Guangzhou, China | August 20, 2025

As I write this acknowledgement, the first thing that comes to mind is the initial vision I had for my thesis when I began the MPhil programme in 2023. At that time, I envisioned a much more ambitious project than the thesis I finally completed, but the rigorous training I received at CUHK made me reconsider and refine my goals. Over the past two years, my journey at CUHK in the Department of Government and Public Administration (now the School of Governance and Policy Science) has been truly rewarding, both academically and personally.

 

I was extremely fortunate to have an excellent supervisor, Professor Seanon Wong. He was never a demanding mentor; instead, he respected student’s ideas, allowed me to explore and construct my research freely, and provided critical guidance and help whenever I needed it. We only met a couple of times to discuss my thesis, but each of those conversations was immensely inspiring and helpful—especially during moments when I doubted my topic, my methods, and even my overall academic direction. In our meetings, he always recognised my thoughts/progresses and then generously share constructive suggestions and personal experiences to guide me improve my work. His encouragement and guidance greatly boosted my academic confidence. I sincerely thank Prof Wong for his unwavering support, kind words, and invaluable guidance over the past two years. I am truly lucky and honoured to have had him as my supervisor.

 

I am also deeply grateful to the other faculty members in our department (now school) who have guided and taught me. Professor Carlos Lo and Professor Vivian Zhan introduced me to systematic qualitative and quantitative method trainings in political science; I cannot say I fully grasped everything they taught me at the time, but I did my best and their courses opened my eyes to new approaches. Professor Pierre Landry, one of the most humorous professors I have encountered, taught the core theory course of my MPhil studies, covering foundational comparative politics theories and helping to solidify my theoretical base. I also had the privilege of working as a teaching assistant to Dr Nelson Lee for two courses. His inspiring teaching style and dedication to his students were truly moving, and he provided me with a model of what a passionate educator should be.

 

My heartfelt thanks also go to my thesis committee members, Professor Peter Beattie and Professor Angela Leung. They kindly agreed to review my thesis on very short notice, and I am sincerely grateful for their time, patience, and valuable feedback. I am also grateful to the staff of the school office—Sammy, Kong, Chris, Christine, and Anthony—for their unfailing assistance and patience over the past two years, even as I kept asking many questions; your support has been indispensable to me.

 

Beyond academics, I have been lucky to share this journey with an amazing cohort of colleagues: Xinyue, Boya, Yiyang, Huayu, Zihe, Shiyuan, Chenglin, and Mingyuan. We were not only great classmates and teammates in classes and projects, but also close friends outside of class. Whether we were celebrating special moments or supporting each other through challenges, you were always there for me. Even though we were in different streams—some of us were MPhil students (like Yiyang and me) and some were PhD students—we went through this experience together and became a truly cohesive group. I could not have had such a fulfilling MPhil experience without you all.

 

Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my parents for their unconditional support, generosity, and encouragement. Their unwavering belief in me and the resources they provided allowed me to freely pursue my dreams without worries, supporting every decision I made throughout my academic journey. I also thank myself for persevering through all the challenges of these past two years and for making the most of this enriching experience. The journey was not easy, but I reached the finish line proudly, achieving accomplishments such as co-authoring an SSCI-Q1 journal article, contributing a book chapter, presenting at two leading international academic conferences, and attaining numerous other milestones. Beyond these tangible achievements, I was fortunate to have an excellent supervisor and a wonderful group of colleagues by my side. Huge congratulations to me for making it through!

 

The MPhil chapter of my life is now coming to an end, but my gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey will last forever. As I move forward, I carry with me not only the knowledge gained but also the friendships, lessons, and inspiration that will continue to shape my path ahead. I warmly wish myself all the best in the journeys to come.