Cluster Area Requirements (CAR) subjects are designed to expand the intellectual capacity of PolyU students beyond that of their disciplinary domain. To do so, they can pursue a broader range of academic subjects that use different paradigms, theoretical perspectives and methods of enquiry. After completion, students are more prepared to address professional and global issues with a multidisciplinary perspective.
Starting in 2021/22, ITC will offer two new CAR subjects: "Fashion and Beauty" and "Smart Wearables and Smart Living". All PolyU students are welcome to enroll until the maximum intake quota of 160 students in total is reached.
"Fashion and Beauty" falls under the cluster area of "Human Nature, Relations and Development". Students will develop a critical understanding of the role of fashion styling and beauty communication from sociological and psychological perspectives, and their cultural representations. Lectures, mass media analyses, group discussions and hands-on practical sessions will equip students with fashion etiquette knowledge, body modification skills to present a professional image, and attire management for different societal occasions.
The subject leader, Dr Jin Lam shares her thoughts about “Fashion and Beauty”, "The intention of launching this new subject is to provide an additional choice of CAR subjects for PolyU’s undergraduates by offering an introduction on scholarly analyses and critical explorations of the role of fashion styling and beauty communication from a multidisciplinary perspective which incorporates sociology, psychology and cultural representations."
This subject expands the holistic worldview, professional image and social communication skills of students by imparting a critical understanding of fashion styling, professional attire management and social etiquette in them, with the aim to provide them with the resources to become real-life communication professionals. Throughout this subject, students will have the opportunity to enhance their self-reflective awareness and develop their social identity to promote professional advancement and employment on a life-long basis.
The second new CAR subject is "Smart Wearable and Smart Living", which falls under the cluster area of "Science, Technology and Environment".
Smart wearable systems have high levels of intelligence, with many new functions that serve to enhance our everyday life. They can effectively see, feel, listen, talk, learn new things, memorize information, repair themselves, change their colour, shape or pattern, communicate with others via electronic media, mobile phones and the Internet, lift weight and even provide their own power. Foreseeable applications in smart living include but are not limited to healthcare, the Internet of things, smart cities, robotics, sports, fashion, housing, and protection of environment and animals. They will enhance the quality of life of human beings, help to monitor and protect the natural environment and animals, and contribute to the communication, safety and security of society.
This new CAR subject aims to provide an introduction on smart wearable technology, which is an emerging multi-disciplinary field. "Smart Wearable and Smart Living" covers foundation knowledge on flexible functional materials, technologies and products as well as key applications in the arts, communication field, healthcare, sports, and well-being and protection efforts of the natural environment. The subject is designed to enable students to identify the features and requirements of smart wearable systems for smart living. The subject also provides an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge and skills obtained through enrollment in this subject to critically analyze the latest developments and explore futuristic wearables in laboratory-based projects.
The subject lecturer, Prof. Xiaoming Tao, said, "The subject introduces innovative concepts, functional materials, interactive devices, fabrication and integration technologies, and current and emergent smart wearable systems and their applications. Emphasis will be placed upon innovative explorations of futuristic scenarios for the design, development and application of smart wearables and smart living."
