The aim of this thesis is to discuss about the behavior how the graduates make the decision of finding a job in Shanghai and the causes of the behavior in the micro and individual aspects. This thesis also discusses about the possible effect of labor market of Shanghai and Taiwan and the problems graduates may face when they find a job and work in Shanghai in the macro aspect. The degree of risk preference and certainty of information will affect work intention in Shanghai and the decision where the graduates find a job from deriving the model. This research has several findings. First, most graduates intend to find a job of Shanghai in Taiwan and then work in Shanghai through being assigned by Taiwan¡¦s companies. Only few graduates find a job in Shanghai without finding a job of Shanghai in Taiwan previously. Second, this thesis also find that expected income of graduates , with relatives and friends investing and working in Shanghai, having been to Shanghai and information provided by media have positive effect on work intention that graduates go to work in Shanghai. At last, according to the wage difference of local executives and Taiwan executives, graduates will face the crisis that the wage is deduced and the work position is replaced by local executives

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

As spotlighted urban occurrences of significant global influence, mega-events such as the Olympics and the Expos usually create a great demand for mega-event flagships (MEFs). These purpose-built cultural, civic or sports landmarks not only serve as prominent event venues but often play a catalytic role in long-conceived renewal initiatives on a much broader scale. Lacking no successful event stories, it is not unusual to hear prominent post-event failures in MEFs. Despite its lasting appeal, such a highly controversial and challenging development has received surprisingly little in-depth analysis in existing literature. Academic interests have long concentrated on assessing impacts rather than profiling risks. Moreover, to realize such a dually oriented initiative clearly needs a competitive organization. Yet, this driving force behind becomes another understatement. Apart from tangential studies on western-based practices, pinpoint research is rare in emerging economies towards which MEFs are shifting their grounds. Such a triple imbalance may likely keep ambitious yet inexperienced hosts ignorant of tremendous risks behind overstated rewards. To argue that MEFs should be pre-post oriented than treated simply as a legacy issue, this study presents four landmark cases of Expo 2010 Shanghai China – a mega-event as not only a crowning touch to China’s thirty-year economic rise but a catalyst for Shanghai’s renaissance towards a global center. As the centerpieces of this mega-undertaking, the Big Four (the Big4) represent the largest MEF cluster in history and the latest epitome of major projects of national significance. To explore how the Organizer has forged the sixty-year vision beyond the six-month extravaganza, participant observation is adopted due to the author’s special role as a key project coordinator of Expo 2010 during the early stages of the Big4. In gaining more useful insights for future practices, this multiple-case study takes the following three steps. First, rationales and practices of MEF development are analyzed through a historical review of eight selected cases of mega-event built legacies in five countries over 150 years. Next, programming practices of MEFs and non-MEFs in China are investigated through a pilot questionnaire survey in 2009. Finally, the 600,000-sq.m Big4 are explored respectively and collectively against the ongoing Trilogy of the Huangpu Riverfronts Renewal. Multifold findings from previous and present cases confirm the hypothesis that MEF development is rather an issue of dualism than dichotomy. To meet existing and emerging challenges, a framework plan is developed containing four approaches and ten steps key to the vitality of MEFs. Conclusions are made from both local and global dimensions. Four major breakthroughs, two pressing problems and two emerging trends are identified for major project developments in China; whereas six essential conditions to sustain MEF development are generalized for significantly comparable cases worldwide. A timely reminder of rethinking the commitment to MEFs and a much-needed complement to related western literature, this pioneering research would be of cross-boundary value and spark interdisciplinary interest. / published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Although school-based teacher developmental activities have been launched for years in general education system, such comparatively systematic and effective work have yet been thoroughly adopted by most of the out-of-school educational institutions. Studies on Children’s Palaces education and school-based teacher development are extremely limited, not only because the overall management of out-of-school education system is not as complete as that of general education system, but also the features of Children’s Palace education made the study hard but more and more necessary. Guided by the theoretical framework of Lifelong Education and Professionalism Theory, the purpose of this dissertation aims at finding out the problems of the children's palace school-based staff development, and exploring reasons behind through analyzing quantitative and qualitative research data from the case study of No.2 Children’s Palace of Jinshan District, give recommendations so that teachers may gain more concrete benefit through the system of school-based teacher development. The questionnaire for quantitative research contains two parts. Part I contains questions about the need of teacher development in No.2 CP, and Part II contains question about perspectives and current situation concerning school-based teacher development in No.2 CP. After the quantitative approach and research data analysis, qualitative approach of follow-up interviews will be carried out. Synthesized data analysis aims at answering research questions such as current status of school-based teacher development in No.2 CP and mode and examples that might be drawn to inspire the school-based teacher development in Children’s Palaces in Shanghai. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This dissertation explores the process of city planning and construction of the Shanghai International Settlement between 1843 and 1937, where the city grew from a low mud bank to the foremost modern metropolis in China. Modern roads provided the basis and the primary engine for the urban transformation. The study investigates the initial modern street network laid out in the nineteenth century, the jurisdictional and administrative dispute between the Chinese and foreign authorities, the competition and negotiation on the boundaries, and the constant redefinition and reconstruction during the first two decades of the twentieth century. In particular, the study explores the formative process of the three most remarkable urban artifacts in the Settlement, namely, the Bund promenade, Nanjing Road, and the parkways of the garden suburb. Through the investigation of the form, meaning and historical influence of the modern road system, the dissertation argues that the modern road system in the International Settlement was not a copy of any existing “Western model.” Designed by British engineers and city planners, most road schemes were progressive in many important ways to solve the pragmatic, administrative, and financial problems at the time, and to realize a “sanitary, orderly, and profitable” urban enclave in the city. The modification of the road schemes through the prolonged social negotiations made roads the physical embodiment of the desires, ideals, and struggles of various social groups—Chinese and foreigners, locals and outsiders, political elite and businessmen—to design and use the urban space. With the emergence of Chinese nationalism in the early twentieth century, the Western-led city planning was decried by the new generation of Chinese politicians and social reformers, and its ideals and practices, successes and failures were gradually forgotten. Rather than describing the social confrontation between the various parties, the dissertation re-construct the historical narrative of Chinese city planning by considering the Western-led city planning as the first wave of modern city planning in China. This preliminary step toward a modern city which was led by Western city planners had an ambivalent yet profound influence on the following decades of city planning led by the Chinese elite: on the one hand, it successfully defined a progressive image of “Modern City” that all Chinese could easily access; on the other hand, although excluded Chinese from the decision-making process, it also enriched Chinese urban life by creating new amenity and the concept of public spaces which eventually engender a series of social reforms. The study not only highlights the complicated, fragmented and pragmatic nature of municipality in making planning decisions under the process of political, social and spatial struggle, it also reveals the origins and contested meanings of “modern,” “public,” and “beauty” in Chinese context, which remain fluid and disputable. The issues addressed in the study not only clarify the various forces that have shaped Shanghai’s modern built environment but also offer historical insights into the challenges and problems in urban development today. / published_or_final_version / Architecture / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The concept of sustainable consumption is today an important area, due to the fact that humans of the world consume goods and services on a regular basis which contributes towards environmental change and deprivation of both renewable as well as nonrenewable resources. One of the areas that this concept can be applied within is the retail apparel industry. The consumption of clothing is an influential cause of the ongoing environmental alteration and the unsustainable consumption of textile and apparel is becoming an increasingly important phenomena. This study investigates how the retail apparel industry in Shanghai perceive consumers behavior towards sustainable consumption. The Chinese middle class is anticipated to increase a certain percentage the upcoming years. As a result it will lead to a heave in the consumption of all resources which will leave a considerable environmental impact. Sweden is considered to be one of the leading countries when it comes to sustainable living. In order to follow Sweden path of success in sustainable consumption a review has been conducted regarding important drivers which Sweden has adapted in order to improve attitudes towards sustainable consumption. These drivers are then later on compared to Shanghai’s current situation to see if they can be used to achieve the same result in Shanghai as they did in Sweden.The primary data consists of semi-structured interviews which have been conducted in Shanghai with established recycling retailers and Nordic retail vendors with a strong base in Sweden that have managed to establish their brand in China. The research findings that were concluded in the theoretical framework and the organizational review positioned three important drivers that can be used when analyzing the concept of sustainable consumption - consumers, businesses and the government. It has also been empirically proven that in comparison to Sweden where consumer’s behavior and attitudes towards sustainability are increasing and socially accepted, Shanghai demonstrates that the concept of sustainable consumer behavior and consumption is not as equally developed and accepted.

For hundreds of years, the riverside area of Shanghai was one of the city's most vibrant places, making it an important part of Shanghai’s history. By following the story of the rivers, the life and culture of Shanghai's riverside neighbourhoods can be traced. While the river has always been important to the inhabitants of central Shanghai, it has become largely inaccessible during the last several decades. First, the booming manufacturing industries of the 20th century resulted in heavily polluted rivers. Second, physical barriers such as walls and roads were built, preventing access to the rivers. Both of these combine to create a landscape in which urban neighbourhoods are separated from the river as well as from each other. This thesis proposes ways in which a redesign of the riverside can strengthen the culture and community of neighbourhoods while also looking towards the present and future needs of residents and visitors.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.