However, it obviously is not in the realm of “personal issues" or "individual business".
In hopes of defining the meaning and connotations of the term, we have to seize the spirit of the word "public". Surely, what "public" means is not yet clearly defined but it seems to refer to the "activities within governmental jurisdiction" from a theoretical and practical point of view.
In other words, the origin of public affairs is that when an individual influences the other members of the society directly or indirectly for personal issues or business, resulting in this affair impacting the public, the government will oversee that matter.
Mission
The Department of Public Affairs prepares students to become managers of public affairs who not only care about local issues but also think globally. Students will gain ability to address public problems through interdisciplinary training, which emphasizes both theoretical and practical knowledge.
Goals
The Department of Public Affairs has three primary goals:
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Developing managers of public affairs.
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Emphasizing both theoretical and practical knowledge.
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Developing learners’ abilities to solve complex public problems
Features
For Undergraduate Program
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Fundamental knowledge
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Political deliberation
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Democratic practice
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Public management
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Communication
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Problem-solving
For Graduate Program
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Independent conduct of research
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Democratic governance
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Administration
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Interdisciplinary integration
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Research on mainland China
Future Development
The major objectives of the Department of Public Affairs are to provide students the necessary public affairs training through offering courses needed to establish students' own specialties. Thus, in terms of career after graduation, there are five broad categories for students to choose from:
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To prepare for a career in teaching or academic research, students might further their public affairs study in a doctoral degree.
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To enter public service, graduates may register for national civil service examinations.
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To advance the development of the nation and the society as a whole, students might work as legislators, national assembly aides, journalists, pollsters, or members of Think Tanks who analyze policies and offer suggestions.
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To make good use of their professional specialty, graduates could work as professionals in the private sector, responsible for a variety of training programs.
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To map out and carry out societal reform, graduates could work in different kinds of NPOs for public service.
