SCHOOL

ECONOMIC AND REGIONAL STUDIES

ACADEMIC UNIT

DEPARTMENT OF BALKAN, SLAVIC AND ORIENTAL STUDIES

LEVEL OF STUDIES

Postgraduate

COURSE CODE

ΒΣΑ431-ΙΙ

SEMESTER

8th

COURSE TITLE

CHINA AND THE WORLD ECONOMY

INDEPENDENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES

if credits are awarded for separate components of the course, e.g. lectures, laboratory exercises, etc. If the credits are awarded for the

whole of the course, give the weekly teaching hours and the total credits

WEEKLY TEACHING HOURS

CREDITS (ECTS)

Lectures

4

6

Add rows if necessary. The organisation of teaching and the teaching methods used are described in detail at (d).

COURSE TYPE

general background, special background, specialised general

knowledge, skills development

Special background

PREREQUISITE COURSES:

No

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION and

EXAMINATIONS:

English & Chinese Mandarin

IS THE COURSE OFFERED

TO ERASMUS STUDENTS

Yes

COURSE WEBSITE (URL)

https://openeclass.uom.gr/courses/BSO260/

Learning outcomes

The course learning outcomes, specific knowledge, skills and competences of an appropriate level, which the

students will acquire with the successful completion of the course are described.

Consult Appendix A

• § Description of the level of learning outcomes for each qualifications cycle, according to the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area
• § Descriptors for Levels 6, 7 & 8 of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and Appendix B
• § Guidelines for writing Learning Outcomes

  1.   Intellectual Skills of Synthesis and Analysis

• Develop a first-hand knowledge of the multidimensional approach issues of Chinese economy, society and culture
• Synthesis and drawing conclusions based on the study of empirical data
• Learning to formulate an argument based on the data of the bibliographic research

 2.    Research Skills

• Development of skills in finding and organizing sources
• Assessment on relevant scientific issues

  3.   Development of Research Technologies

• Deeper understanding and analysis of visual material

General Competences

Taking into consideration the general competences that the degree-holder must acquire (as these appear in the

Diploma Supplement and appear below), at which of the following does the course aim?

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology

Adapting to new situations Decision-making

Working independently Team work

Working in an international environment Working in an interdisciplinary environment Production of new research ideas

Project planning and management Respect for difference and multiculturalism Respect for the natural environment

Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues

Criticism and self-criticism

Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

……

Others

…

• Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology
• Respect for difference and multiculturalism
• Promoting free, creative and inductive thinking
• Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues
• Criticism and self-criticism

  COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course aims mainly to provide specialized knowledge regarding the Chinese economy and its increasingly significant role in the global economic system. Special reference is given to the country’s economic transition model from a centrally planned economy towards a market economy. The lectures dedicated to the country’s “open-door” economic policy refer to the establishment of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) along the Eastern coastal regions, in order to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and technological know-how during the 1990s. Particular reference is made to the Chinese export-led growth model, accompanied by the country’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. The course aims to highlight China’s most recent transition from an export-led to a consumption-led growth model, by enhancing domestic consumption in the rapidly urbanizing China. One of the main objectives of the course is to analyze further the context of Chinese “Soft Power” expansionism, the national economy’s transformation from a FDI-receiver to an FDI-sender in the modern era. The course also addresses issues of unbalanced development between urban and rural areas, as well as between the eastern coastal regions and the western hinterland. The last lectures are aimed at familiarization students with basic knowledge of Mandarin Chinese language, including basic terminology of economics.

SYLLABUS

L1. ECONOMY: The way to economic transition

• The Mao era
• “Black cat, White cat”
• Rapid industrialization
• Market-oriented economic model

L2. ECONOMY: The “open-door” economic policy (I)

• Institutional development
• China’s Special Economic Zones (SEZ)

L3. ECONOMY: The “open-door” economic policy (II)

• FDI attraction and technology transfer
• Rapid economic growth

L4. ECONOMY: The export-led growth model

• WTO accession
• China & the Multi-Fiber Arrangement (MFA – ATC)
• Export differentiation / sophistication
• China’s port dominance
• The Chinese presence in Piraeus

L5. ECONOMY: The transition to consumption-led growth model

• The urban-rural gap
• The East-West China gap
• Internal migration – hukou system
• Urbanization & Metropolization
• The transition to consumption-led growth model

L6. ECONOMY: Socio-economic implications of the demographic transition

• The One Child Policy
• From “1-2-4” to “4-2-1”: The “Little Emperor” Effect
• Gender discrimination issues
• Implications on the labour market

L7. ECONOMY: China & the world economy (I)

• Chinese FDI orientation
• The Belt and Road Initiative
• The Global Gateway
• Case study: China & the Western Balkans

L8. ECONOMY: China & the world economy (II)

• “Soft power” expansionism
• Dominance on rare earth markets
• A New “Pax Sinica”?

L9. ECONOMY: China & the world economy (III)

• China and the BRICS
• BRICS Development Bank
• BRICS and Africa
• A new common currency for BRICS?

L10. LANGUAGE: Essentials of Chinese Mandarin (I)

• The strokes system
• The “pin yin” system
• Tones & phonetics

L11. LANGUAGE: Essentials of Chinese Mandarin (II)

• Basic greetings
• Basic introductions

L12. LANGUAGE: Essentials of Chinese Mandarin (III)

• Dates and time
• Age and professions

L13. LANGUAGE: Basic economic terms in Chinese Mandarin

DELIVERY

Face-to-face, Distance learning, etc.

Face-to-face (Lectures)

USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

Use of ICT in teaching, laboratory education,

communication with students

Use of ICT for supporting the learning process via the electronic platform e-class in teaching and communication with students

TEACHING METHODS

The manner & methods of teaching are described in detail. Lectures, seminars, laboratory practice, fieldwork, study and analysis of bibliography, tutorials, placements, clinical practice, art workshop, interactive teaching, educational visits, project, essay writing, artistic creativity, etc.

Activity

Semester workload

Lectures

52

Consultation

26

Autonomous studying

72

Course total

150