Home-Grown vs. Imported European Studies: The Case of Hong Kong and Macau Compared

With reference to the origins and developments of the European Studies programmes in Hong Kong and Macau, this chapter examines four sets of factors that have shaped curriculum design and development: the growth of Asia-Europe partnership, the composition and turnover of faculty, multidisciplinary competition and co-operation, and external actors. While the Hong Kong experience represents a highly flexible and evolutionary, even ad hoc, area studies approach to the development of European (Union) studies programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, Macau has adopted an EU-oriented programme at the postgraduate level that is not dissimilar to major European Union (EU) studies programmes found in Europe. Analysis shows that the Institute of European Studies of Macau has devised viable measures to maintain a relatively stable balance between financial support, supply of expertise and student intakes over time. In both cases, however, further development of European (Union) studies programmes seems to face similar challenges concerning the availability of expertise, financial pressures, and popular interest in the study of Europe.