05/11/2005
HKUST, Microsoft Launch PhD Joint Scheme
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Microsoft Research Asia (MSR Asia) will co-supervise PhD candidates in computer science to nurture the region's next generation of IT talents.
Signing ceremony: (from left) President Paul Chu, Prof Yuk-Shee Chan, Dr Harry Shum, and Dr Rick Rashid
An agreement on the Joint Doctorate Supervision Scheme was signed today (5 November 2005) at HKUST by Prof Yuk-Shee Chan, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, and Dr Harry Shum, Managing Director of MSR Asia. Prof Paul Chu, HKUST President, and Dr Rick Rashid, Senior Vice President of Microsoft Corporation, witnessed the signing.
Under the Scheme, MSR Asia will nominate candidates for admission to HKUST's Computer Science PhD program. Candidates' thesis research will be jointly supervised by HKUST faculty and senior MSR Asia research staff. Students will be required to fulfill all PhD coursework and examinations in the first year at HKUST, and carry out research at MSR Asia, Beijing,
under the guidance of the co-supervisors. Ultimately students will be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer Science by HKUST.
Dr Rick Rashid
"It is an honor to advance our valuable and productive relationship with MSR Asia. Building on HKUST's research excellence and MSR Asia's industry expertise, the Scheme will benefit our students with the best academic and industrial supervisors and an unparalleled, dynamic research environment," says Prof Chu.
"It's our great pleasure to partner with HKUST, one of the region's leading research universities. Both MSR Asia and HKUST are committed to promoting innovation, enhancing the development of IT industry, and nurturing IT talents for the region. The Joint Doctorate Supervision Scheme marks an important step towards achieving our shared goals," says Dr Shum.
Microsoft Research Asia Fellows and Dr Rick Rashid
HKUST and MSR Asia are long-term strategic partners. As recently as 2004, the two joined forces to establish the Ministry of
Education/MSR Asia IT Key Lab at HKUST. The first such national laboratory located in Hong Kong, it explores next-generation IT technologies, allowing students and researchers the freedom to engage in basic research projects with real-world applications. Related link:
The 7th annual "Computing in the 21st Century" academic conference
HKUST:
Vicki Wong Tel: (852) 2358-6317 email: [email protected] Microsoft:
Sheila Shang,
Microsoft Research Asia
Tel: (8610) 6261-7711 email: [email protected]
Penny Cheung,
Microsoft Hong Kong Limited
Tel: (852) 2804-4702 email: [email protected]
Rita Ng,
Shout Waggener Edstrom
