multiple project procurement methods to a portfolio of infrastructure projects; multiple performance criteria for evaluating construction contractors; applying partnering in the supply chain; selection criteria. RECO6029. Information management in construction (6 credits) This module covers the concepts of information management, business information systems and computerization in the construction industry. It introduces the principles and applications of systems analysis and design. It also focuses on special IT applications in construction including computer-aided design and multimedia systems. RECO6030. Knowledge management in construction (6 credits) This module covers the concepts and development of knowledge management in the construction industry: strategic information systems, object technology, coordinated project information exchange, principles and applications of knowledge-based systems. Co-requisite: RECO6029 Information management in construction RECO6031. Alternative dispute resolution (6 credits) This module examines the theory and practice of dispute resolution: negotiation; mediation; litigation; arbitration and adjudication; practice and procedure; application in the real estate and construction industry RECO6032. Law and practice of arbitration (6 credits) This module examines the process of arbitration in Hong Kong and China: common law and statute; procedure and proof; the role of expert witnesses; domestic and international arbitrations; arbitration institutions; application in the real estate and construction industry RECO6033. Facility management practice (6 credits) This module explores topical issues in facilities management, such as strategic corporate facility planning, benchmarking, post-occupancy evaluation, outsourcing, space planning and management, office safety and security, contingency planning. RECO6034. Facility maintenance management (6 credits) This module examines the principles and types of maintenance, the building life cycle and obsolescence: Maintenance policies, strategies and statutory requirements. Planned maintenance, preventive maintenance, contracts and standards for maintenance work. Building refurbishment, alterations and conservation.

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RECO6035. Advanced facility technology (6 credits) This module examines the options and installation of state-of-the-art services for communication, power and data transmission technology, virtual office/workplace, data center, advanced monitoring and automation for CAFM and BMS. Pre-requisite: Pre-course – Construction technology Pre-requisite: RECO6033. Facility management practice RECO6036. Land administration systems (6 credits) This module examines comparative land administration systems: freehold and leasehold tenure; socialist land systems; communal land systems; their characteristics and impact on government revenue, urban & rural development and resource conservation; land adjustments and reforms; urban renewal. RECO6037. Hong Kong land administration (6 credits) This module examines the Hong Kong land administration system: its history and functions; how it operates under administrative law; land exchanges and lease modifications; lease interpretation and salient features of land administration in the New Territories. RECO6038. Administrative law in land development in Hong Kong (6 credits) This module covers the following aspects: the Basic Law; the HKSAR Government; judicial reviews with the focus on lease control, planning, building and environmental protection; remedies; interpretation of lease and town plans; lease enforcement; planning enforcement and building control with the focus on development potential and liabilities of owners and occupiers. Pre-requisite: RECO6039. Planning and building development RECO6039. Planning and building development (6 credits) This module deals with building development by examining the nature and procedures of plan preparation, planning application and building applications; inter-relationship between lease, planning and building control; planning appeals and building appeals. Co-requisite: RECO6001. Urban planning: theory and practice RECO6040. Construction safety management (6 credits) This module covers introduction to construction site organisation; Occupational Safety and Health regulations; Workers compensation and civil claims; Accident reporting systems; Safety management systems; Site safety audits; Site safety initiatives; occupational health on site; Ergonomics and manual handling; dangerous substances on site; Codes of practice and standards; Design and construction considerations; Temporary works; Plant, tools and machinery; Personal protective Equipment; Unions and subcontractors; Workers and dangerous trades

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RECO6041. Development projects (6 credits) This module examines actual problem associated with planning and development projects in Hong Kong and selectively, other cities around the region. It is case-based, highly interactive and encourages students to explore different ways of finding solutions inherent to the land conversion process. RECO6042. Law for the real estate and construction industry (6 credits) This module provides a study of the law relating to the real estate development and construction processes: Acquisition, ownership, management and disposal of land and real estate; town planning; finance of development; building contracts (standard forms, comparative studies); revenue law and the real estate market; agency law; alternative dispute resolution movement. RECO6043. Construction business management (6 credits) This module examines the management of construction business which covers Hong Kong’s economy, case studies, strategic management, marketing, financial performance, recruitment and human resources management, safety management systems, environmental management systems, ethics. RECO6044. Planning and markets (6 credits) This module examines alternative institutional means of coordinating specialized land uses from a transaction cost perspective. The approaches of Pigou, Coase and Hayek are compared. The idea of planning by contract is contrasted to that by edict and command. RECO6045. Sustainable development and property rights (6 credits) This module examines the idea of sustainable development from a Coasian and Schumpetarian perspective and explores alternative systems of institutional arrangements that promote the idea. Topics covered include theorization on the tragedy of the commons; rent dissipation; Coase Theorem and theories of innovation. RECO6046. Research seminar (6 credits) This module aims to familiarize students with the rigors of producing a research proposal. Main issues include the development of aims and objectives of the proposed research, determination and justification of a suitable methodology to test hypotheses (if any), and deciding on a practical programme for the execution of the research project. Students are required to give research seminar presentations of their work as they progress. Co-requisite: RECO6047 Research methods

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RECO6047. Research methods (6 credits) This module aims to develop the student’s abilities in the formulation of an appropriate research framework. Main issues include: literature search, qualitative and quantitative research approaches, experiment design, model building, data analysis and dissemination of results. RECO6048. An introduction to sustainability and its relevance to the construction sector (6

credits) This module is designed to give students a broad introduction to the theoretical concepts of sustainability as well as the practical implications that it has for the construction industry in HK and China and especially to the building design team. The module covers the following aspects : Introduction to the concept of sustainability - historical context; Sustainable development; Environmental impacts; The construction industry in Hong Kong and its response to sustainable development; The construction industry in Chongqing and its response to sustainable development; Life Cycle Assessment and its significance; and The measurement of social impacts - the final Life Cycle Assessment frontier. RECO6051. Land management in China (6 credits) History of land management in China; transitional reforms in land markets; urban land reform in China; rural land and urban villages in china; housing reform in China. Study trip to Real Estate College at the Beijing Normal University, Zhu Hai campus. Bureaucratic and organizational structure in land management in China; current legislations in land management in China; urban and rural land management practice in China. RECO6052. Financial services regulations for real estate professionals (6 credits) Introduction to the HKSAR's legal system relating to banking, finance and real estate; Legal methods; HKSAR’s corporate legislation; shareholders' rights and duties; The governance of listed companies and the roles of real estate professionals; Financial markets – stock exchanges and stakeholders; Securities and capital structure; Real estate professionals and market misconducts. Banking law of the HKSAR; Structure of banking and deposit-taking institutions; financial requirements and real estate lending; Supervision of banking institutions; Policy rationale of international trade; the WTO Agreements - Financial Services Agreement. RECO6053. Real options analysis in real estate and infrastructure development (6 credits) This module extends conventional capital budgeting methodology and introduces the principles and practice of Real Options Analysis and its role in the modern Extended Net Present Value model. The value of managerial flexibility is considered within the context of the built environment, including real estate and infrastructure projects and assets. Pricing models to value particular managerial choices including the option to delay or defer projects, abandon projects, create flexible project capacity, and switch project inputs are covered. Pre-requisites: RECO6069. Real estate investment RECO6070. Real estate finance

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RECO6054. Real estate derivatives (6 credits) This module introduces new developments in real estate finance, and concentrates on real estate derivatives. The nature of derivatives, pricing basics and indexes are introduced, concentrating on real estate applications. The nature of financial risk in real estate investment and development is considered, together with the use of real estate derivatives as risk management instruments. Pre-requisites: RECO6069. Real estate investment RECO6070. Real estate finance RECO6055. Business valuation – theory (6 credits) This module introduces and develops the principles of valuing business enterprises. It introduces and develops the framework of the enterprise valuation model based on standard discounted cash flow analysis using company data. It further covers the nature of industry and extended rivalry analysis and the enterprise’s economic environment and the importance of strategic managerial actions for the value of a business, following the concept of incorporating a business’s real options and growth opportunities into business valuation. Pre-requisites: RECO6069. Real estate investment RECO6070. Real estate finance RECO6056. Business valuation – practice (6 credits) The module covers the practice of business valuation through case studies in Hong Kong and other place. Practical considerations includes professional ethics and legal liability, relevant codes of practices, accounting practices, valuation standards, data reliability and availability, relevant rules and regulations and analysis of soft information and macro trends. The module further includes a critical review of the limitations of current practices. Pre-requisites: RECO6069. Real estate investment RECO6070. Real estate finance Co-requisites: RECO6055. Business valuation – theory RECO6057. Theory and practice of valuation of fixed assets (6 credits) This module introduces valuation of fixed assets for different purposes; relevant rules & regulations, code of practices and valuation standards; site inspection of other legal documents; qualitative assessment; data reliability and availability and analysis of soft information and macro trends; advanced valuation techniques. The module further includes a critical review of the advantages and disadvantages of different valuation techniques. Pre-requisites: RECO6069. Real estate investment RECO6070. Real estate finance RECO6058. Project workshop (CPM) (6 credits) This module is comprised of project workshop designed for construction project management. The project workshop reflects the inter-disciplinary nature of the curriculum and aims to synthesize and

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apply the theory taught in the lecture courses to a problem which in practice would engage the combined skills of a number of the professions which constitute the property and construction industries. Through this students will experience the demands and importance of teamwork under the exigencies of actual commerce, and will appreciate the significance of their role and that of others in the context of the environment, planning, the property and construction industry and accountancy. RECO6059. Project workshop (RE) (6 credits) This module is comprised of project workshop designed for real estate. The project workshop reflects the inter-disciplinary nature of the curriculum and aims to synthesize and apply the theory taught in the lecture courses to a problem which in practice would engage the combined skills of a number of the professions which constitute the property and construction industries. Through this students will experience the demands and importance of teamwork under the exigencies of actual commerce, and will appreciate the significance of their role and that of others in the context of the environment, planning, the property and construction industry and accountancy. RECO6060. Development case studies (QS) (6 credits) This module is comprised of development case studies designed for the professional discipline of Quantity Surveying. It examines in detail the interaction of the various components within the development process. It utilizes a series of case studies of actual projects of varying scale and complexity which will allow for an analysis of the essential inputs to the process and the effects these may have on outputs and the final product. Co-requisites: RECO6062. Workshop report (QS) RECO6064. Professional report (QS) RECO6061. Development case studies (GPS) (6 credits) This module is comprised of development case studies designed for the professional discipline of General Practice Surveying. It examines in detail the interaction of the various components within the development process. It utilizes a series of case studies of actual projects of varying scale and complexity which will allow for an analysis of the essential inputs to the process and the effects these may have on outputs and the final product. Co-requisites: RECO6063. Workshop report (GPS) RECO6065. Professional report (GPS) RECO6062. Workshop report (QS) (6 credits) The Workshop report comprises a number of task specific exercises relevant to the Quantity Surveying discipline which can be independently developed and tested. There will be emphasis on professional/practice skill through practice based case histories and/or assignments. Co-requisites: RECO6060. Development case studies (QS) RECO6064. Professional report (QS)

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RECO6063. Workshop report (GPS) (6 credits) The Workshop report comprises a number of task specific exercises relevant to the General Practice Surveying discipline which can be independently developed and tested. There will be emphasis on professional/practice skill through practice based case histories and/or assignments. Co-requisites: RECO6061. Development case studies (GPS) RECO6065. Professional report (GPS) RECO6064. Professional report (QS) (6 credits) The Professional report represents an individual piece of work that emphasizes one of the specialist elements within the professional discipline of Quantity Surveying. Co-requisites: RECO6060. Development case studies (QS) RECO6062. Workshop report (QS) RECO6065. Professional report (GPS) (6 credits) The Professional report represents an individual piece of work that emphasizes one of the specialist elements within the professional discipline of General Practice Surveying. Co-requisites: RECO6061. Development case studies (GPS) RECO6063. Workshop report (GPS) RECO6066. Real estate development and land policies (6 credits) This module deals with the economics and structure of the real estate industry with special reference to Hong Kong. It introduces the real estate sector as consisting of three interrelated subsectors, namely the market for real estate services, the market for real estate assets, and the real estate development market. The module also introduces principles of real estate market analysis and real estate project evaluation. RECO6067. Public sector project evaluation (6 credits) This module approaches public sector project evaluation from a modern public sector management perspective. It introduces public sector finance and the economics and finance frameworks within which public sector projects are proposed, evaluated and chosen. It includes practical instruction in the principal decision-making methodology, cost-benefit analysis, and developments in the field of public sector cost of capital. It also introduces the influence of sustainability concerns and public sector project evaluation. Pre-requisites: RECO6069. Real estate investment RECO6070. Real estate finance

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RECO6068. Construction practice in Mainland China (6 credits) This module examines the practical knowledge for conducting construction and building business in Mainland China. It covers Analysis of China's construction market, Administrative and institutional structure of the industry, Construction procedure including urban planning, feasibility, project financing, architecture design, bidding and tendering, construction, and its major players. It will also deliver knowledge about cultural dimensions, building and real estate practices, and internationalization of the industry. RECO6069. Real estate investment (6 credits) This module introduces real estate investments as part of the universe of investment opportunities. It introduces real estate investment analysis and decision-making, and modern capital market theory and its application to real estate as an investment class. RECO6070. Real estate finance (6 credits) This module introduces corporate finance principles and their application within the context of the real estate industry. It deals with standard corporate capital budgeting techniques and its application to the real estate industry and projects. It further deals with cost of capital theory, and the principal sources of real estate finance. MHMP7001. Practices of housing management (6 credits) This module covers the major concepts and practices of housing management in Hong Kong. It is designed to deepen students’ knowledge of and interest in housing management in both the public and private sector. It examines the concepts, development, legal context, major tasks, and current issues of housing management. The management of other types of properties will also be introduced. It is expected that students who are already working in the housing field would make use of their working experience to critically evaluate the management issues discussed in the module. The current trend of privatization and corporatization taking place in the public sector will also be canvassed. A workshop on communication skills in housing management is included in this module. The skills will facilitate the handling of residents and concern groups, the holding of meetings and interviews, handling of crisis situations, and etc. The workshop is non-examinable but attendance is compulsory as experiential learning methods are used. URBP6904. Housing, planning and sustainability (6 credits) This module aims to provide an integrative and in-depth understanding of Hong Kong's housing system and its relationships with urban planning and the concepts of sustainable development. It discusses the theoretical and practical aspects of housing, making special reference to their relationships with urban planning and sustainable development. Major topics include the housing system concepts, the political economy of housing policies, land use planning and housing affordability, principals of residential planning, housing policy analyses, housing market analyses, and the application of the sustainable development perspective to housing analyses. 25032010/re

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Appendix II

Supplementary Information

for

MSc(Construction Project Management) Majoring in Quantity Surveying

MSc(Real Estate) Majoring in General Practice Surveying

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A1. Introduction

This Appendix, which is supplementary to the “Student Handbook for MSc’s in Construction Project Management and Real Estate”, provides information and guidance for programme participants of the MSc(CPM) majoring in Quantity Surveying and MSc(RE) majoring in General Practice Surveying.

A2. Exemptions

These programmes are specifically designed as postgraduate conversion pathways which provide a fully exempting award from the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). They allow graduates from the QS and GPS majors to enter directly to the relevant Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), a prerequisite for professional recognition of the respective professional bodies.

A3. Programme Structure and Progression

These programmes are largely the same as the MSc programmes offered by the Department of Real Estate and Construction (details of which are set out in the “Student Handbook for MSc in CPM and RE”) but with an additional element of focused professional studio work. The studio component consists of a Development Case Studies (DCS) module, a Workshop Report (WR) module and a Professional Report.

Both prescribed and elective modules provide the essential academic underpinning of the relevant surveying disciplines. The Studio components provide the environment/context whereby the academic modules, which tend to be developed discretely, are integrated and where the necessary professional skills relevant to the selected discipline in the context of Hong Kong and the PRC can be more fully developed.

The Development Case Studies and Workshop Report modules, each of which comprise a number of different tasks, place in particular a strong focus on developing the relevant skills base. The Professional Report is designed to allow each student to undertake a substantial independent piece of work on a topic of professional relevance (of the student’s choice) and produce a report of his/her work. The report allows the student to demonstrate his/her knowledge and application of professional skills/techniques and the ability to carry out investigation and to critically analyse a problem or set of issues related to the student’s chosen professional discipline.

The overall structure of the QS and GPS majors is shown below. For students undertaking these pathways, opportunity will be given for them to pursue a “double major” within the relevant portfolio. (Students with a non construction-technology background will be required to enroll on and examine in the pre-course programme: Construction Technology. The pre-course programme is a self-learning package with tutorial support and will commence in advance of the main programmes.)

A4. Approximate Overall Teaching and Learning Workload

Each taught module represents 150 study hours from students. Study hours include teaching and learning in terms of lectures, seminars, tutorials, case studies, presentations, group discussion, online learning, site visit and self study etc. There is no

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prescribed format for the taught component. It is left to the discretion of each module leader to decide how best to use the time available depending on the nature of the material and the size of class. Naturally a great deal of reading will be required of students to support the basic modules. The weight of a module is not deemed to be simply the time that students spend in a classroom receiving conventional teaching.

Assessing total work-load on students is problematic as self study / reading and coursework preparation time varies from student to student. A reasonable summary, therefore, may be:

Study Hours Prescribed and elective modules 10 x 150 1,500

Dissertation (or 2 elective modules) 2 x 150 300 Sub-total: 1,800 Development case studies 180 180 Workshop report 180 180 Professional report 180 180 Total = 2,340

A5. Assessment of Studio Modules

Development Case Studies and Workshop Report tasks are 100% coursework assessment. The assessment criteria generally follows the SOLO (Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes) taxonomy developed by Biggs and Collis (1982) 3 and Biggs (1992)4.

F – Fail (39% and below) Unsatisfactory work. The evidence is irrelevant, inaccurate or misjudged. Grade D/D+ - Pass (40% - 47%) “Outcomes at the lowest acceptable level of understanding: naming, dealing with terminology, focusing on single issues with little relationship of facts or ideas” The student’s work is relevant but addresses only a few aspects of the task topic; demonstration of understanding in a minimally acceptable way; poor coverage, no originality; inclination to repeat mainly course/reading materials.

3 Biggs, J.B., & Collis, K.F. (1982), Evaluating the quality of learning: The SOLO taxonomy, Academic

Press: New York. 4 Biggs, J.B. (1992), “A qualitative approach to grading students”, HERDSA News, vol. 14(3), p.p. 3-6.

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Grade C-/C/C+ - Satisfactory (48% - 59%) “Presentation of adequate information but not structured to convey comprehension of the topics as a coherent whole.” The student’s work shows good understanding of several key aspects of the topic but little evidence of an overall view. Good coverage but little integration or application. Grade B-/B/B+ - Good (60% - 74%) “Understanding in the sense of relations between the whole and its parts. An approach that integrates a collection of data. Applying concepts to a familiar set of data or problem.” The student’s work demonstrates a sound understanding of the various sub-parts and how they are integrated to form a coherent view of the main thrust of the topic. Grade A-/A/A+ - Excellent (75% - 100%) “The coherent whole is conceptualized at a higher level of abstraction and is applied to new and broader domains.” As for Grade B-/B/B+, but demonstrating deeper understanding and awareness of issues / concepts (e.g. in the context of applications beyond those referred to in the topic materials).

For the Development Case Studies and Workshop Report modules students are required to pass all tasks in each module. Failure in more than three tasks in a module (or failure in a re-submission of a task) will constitute failure of that module and necessitate a repeat of the whole module (i.e. all tasks). The non-submission/late submission of a task constitutes automatic failure of that task. A candidate who has presented an unsatisfactory Professional Report may be permitted to revise the Professional Report and to re-present it within a specified period of not more than four months after receipt of a notice that it is unsatisfactory. A candidate who has presented an unsatisfactory Professional Report for a second time shall be recommended for discontinuation of the majoring option or discontinuation of studies under the provisions of General Regulations G12.

A6. Submission Guidelines for Development Case Studies and Workshop Report Tasks

The submission deadline for each DCS and WR task will be stated in the handout for each task. Task assignments must be submitted either by hand or by registered post, on or before the relevant submission date and time, to the Taught Postgraduate Programmes Administration Office

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The non-submission/late submission of a task constitutes automatic failure of that task.

However, an extension of up to a maximum of 2 weeks may be approved by the Programme Director on written application to the Programme Administrator by a student at least 5 working days before the submission deadline for the relevant task. Grounds for the Extension of Time (EOT) request together with substantiation (e.g. employer’s letter, medical certificate) where possible must be included with the written application.

The cover-page of all DCS and WR task submissions should use the proforma sheet which can be accessed at http://rec.hku.hk/MSc/studentarea/.