Teaching In
CUHK

I am a passionate believer in research informing teaching. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching, from the University of Kent (UK) and a Professional Certificate of “Excellence” in Teaching from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (SAR, China).
Recently, I was awarded the prestigious CUHK Faculty of Social Sciences Exemplary Teaching Award (2021) and Ranked First in the Faculty of Social Sciences for my outstanding teaching in 2021. I have also been nominated for the CUHK Vice-Chancellor Exemplary Teaching Award (2021).
I am currently in negotiation with the publisher SAGE about writing a groundbreaking textbook for Undergraduate students, based on my extensive teaching with the provisional Title: “Understanding Politics” (Tentative Publication Date: 2024).
From August 2022 (Autumn Term), I will be teaching the following courses in the School of Arts & Social Sciences at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU):
(1) (POLS A122F) Foundations of Social Sciences: Political Science (UG Level) – Year 1 students
(2) (POLS A331F) Civil Society and Governance (UG Level) – Year 3 & 4 students
I draw on a wide range of Applied Flipped classroom teaching methods, such as Simulations (Model EU), Online Lectures & Group Discussions via Live Online Zoom & Panopto Softwares (with the Zoom Break-Out Feature), small scale interactive Tutorial style learning in Cafés alongside Applied Data Lab sessions and Online Group Project Presentations.
I have also conducted regular Undergraduate Admissions Talks at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, for the Faculty of Social Sciences. I also previously taught courses in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at The University of Hong Kong.
I teach courses (both Undergraduate & Masters Level) primarily in Comparative Politics (European and Asian Politics), Elections and Voting alongside Methodology (Quantitative and Qualitative Methods). I currently supervise undergraduate dissertation projects that relate to comparative politics (Populism in Europe & Asian Politics) alongside Electoral Studies and Party Politics.
I have taught on the MSSc Greater China Programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. I have also been a Guest Lecturer/ Consultant for the Europe Asia Policy Centre for Comparative Research (HKBU) alongside the Master of Science in International & Development Economics (MIDE) at Lingnan University. These topics have related to Brexit, Populism, Developmental Economics and Comparative Asian Politics. Recently, I also contributed as a Guest Speaker for the HKU Online MOOC, “Europe Without Borders”.
I recently developed an innovative course in the Department of Government & Public Administration and at Lee Woo Sing College (CUHK) that examines the ‘rise’ of right-wing and left-wing populism in Europe. This is unique as it is the first course of its kind in Hong Kong. I place a strong emphasis on teaching and this is reflected in my excellent teaching evaluation scores in both Hong Kong and in the United Kingdom.
I have taught 20+ courses at CUHK from 2017-2022 and I have also supervised 15+ Undergraduate Dissertation Projects at CUHK to completion, in both the Departments of Government & Public Administration alongside Global Studies.
At CUHK, I have taught the following courses:
MY COURSES
Comparative Politics
Course Code | Courses Name | Year |
---|---|---|
GPAD 2145 | Electoral Studies | 2019 |
GPAD 4142 | Seminar in Comparative Politics | 2021, 2019 |
GPAD 3161/GEWS 2111 | The Rise of Populism in Europe | 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018 |
GPAD 3160 | Governance of the European Union | 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 |
International Relations
Course Code | Course Name | Year |
---|---|---|
GPAD 2355/UGEC 2683 | Globalization & Politics | 2020 |
GPAD 2395 | Comparative Asian Politics | 2019, 2018 |
GLBS 3403 | The European Union & The World | 2022, 2021, 2020 |
Research Methodology & Statistics
Course Code | Course Name | Year |
---|---|---|
MPUP 5132 | Methods in Public Policy Research (Masters Course, MSSc in Public Policy Programme) | 2022 |
GPGC 5005 | Methods in Social Science Research (Masters Course, MSSc in Greater China Programme) | 2022, 2021, 2019 |
GPAD 2111 | Political Research Methodology | 2021, 2019, 2018 |
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©2022 by DR. James F. Downes