THE HONG K ONG UNIVER SIT Y OF SCIENCE AND TE CHNOL OG Y
Annual Repor
t 2017-18
Excellence, Integrity, and Academic Freedom Global Vision and Local Commitment Can-do Spirit
Inclusiveness, Diversity, and Respect
THE MISSION
OF THE UNIVERSITY
(a) To advance learning andknowledge through teaching and research, particularly
i. in science, technology,
engineering, management and business studies; and
ii. at the postgraduate level; and (b) To assist in the economic and
social development of Hong Kong. (The Laws of Hong Kong: Chapter 1141)
STATEMENT OF VISION
To be a leading University with significant international impact and strong local commitment.Global
To be a world-class university at the cutting edge internationally in all targeted fields of pursuit. National
To contribute to the economic and social development of the nation as a leading university in China.
Local
To play a key role, in partnership with government, business, and industry, in the development of Hong Kong as a knowledge-based society.
6 President’s Report 10 Education Development 16 Research Development 20 Research Highlights 26 Faculty Development 28 Community Engagement 32 International and Mainland Strategy 36 Organization and Resources 40 School of Engineering 42 School of Business and
Management
44 School of Humanities and
Social Science
46 Interdisciplinary
Programs Office
48 HKUST Fok Ying Tung
Graduate School
50 HKUST Jockey Club
Institute for Advanced Study
54 Governance
56 Awards and Recognitions 60 Calendar of Events 64 Facts and Figures 68 Appendices – Court, Council and Senate – Advisory Committee – Finance – Internal Control and Risk Management
Chairman’s
Foreword
As industrial revolution 4.0 advances and the era of artificial intelligence, big data and internet of things starts to make its presence felt in a rising number of fields, universities must increasingly prepare their students for emerging sectors, unfolding technology discoveries and developments, and new ways of working.
Such thinking is embedded throughout HKUST’s recent Strategic Plan, which entered its second year in 2017-18 and is enabling the University to add to its graduates’ capabilities to initiate, foster, and capture the openings arising from our transformative times. It is doing so by creating the framework for insightful educational advancement, inspiring knowledge discovery, and deeper contribution to knowledge transfer and social and economic development. HKUST’s rise to the No.1 position in the world in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings in 2018 offered reinforcement of this positioning and HKUST’s on-going adaptation to the fast-evolving global environment.
The eminent local and international faculty that HKUST attracts, and keenly endeavors to retain, are essential in such institutional achievement, ensuring the University maintains its ability to deliver top education and research to today’s young people in Hong Kong and from many different locations around the world. Over the year, these academics’ individual excellence was further acknowledged by numerous honors, including a State Natural Science Award (First Class) – only the second awarded to a Hong Kong scholar since the city started to participate in the awards in 1989 – and an induction into the US National Inventors Hall of Fame.
However, as the world heads deeper into this disruptive century, it is becoming clear that a leading education must not only encompass novel digital pedagogies and
interdisciplinary programs but look beyond campus days to assist graduates in their transition to the working world. In line with this development, HKUST is placing greater emphasis on internal and external internship opportunities, with hundreds of students benefiting in 2017-18. The University’s constant search to unlock individual potential and passion, and build all-round knowledge and skills helped to put HKUST graduates in the top 20 worldwide and No.1 in Greater China for the fifth consecutive year in the Global Employability University Ranking 2017. Meanwhile, numerous entrepreneurship talks and workshops during the year drew thousands of students, generating enthusiasm and impetus on the start-up economy front. To keep the institution itself efficient, flexible and responsive to external change, the Council continued to augment governance and oversight through the Task Force on the Review of Council Effectiveness and related working groups. Over 2017-18, the Council approved a University accountability agreement, which outlines HKUST’s roles and responsibilities, and serves as the basis of the formal agreement to be signed by the University and the University Grants Committee; and a new governance process related to large capital works to ensure effective oversight of forthcoming capital projects. In addition, a clearly defined policy and guidelines on donations will enable the University to adhere to more stringent governance requirements for all fundraising activities and naming arrangements. The development of risk management policies and procedures enhanced institutional preparedness while the University Retreat saw Council members’ advice actively sought and given on the formation of key performance indicators to assess management’s progress on Strategic Plan objectives. Council members also provided support for the University’s exploration of opportunities in significant large-scale
The growing demand for
21st-century skills in the
workplace in response to
fast-moving technological
innovation and
globalization, is creating a
fresh urgency for higher
education to meet the needs
of our changing economic
and social landscape, both
locally and worldwide.
ANNUAL REPORT
2017-18
HKUST
5
endeavors such as the Greater Bay Area plan and Belt and Road Initiative.
Regarding institutional leadership, the past 12 months brought a rigorous global search and the appointment of Prof. Wei SHYY, Executive Vice President and Provost, as HKUST’s fourth President, effective from September 1, 2018. Prof. Shyy is a leading aerospace engineering researcher and educator and a highly experienced international university administrator. In his eight years at HKUST, he has already shown his dedication to excellence, inclusiveness, and diversity, along with a visionary leadership approach that combines foresight, drive, and a willingness to engage with all stakeholders. With Prof. Shyy’s passion for all aspects of flying, I am
certain that the University will rise further and attain new heights of achievement under his watch.
On behalf of the Council, faculty and students, we are grateful to President Tony CHAN for his committed service. Since his appointment in 2009, he has inspired others with his vision, strategic planning and fundraising efforts as well as his
achievements in improving student life and campus infrastructure. During his tenure, HKUST has risen in global rankings and is now regarded as one of the best universities in the world.
I extend my appreciation to Council Members, Administration of the University, donors, alumni, and students for their input
and efforts, and express my sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong SAR Government in particular the University Grants Committee for contributing to the continued development of HKUST over 2017-18. The world may be on the move in myriad ways. Yet, as the year has indicated, HKUST’s dynamic outlook, strategic direction, and well-prepared graduates are ready and able to not only advance with it but actively contribute to shaping the future. It is an exciting prospect that fills me with confidence and hope for the times ahead.
Chairman, University Council MR. ANDREW LIAO CHEUNG-SING GBS, JP
President’s
Report
DRAWING TALENTS,
LEADING THE WAY
The creation of three new divisions and departments, the realignment of three more, and the approval of five new bachelor programs propelled to the forefront an array of rising and interdisciplinary high-impact areas, namely, ocean science, sustainability, decision analytics, public policy, biological engineering, and integrative systems. All will answer the increasing local and global demand for graduates equipped to drive forward the data-rich “smart” communities, workplaces, and ways of life in the decades ahead and enable the University to retain its leading edge by attracting top young minds and academics to these significant fields.
Novel pedagogies to foster the skills and dynamic mindset required to thrive in the forthcoming era included the adoption of a pioneering team-based project approach for our new Integrative Systems and Design bachelor program and the signing of a unique partnership with the Minerva Project, an elite higher education provider, that will draw out students’ creative and critical thinking and boost future teaching innovation at HKUST.
On the research front, the University’s world-class researchers secured around $474 million from funding organizations in Hong Kong and outside the city. Hong
Kong’s Research Grants Council and the Innovation and Technology Fund provided support for 222 and 36 new projects respectively, including one Theme-based Research Scheme Project that received $50 million, including matching, to produce eco-friendly rechargeable electron-fuels and a new type of energy storage system. The setting-up of four research centers brought the total number to 44 at the Clear Water Bay campus and Mainland platforms. The new hubs are focused on artificial intelligence, smart city technologies and policy facilitation, integrated circuit design, and epigenomics, and will encourage interdisciplinary exploration in these key areas of the future by drawing together established and early career researchers from different fields to share insights and initiate collaborations. In addition, four more joint laboratories with leading industry partners were initiated to study artificial intelligence in mobile computing and augmented reality, big data finance, environmental health technologies, and to share high-end facilities for research on the environment. It was indicative of our long-term vision that HKUST also became the first institution in Asia to join the Partnership on AI to Benefit People and Society, a not-for-profit consortium set up by major global technology platforms, including Amazon and Google, to promote ethical development of artificial intelligence.
In 2017-18, the University
continued to successfully
implement its Strategic
Plan, with pace-setting
moves in the five key
objectives: recruitment and
development of leading
talents; trendsetting in
education and research;
championing knowledge
transfer, innovation and
entrepreneurship among the
University community and
beyond; diversity and
integration to foster
collaboration and
inclusiveness; and
best-in-class exemplar in
standards, practices, and
operations.
ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 HKUST
7
PROPELLING DISCOVERY
AND START-UPS
During 2017-18, the University added to its scientific and technology breakthroughs, with major discoveries including Alzheimer’s disease genetic risk factors in the Chinese population, identification of the cause of bacterial resistance to peptide antibiotics, and a synthetic pathway to produce chiral molecules. A fusion-based “smart” location sensing technology for indoor navigation and other applications, an HIV protein finding that could potentially lead to a vaccine, and a novel energy storage system incorporating electrically rechargeable liquid fuels were among many other original contributions.
Looking to support next-generation enterprise and Hong Kong economic development, preparations took place for a HKUST Entrepreneurship Fund to be launched in the coming year to provide capital investment to University technology start-ups with high potential. This will join the up-and-running Proof-of-Concept Fund and HKUST Entrepreneurship Program, which since establishment in 1999 has spun-off over 30 active companies. In external funding, 11 applications to the Innovation and Technology Commission’s Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU) Program were recommended for funding, bringing total
HKUST-related TSSSU start-ups to 40. Some 70% of these endeavors leverage HKUST technology.
I was happy and grateful to see recognition of our work from the community through the generous donations that enabled us to confer named professorships on 15 more faculty members in recognition of their outstanding work, as well as gifts that will facilitate frontier work in life science, healthcare, and other areas of research. I would also like to highlight the contribution of our alumni, who are assisting current students through scholarships and start-up grants from the Alumni Endowment Fund, and enhancing the University’s reputation through their own award-winning technology and community contributions and achievements in Hong Kong and around the world.
INTEGRATION AND
SUSTAINABILITY
To foster concern for others and a shared sense of belonging and tolerance, the year brought the introduction of a residence hall initiative whereby 500 first-year students had the opportunity to stay in hall for one year, easing the transition from school to higher education and encourage integration between local and non-local students. On a wider scale, a distinctive partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will extend HKUST’s
humanitarian insights through joint research with the ICRC as well as a traineeship at the organization’s Geneva headquarters. Meanwhile, the HKUST 2020 Sustainability Challenge, which is working toward “green” leadership across the University’s
education, research, operations, and community, led to year-on-year reductions of greenhouse gas emissions (-7.2%), waste (-2.6%), and electricity (-1.6%), along with the withdrawal of plastic water bottles under one liter from sale on campus.
A MEMORABLE JOURNEY
With my term as President ending on August 31, 2018, I wish to add here my deep and heartfelt thanks to all the colleagues, students, alumni, Council and Court members, community supporters, academic partners, and industry collaborators, who have contributed to driving forward HKUST to the next level of achievement during my nine-year tenure. It has been an inspiring and memorable partnership and to my great delight has resulted in many impactful research breakthroughs and academic accolades at the highest levels for both eminent and young faculty; and a more diverse, participatory, and entrepreneurial student body, welcomed into elite academic institutions and significant jobs worldwide. HKUST and its achievements within a short and amazing 27-year history are also much more well-known in a broader mix of locations, ranging from different cities in Mainland China to regions around the world, a development that has encouraged wider academic exchange and
collaboration, and a greater cultural mix on campus.
I am especially proud of contributing to the overall strengthening of HKUST as an institution, through strategic planning, overseeing the articulation of the University’s core values, fund-raising to enable the University to undertake far-sighted and otherwise unaffordable initiatives, and the 1-HKUST drive to really imbue a spirit of integration and
togetherness on campus. I wish all at HKUST and my successor Prof. Wei Shyy the very best in the years ahead. I am confident that the University will continue to create “miracles”.
President
Mr. Mark HODGSON
Vice-President for
Administration and Business
University
Management
Prof. Tony F. CHAN
President
Prof. Wei SHYY
Executive Vice-President and Provost
Prof. Sabrina LIN
Vice-President for Institutional Advancement
Prof. Nancy Y. IP
Vice-President for Research and Development
ANNUAL REPORT
2017-18
HKUST
It has been a dynamic year of change across the University’s educational landscape, with the introduction of new and revamped divisions, departments, and degrees that answer changing needs in the era of big data and cross-disciplinary approaches; pace-setting collaborative, internationalized, and personal development endeavors; and entrepreneurial accomplishments. Several Schools and offices redrew field boundaries in 2017-18. The restructuring generated three more Divisions/
Departments (Division of Integrative Systems and Design, School of Engineering; Department of Ocean Science, School of Science; and Division of Public Policy, Interdisciplinary Programs Office) and saw three other Divisions/Departments (Division of Environment and Sustainability, Interdisciplinary Programs Office; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Department of Industrial Engineering; and Decision Analytics, School of Engineering) established after existing units were realigned and renamed.
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Keeping at the Forefront
In line with such moves, the Senate approved six new majors over the year. Four have started in Fall 2018 (BSc in Integrative Systems and Design, BSc in Data Science and Technology, BEng in Decision Analytics, BEng in Sustainable Energy Engineering) and two in Fall 2019 (BSc in Ocean Science and Technology, BEng in Bioengineering). Faculty have adopted a “real world” problem-based project learning approach as the key pedagogy for the pioneering Integrative Systems and Design program. The program will have an annual cohort of around 30 students whose study paths will be determined by their technical inclinations and capstone project requirements.
In other exciting initiatives, the University signed a first-of-its kind partnership agreement with the Minerva Project to launch the HKUST-Minerva Scholars Program in Fall 2018. Minerva is a provider of unique higher education offerings that bring together rigorous active learning methodologies and advanced information technology to equip students to think critically and creatively, and communicate and interact effectively. Several HKUST faculty members will use Minerva’s Active Learning Forum technology platform to deliver the organization’s cornerstone competency-building courses to HKUST students while students at Minerva Schools at Keck Graduate Institute in the US can opt to spend time in their fourth year of study at HKUST. The partnership, administered by the Center for Education Innovation, is expected to lead to further advances in the University’s curriculum design and pedagogical development. Around 35 students will be recruited to join the program.
On the e-learning front, HKUST joined eight other top universities worldwide in a Global Virtual Exchange Agreement, giving students the option to take online courses and gain credits using the edX platform. The virtual exchange provides students with a wider range of courses and expertise, and makes learning more flexible by allowing them to study across borders. This will be of particular benefit to those unable to travel to another institution as part of a regular exchange. HKUST signed the agreement in December 2017, becoming the first institution in Asia to participate. Over the year, HKUST also added to its host of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) with the launch of a fintech specialization on the Coursera platform in April 2018.
Education
Development
HKUST deepened its
high-performance, all-round
student experience through
multi-faceted teaching and
learning innovation
11
The accelerated engineering and law dual degree program, offered by HKUST School of Engineering and the University of Exeter in the UK, started with the launch of Contract Law module in Summer 2017. Students earn a BEng degree at HKUST and one of two law degrees (Juris Doctor or Master of Laws) at Exeter in five years, completing their studies a year earlier than normal.
Over
1,750
undergraduates
received
2,200
scholarships,
totaling
$70.1
million
Nurturing Diversity and
Global Vision
In 2017-18, over 1,000 students benefited from the University’s signature exchange program, studying at exchange partner institutions around the world. Credit-bearing study abroad summer programs, offered together with partner universities, brought additional opportunities to experience other cultural and social environments. Almost 300 students participated in programs held at London School of Economics and Political Science, Oxford University, Cambridge University, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Berkeley. Locations for other summer programs included Brunei, Czech Republic, Estonia, Mainland China, Poland, Taiwan and Singapore.
On campus HKUST has worked hard to achieve the most diverse group of non-local undergraduates (16.2%) among University Grants Committee-funded institutions. In 2017-18, 44.73% of non-local students came from Mainland China, 49.58% from other places in Asia and 5.69% from the rest of the world. To continue broadening the non-local student mix, the
Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions Office (URAO) organized a counselor fly-in program in Spring 2018. The visit brought 32 high school counsellors from Turkey, Kazakhstan, and the Middle East to HKUST to learn more about the University’s undergraduate programs, campus facilities, and education opportunities for their students. In addition, URAO established regional scholarships for both Mainland and international students. For the 2018 intake, the Office provided up to 12 full/half
renewable scholarships for outstanding students from five Mainland provinces. Scholarships for international students are due to commence in the next admission cycle.
High Achievers Recognized
Many other scholarships are available to support leading academic and non-academic talents and foster excellence. In 2017-18, over 1,750 undergraduates received 2,200 awards, totaling $70.1 million, with around 25% granted more than one scholarship. Three HKUST high flyers received Belt and Road Scholarships for students from Malaysia, out of a total of 10 such honors funded by the Hong Kong government and other donors. Two top student athletes, who excel in taekwondo and archery respectively, secured Alumni Endowment Fund Sports Scholarships.
Internship Insights
Internships provide a great opportunity for students to explore career interests, gain work experience, and enhance their competitiveness before graduation. Overall, in 2017-18, around 24 HKUST
departments/offices hired around 400 students, while 85 students participated in overseas internships in 19 countries across five continents, and some 200 students joined Mainland internship programs in various cities.
Fresh initiatives saw 22 students take up winter and summer internships at Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, Tianjin, Guangxi, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Twenty-three participants joined a 14-day Japan Career Exploration Program, visiting 17 well-known companies in Tokyo during the winter break and making business
presentations to senior executives. Some 50 students secured summer internships under the Pilot Scheme on Corporate Summer Internship on the Mainland and Overseas, spearheaded by the Hong Kong
government’s Home Affairs Bureau.
Employability Boost
A record 361 companies joined Career Mosaic to recruit interns and fill graduate positions. Career Mosaic is a bi-annual University-wide job fair organized by the Career Center. Reinforcing the University’s competitive edge in the graduate job market, HKUST moved to 12th place worldwide and No.1 in Greater China in the 2017 Global Employability University Ranking, conducted by Emerging, a human resources consultancy and Trendence, a leading research institute. The University’s graduates have been among the world’s top 20 most employable and the most employable in Greater China for five years in a row.
Strengthening Heart to Serve
The HKUST Connect community engagement program, under the Student Affairs Office, collaborated with 80 partners to open up different service opportunities and engaged 2,253 students in 173 service projects in 2017-18. Activities included one local workcamp and 12 service learning trips to Mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, the US, and a pilot study trip to Seoul to explore positive innovation. HKUST Service Learning Day recruited over 900 students, faculty members, staff and alumni to serve in 57 service projects in April 2018.
Through HKUST Connect, the University forged a distinctive research and traineeship partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to encourage humanitarian work and global vision among the University
community. Under the arrangement, HKUST faculty and students will work with ICRC on a project to quantify the economic impact of humanitarian intervention in developing countries. A trainee position will also be designated exclusively for HKUST students at ICRC’s Geneva headquarters for the first time.
13
Realizing the Potential to Lead
The University encouraged student-initiated activities via a range of schemes, such as the President’s 1-HKUST Student Life Award (82 projects) and Student Enrichment Activities Fund (68 projects). In 2017-18, the Redbird Leadership Community, which trains student leaders, recruited 120 members and 10 student leaders to serve the University and local community. Three members and alumni gained financial sponsorship from the Redbird Overseas Learning Program to participate in young leader events in Australia, Thailand, and Malaysia. A total of 7 silver awards, 55 bronze awards, and 15 certificates of completion recognized students’ dedication.
Nurturing Well-being
The University launched the pilot First-Year Experience @ Residence Program in 2017-18 to enhance students’ campus life and ease the transition from school to university. The scheme enabled around 500 first-year students, including non-local
undergraduates, to enjoy one full year in a residential hall. Senior undergraduate mentors, who received training in mental health awareness, leadership, and personal development skills, provided additional support.
Over 2,000 HKUST students and staff completed a 12-hour Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program organized by the Counseling and Wellness Center. Such training equips participants to give initial support to people with mental health problems or experiencing a mental health crisis.
POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION
The number of postgraduates reached a record 5,098 as at December 31, 2017, marking an increase of around 5% compared with the previous year. The student body hailed from over 60 countries and regions, with 2,000 postgraduates enrolled in 53 research programs and 3,098 students studying on 37 taught programs.
Increased Scope
In line with HKUST’s strategic focus on data science research, the University introduced an MSc in Business Analytics and an enriched Scientific Computation
Concentration for MPhil and PhD students in nine disciplines in science and
engineering. Planning took place for a two-year professional Master of Public Policy program and the dual-degree HKUST-SKOLKOVO Executive MBA Program for Eurasia. The latter is jointly organized with the Moscow School of
Management SKOLKOVO in Russia and focuses on innovation, leadership, and the Belt and Road Initiative. Both programs will start in 2018-19.
The University also entered into agreements with HEC Paris, Shenzhen University, Université de Montpellier, University of Southern California, University of Toronto, and Yale University to offer dual degree or joint supervision postgraduate programs. Such arrangements create more openings
Postgraduate intake
reached a
record high of
ANNUAL REPORT
2017-18
HKUST
15
introduced the experiential
“Entrepreneurship 1001: Building Your Own Future” course in which students unpack the start-up process via setting up an online shop and a field trip to Shenzhen. The Entrepreneurship minor program expanded in both enrolment and content, bringing the total number of students enrolled in entrepreneurship courses to 130. Over 45 entrepreneurship seminars (+21%), workshops, and talks took place over the year and more than 2,800 students (+110%) attended the events.
Inspiring Support
The new Leapfrog initiative generated further experiential opportunities and cultural exchange with overseas students and entrepreneurs. The first international learning tour took place in January 2018 where students explored e-commerce and the start-up ecosystem in Seoul. A further trip to Sydney was scheduled for July 2018. In the national arena, HKUST students attended Fudan University’s Bauhinia Valley Program in December 2017 and May 2018 to engage in entrepreneurship activities. In total over 40 students participated in the Leapfrog program over the year. The HKUST U*STAR Program usefully assisted students in developing business propositions and strengthening investor fund-raising capabilities. Since launch in 2016-17, the program has received 27 applications from more than 10 departments and programs. Several entrepreneurship-related funds are also now available to kickstart early-stage ideas and start-up activities. In 2017-18, the Yeung Wing Yee Entrepreneurs Fund supported 13 HKUST start-ups, the Entrepreneurship Acceleration Fund assisted 38 innovative projects while
Alumni Endowment Fund (AEF) Student Start-up Grants supported 8 projects. On the development front, the
Entrepreneurship Center assisted several start-ups to join the Cyberport Incubation Programme and Cyberport University Partnership Programme.
Competitive Edge
Demonstrating the strong potential of many HKUST start-ups, students and alumni teams won several prestigious awards over the year. Achievements included the Grand Award and Gold Award in the Student Innovation category at the Hong Kong ICT Awards and the top prize in the “GCL Cup” International College Student Green Energy Science and Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition, beating 70 teams. Four HKUST technology start-ups received the Analyst’s Choice Award at the Startup Launchpad 2018 – Consumer Electronics trade show. Only 20 start-ups out of 200 participating fledgling companies were selected for the award.
The renowned HKUST One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition expanded to include Foshan and Zhongshan in 2018, bringing the total number of cities holding the competition to seven. In the Hong Kong regional competition, the event attracted 101 teams, encompassing HKUST students, alumni, faculty, and researchers, as well as a title sponsor for the first time. The award ceremony in June 2018 was broadcast via Facebook Live to enable more people to share the occasion. The winner was Sinocore Biotechnology Ltd, which received the President Award, Innovation Award and The Mills Sustainability Prize for a refined version of flocculant, which can separate sewage water into sludge and water and also catalyze sludge fermentation. The Entrepreneurship Center served as coordinator for all the regional competitions. for postgraduate students to engage in
international collaboration and widen training and research options.
Extending Horizons
Over 350 scholarships were awarded to 310 postgraduates totaling $12.54 million in 2017-18. This brought the total amount of scholarships granted to undergraduate and postgraduate students to $82.64 million, a 10% increase compared with 2016-17. HKUST recruited the largest number of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme participants, attracting 54 out of 231 (23% of the total) awardees for 2018-19 admission. Fellowship students come from 19 countries and regions, adding considerably to the
internationalization of the University’s research student community.
The Professional Development Course, introduced in 2013-14 to cultivate all-round capabilities among postgraduates, became a uniform requirement for all research postgraduates admitted from 2017-18 onward. The course comprises a mandatory component on professional conduct and a choice of activities and workshops on communication skills, research competency, entrepreneurship, self-management, and career development.
STUDENT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A diverse range of activities are available through the Entrepreneurship Center and across the University to encourage students to gain experience in transforming
knowledge into businesses and services and to set up their own companies. In 2017-18, the science and technology section of the Common Core program
Research
Development
ADVANCING DISCOVERY
HKUST continued to make strenuous efforts to secure grants from funding bodies, locally and from outside Hong Kong, in 2017-18 to sustain its state-of-the-art research amid fierce competition. During the year, the University received approval for over 840 proposals, resulting in combined funding of more than $474.3 million.
The main source of support was Hong Kong’s Research Grants Council (RGC), which awarded $191.6 million for 222 new projects to HKUST researchers in 2017-18. A Theme-based Research Scheme project to deliver rechargeable electron-fuels for stationary power supplies and electric vehicles attracted $50 million (including matching). Four group research and two major equipment proposals received a total of $36.7 million from the Collaborative Research Fund. The group grants will support studies into immune cells, neurohistology, quantum physics, and aggregation-induced emission systems. The equipment funding will enable the University to acquire a modular drum centrifuge and advanced 3D robot to form a world-leading centrifuge cluster in hazard prevention, offshore resource engineering, and environmental protection; and make atomic-scale characterizations for two-dimensional materials available. In non-RGC funding, the University submitted 109 research proposals to the Hong Kong government’s Innovation and Technology Fund and received $115.5 million for 36 new projects. Two HKUST-MIT Research Alliance Consortium projects secured just over $10 million each to develop autonomous robotic manipulation and integrated networked control for internet-of-things devices respectively. Two
projects under the similar HKUST Berkeley Research Collaboration received funding: control of exoskeletons using multi-modal human machine interfaces; and an automated robotic glass inspection system to check for smartphone display defects. Stephen Kam-chuen Cheong Professor of Science and Chair Professor of Chemistry TANG Benzhong received the State Natural Science Award (First Class) 2017, China’s highest award for natural science researchers and only the second Hong Kong academic to receive the honor since the start of the city’s participation in the awards in 1989. He was honored for his outstanding work on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and the discovery’s contribution to medicine, applied science and life science. Two of the University’s young faculty members received Croucher Innovation Awards, each worth $5 million for research. Prof. Tuan Anh NGUYEN (Life Science) will seek to investigate miRNA production and virus amplification. Prof. PAN Ding (Physics and Chemistry) will investigate carbon in the deep Earth.
WIDER MAINLAND
OPPORTUNITIES
In May 2018, the Chinese government announced the opening up of applications from higher education institutions and research institutions in Hong Kong for funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Finance. To better prepare faculty members to bid for state funding, the Research Office
undertook an internal review on procedures and eligibility of applicants. The central government move is expected to foster more research opportunities and collaboration between HKUST faculty and Mainland peers and institutions.
HKUST researchers
continued to uncover
knowledge and transfer
breakthroughs into practical
applications
ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 HKUST
17
VALUE-ADDED
INFRASTRUCTURE
In 2017-18, the University reviewed its existing platforms to evaluate their effectiveness and relevance to contemporary objectives and ensure alignment with evolving directions. As a result, some units were wound down or repositioned and new facilities established. Among leading developments, the year saw the inaugural symposium for the GREAT Smart Cities Center, and the setting-up of the Center for AI Research, Integrated Circuits Design Center and the Center for Epigenomics Research.
More than
$474.3
million
of
research
funding
received in
2017-18
Joint laboratories with industry were boosted by the launch of the HKUST-NAVER/ LINE AI Lab, HKUST Value Partners Big Data Finance Research Lab, HKUST-CIL Joint Laboratory of Environmental Health Technologies, with Chiaphua Industries Ltd., and the HKUST ENVF-INA/LMA Joint Laboratory on Environment, which will share state-of-the-art, high-end equipment and facilities for environmental research. The University’s nine Central Research Facilities continued to provide vital access to top equipment and resources to support faculty and students’ research across disciplines and schools, and to researchers outside the University. HKUST was the first institution in Hong Kong to adopt the centralized facilities model which forms an essential part of the University’s research enterprise. In 2017-18, the on-going periodic review of the facilities completed its appraisal of the Advanced Engineering Materials Facility and Design Manufacturing Services Facility.
FAR-SIGHTED PARTNERSHIPS
The University recognizes the value of national and international collaborations with leading global institutions to foster research opportunities and insights. In 2017-18, HKUST formed a partnership with leading Chinese mobile transportation platform Didi Chuxing to collaborate on research and development in smart transportation systems. The HKUST-University of Manchester Seed Fund was also set up to deepen research links in areas of mutual interest and strength. Under this arrangement, three projects got underway, looking at achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through economics research collaboration, 2D materials, and improved understanding of airborne biological particles.
In recognition of the University’s capabilities and standing, Harvard Business Publishing Corporation and the School of Business and Management’s Thompson Center for Business Case Studies entered an agreement to carry and distribute HKUST’s EMBA case studies.
1
ST
institution in Asia
to join the Partnership
on AI to Benefit
People and Society
In addition, HKUST became the first institution in Asia to join the Partnership on AI to Benefit People and Society, an international not-for-profit consortium to promote the development of ethical artificial intelligence. The University will seek to ensure safety, security, privacy, transparency and fairness in such technology in the Asian region. The consortium was founded by global technology platforms, including Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft.
MOVING KNOWLEDGE
BEYOND THE CAMPUS
In 2017-18, 153 inventions were disclosed at both the Clear Water Bay and the Mainland platforms, and 244 new patent applications filed to protect the University’s intellectual property. With the granting of 143 newly granted patents, the number of active patents and patent applications in HKUST’s IP portfolio now stands at 1,390. HKUST R and D Corporation (RDC), the University’s business arm, explored channels and opportunities for IP licensing to industry, managing a total of 103 active patent and software licensing agreements, with an additional four active licenses managed by Mainland platforms. Together with licensing income generated from Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), overall licensing income in 2017-18 came to $6.7 million.
ANNUAL REPORT
2017-18
HKUST
19
The HKUST Entrepreneurship Program continued to support the University community’s start-up vision and incubation of spin-offs. Three companies graduated from the program in 2017-18, bringing the total active spin-off companies to 34. Renovation of incubation space at the main campus is expected to be completed by 2018-19, creating more room to accommodate start-ups. University incubation programs at Shenzhen Research Institute (SRI) and Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute (FYTRI) in Nansha hosted a total of 60 start-ups. Externally, the Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU) Program, launched in 2014 by the Innovation and Technology Commission, attracted 47 HKUST applications, bringing total University-related TSSSU applications for the past five years to 176. Eleven of the 2017-18 applications were recommended for funding, taking the total number of HKUST-affiliated TSSSU start-ups to 40. Over 70% of these fledgling companies utilize HKUST technology and 40% have entered incubation programs organized by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks and Cyberport. Further assistance became available with the launch of the Walter Kwok Technology Start-up Fund. This scheme provides $4 million annual funding to HKUST TSSSU awardees through
interest-free bridging loans to ease early-stage cash flow issues and allow founders to spend more time on technology development. In addition, mentorship and business network opportunities will be provided to start-ups under the fund.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
HKUST knowledge transfer activities in the community involved 669 public lectures, workshops, and seminars, and 99 performances and exhibitions of creative works over the year. The University’s Institute for Public Policy published the first report on integrative development of innovation and technology in the Greater Bay Area, highlighting the risks that Hong Kong faces if it does not speed up such development, and providing
recommendations to the Hong Kong government. The Institute also organized three seminars, covering topics from environmental issues to Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development and the demographic challenges facing China and North-East Asia. Two distinguished lectures hosted by the Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education team, discussed US President Donald Trump’s policies in his first year in office and the importance of demography in Hong Kong. HKUST also enters into partnership with the
private sector in a wide range of technological areas. In 2017-18, RDC provided services for 188 contract research cases worth $72 million in total. University researchers carried out 11 consultancy projects totaling $2.4 million. Meanwhile, 333 equipment and facilities service agreements have been made with companies in Hong Kong and beyond related to use of the University’s major equipment and facilities, bringing in an additional $2.5 million. The total income generated over the year through contract research, consultancy and testing services, including Mainland platforms, reached HK$96.5 million.
GENERATING START-UPS
The established Proof-of-Concept Fund provided internal support, with 14 applications received over 2017-18 and 9 projects recommended by a vetting committee comprising industrial experts and venture capitalists. In addition, plans for the launch of HKUST Entrepreneurship Fund to benefit promising University technology start-ups moved forward. The Fund is intended to provide capital investment solely to HKUST start-ups to help bridge the financing gap before young companies can secure sufficient external funding to grow or expand. The goal is for the fund to become operational next year.Research
Highlights
Breakthroughs in and
across science, engineering,
business and management,
and humanities and social
science added to global
knowledge and catalyzed
change
CHINESE RISK GENES
INDICATE IMMUNE SYSTEM’S
ROLE IN AD
A research team led by Prof. Nancy IP (Life Science) identified Alzheimer’s disease genetic risk factors in the Chinese
population through the first whole-genome sequencing study in a Chinese Alzheimer’s disease cohort, comprising thousands of participants. The team identified variants of well-studied genetic marker APOE as well as two novel risk genes, GCH1 and KCNJ15 associated with the disease. They also discovered that these risk factors were associated with the alteration of immune pathways, specifically changes in immune biomarkers in the brain and blood. The findings provided critical new evidence of the immune system’s role in Alzheimer’s disease pathology. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
SYNTHETIC ROUTE TO
CHIRAL MOLECULES
Over half of the approved drugs now in use worldwide are chiral, treating conditions including cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. But production is complex, costly, and generally requires rare and expensive raw materials. Researchers led by Prof. SUN Jianwei (Chemistry) uncovered a synthetic way to produce chiral molecules, discovering that chiral allenes can be produced through organic catalysis using racemic propargylic alcohols, which are inexpensive and readily available. The catalyst is also recyclable, reusable, and does not create metal wastes. The research, which may lead to safer and more
affordable medicines, appeared in Nature Communications.
INSIGHTS INTO LIFE AT
SUB-CELLULAR LEVEL
Prof. DU Shengwang, Prof. Michael LOY Ming-Tak (both Physics), and their students invented a Line-Bessel sheet microscope. The new microscope is 1,000 times less photo-toxic and 1,000 times faster in taking a high-resolution 3D smooth live-cell video than existing confocal microscopes, providing an avenue for life scientists to unlock the dynamics of life at the sub-cellular level. The technology has been transferred to Light Innovation Technology (LiT) Limited, a start-up co-founded by Prof. Du and his team.
ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 HKUST
21
CAUSE OF ANTIBIOTIC
RESISTANCE IDENTIFIED
A research team led Prof. QIAN Peiyuan (Ocean Science) identified the cause of broad-spectrum bacterial resistance to peptide antibiotics for the first time, paving the way for new designs for drugs tackling superbugs. Peptide antibiotics are widely perceived as the last defense against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The team also discovered that the DRP enzyme identified as the cause of bacteria resistance was found in many strains of bacteria, providing a further alert in relation to the on-going improper use of antibiotics. The findings appeared in Nature Chemical Biology.
LOW-RANK MATRIX
RECOVERY FRAMEWORK
Prof. CAI Jianfeng (Mathematics) proposed a framework for provable non-convex algorithms for low-rank matrix recovery, facilitating the reconstruction of a low-rank matrix from incomplete measurements. The algorithms were successfully applied to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to design effective sampling schemes and recovery algorithms to save data acquisition time and cost. The results have potential applications in a range of real-world problems in big data, artificial intelligence, imaging science, signal processing, and computer vision.
DESIGN AND PRICING OF
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
The design and pricing of products and services are increasingly important due to technological changes, new offers from competitors, and changes in consumer tastes. A research project led by Prof. Guillermo GALLEGO (Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics) addresses this problem by optimally selecting the attributes to be included in a product, the quality level of each included attribute, and the product’s price. The work is done in the context of consumer choice models. They have shown that their design is win-win for the multinomial logit model, the most commonly used choice model, in the sense that it simultaneously maximizes the firm’s profit and the expected consumer surplus. His group is extending the results to other choice models and working with companies on the design and pricing of services in the knowledge economy, including cloud computing and airline fares.
STEERING AHEAD IN
INDOOR NAVIGATION
Prof. Gary CHAN (Computer Science and Engineering) and his research team invented a fusion-based technology that markedly improves accuracy of positioning inside buildings, enabling smart location-based applications such as indoor navigation, location-based personalized recommendation, crowd analysis, and people flow control. The location sensing technology comprises a software suite fusing Wi-Fi with other signals on mobile platforms. It can reduce positioning error to less than 2.5 meters in general
environments, three times more accurate than traditional approaches.
ON-OFF MECHANISM FOR
NEURONAL ACTIVITIES
An interdisciplinary team of scientists discovered how human brains turn on and off neuronal activities, providing an important foundation to understand neurologic conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and ataxia-telangiectasia diseases. The team, led by Prof. Karl HERRUP (Life Science), found the brain balances excitation and inhibition through regulating the levels of large kinase enzymes ATM and ATR. The team further discovered ATM only regulates excitatory synaptic vesicles while ATR is only
responsible for inhibitory ones. The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
ANNUAL REPORT
2017-18
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E-FUELING THE FUTURE
A novel energy storage system that incorporates electrically rechargeable liquid fuels, known as e-fuels, is set to address the challenges preventing widespread use of renewable energy. The project, led by Prof. ZHAO Tianshou (Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering), includes design of an e-fuel charger that electrochemically converts electricity into e-fuel, which in turn can be converted back into electricity using an e-fuel cell for end use. The charger can convert intermittent wind and solar power into e-fuels, which can be stored indefinitely without quality degradation and transported to wherever needed. The project was awarded HK$50 million under the Hong Kong Research Grants Council’s Theme-based Research Scheme.
FITNESS LANDSCAPE OF HIV
ENVELOPE PROTEIN
An international multidisciplinary research team, led by Prof. Matthew McKAY and Prof. Raymond LOUIE (both Electronic and Computer Engineering), employed a computational framework and big data analysis to map out the “fitness” landscape of the crucial polyprotein gp160 in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for the first time. Fitness refers to the ability of the virus to properly assemble, replicate, and propagate infection. The research processed 815 residues and 20,043 sequences from 1,918 HIV-infected individuals. The findings open up potential for rational design of a vaccine that may force the deadly virus to mutate into forms that destroy it. The framework could also be useful for mapping fitness landscapes for proteins of other highly mutable viruses, such as Hepatitis C.
SIMPLIFYING COMPLEX
INVENTORY SYSTEMS
Research by Prof. Rachel ZHANG and Prof. ZHANG Jiheng (both Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics) is tackling inventory problems with higher dimensional state spaces. Such challenges arise when it is necessary to track a series of events to make optimal decisions regarding inventory. Using the fresh angle of asymptotic behavior, preliminary results have suggested that the approach may lead to simpler management procedures for highly complex inventory systems than current heuristic policies.
PRIVACY, PERSONAL
INFORMATION AND ONLINE
PEER DISCLOSURE
Prof. HUI Kai-Lung, Prof. XU Hong, and former PhD student CAO Zike (Information Systems, Business Statistics and
Operations Management) tackled the novel privacy problem of peer disclosure of sensitive personal information in online social communities. The researchers used a stylized economic model to show that regulation of peer disclosure was necessary. However, they also found regulation that uniformly controls the disclosure of sensitive and non-sensitive information will not serve the triple objectives of reducing privacy harm, increasing social welfare, and increasing information contribution. They then derived a necessary condition for solutions that could fulfill these three objectives. The work has been published in
Information Systems Research.
MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE
AND TOLERANCE OF
DIVERSITY
Earlier research has shown that multicultural exposure can lead to better intercultural understanding and more positive attitude toward diversity. However, the metacognitive conditions that facilitate this positive effect have yet to be
understood. Prof. Melody CHAO
(Management) and her coauthors revealed that multicultural experiences would lead to more positive attitudes toward different others only when individuals felt that they had sufficient mental resources. Individuals who felt mentally exhausted became more closed-minded and less tolerant toward diversity, regardless of their multicultural experiences. The study is in press in the
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
ANNUAL REPORT
2017-18
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WHY BEING BUSY MATTERS
TO US
An increasing number of people in recent times have reported feeling busier than ever. Prof. Christine KIM (Marketing) and her coauthors investigated how the subjective perception of busyness – that is, viewing the self as busy – impacts on individuals’ decision-making. Key findings showed that when people viewed themselves as busy, they felt important and that their lives mattered. This bolstered sense of self, in turn helping them make better decisions more in line with their long-term goals. The research has been published in Harvard Business Review and is forthcoming in the Journal of Consumer Research.
ORIGINAL PERSPECTIVES ON
PAST AND PRESENT
Prof. David Cheng CHANG (Humanities) completed The Hijacked War: The Story of Chinese POWs in the Korean War (Stanford
University Press, March 2019). The armistice talks took two years because 14,000 Chinese prisoners of war (POWs) refused to return to Mainland China. The book portrays the POWs’ experiences and explains how they thwarted the designs of world leaders at a pivotal moment in Cold War history. Prof. Stuart GIETEL-BASTEN (Social Science) finished his book on The
Population Problem (Oxford University
Press, Summer 2019). Low fertility and population aging are often perceived to be an existential threat to the 21st century being the “Asian century”. Drawing on evidence from across Pacific Asia, the work looks at these issues in a multi-dimensional way, considering why fertility is so low and has caused such concern.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY BOOST
FOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY
A research team from HKUST State Key Laboratory of Advanced Displays and Optoelectronics Technologies, led by Prof. KWOK Hoi-Sing (Electronic and Computer Engineering), achieved a display technology breakthrough by developing a liquid-crystal display known as active matrix ferroelectric liquid crystal display. In comparison with conventional display, the HKUST technology increases energy efficiency by three to five times while image resolution was enhanced by three times. The higher performance was also achieved at a lower cost given that color filters, which usually comprise 30% of a display’s manufacturing cost, are no longer necessary with the new approach.
Faculty
Development
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Prof. Wei SHYY was appointed HKUST’s fourth President with effect from September 1, 2018, after an intense global search process. A scholar of international stature and an established academic leader, Prof. Shyy joined HKUST as Provost in 2010 from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and during 2017-18 served as Acting President and Executive Vice-President and Provost, concurrent with his appointment as Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He has consistently advocated the broadening of educational scope and approach, endeavored to advance research and knowledge transfer, and led efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive campus culture.Prof. Kellee TSAI was appointed Dean of Humanities and Social Science, concurrent with her appointment as Chair Professor in the Division of Social Science. Prof. Tsai joined HKUST as Head of the Division of Social Science in 2013 from Johns Hopkins University. A scholar of contemporary Chinese politics and economic development, she also has a wealth of experience in academic administration.
Other senior faculty appointments:
Prof. WANG Xiaoping
Head of Department of Mathematics
Prof. Christian DANIELS
Head of Division of Humanities
Prof. HSING I-Ming
Head of Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Prof. Kevin CHEN
Head of Department of Accounting
Prof. ZHENG Shaohui
Head of Department of Information Systems, Business Statistics & Operations Management
Prof. GONG Yaping
Head of Department of Management
Prof. WU Xun
Head of Division of Public Policy
Prof. CHANG Chih-Chen
Director of Center for Education Innovation
Dr. TONG Sai-Tao
Director of Center for Language Education
Prof. CHAN Che-Ting
Director of Research Office
The following faculty members were granted the title of Professor Emeritus on their retirement or departure from University service:
Prof. NG Ka-Ming
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Prof. Joseph LEE Hun-Wei
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Prof. XUE Hong
Division of Life Science
Prof. DING Xueliang
Division of Social Science
Prof. James KUNG Kai-Sing
Division of Social Science
EYE-OPENING PEDAGOGY
In 2017-18, nine faculty-initiated projects – three focused on experiential learning – received teaching development grant funding to support improvement, updating, and introducing novel teaching approaches into existing courses. Faculty members also established two Community of Practice (CoP) groups to share experiences of practical education practices in sustainability education and sharing, building and embedding entrepreneurship education.The University appointed
its fourth President
ANNUAL REPORT
2017-18
HKUST
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The Center for Education Innovation organized and hosted a full-day teaching and learning symposium on “Unlocking Innovative Learning: Discovering New Teaching Approaches in Higher Education” at HKUST in May 2018. Morning sessions explored how current active learning practices can equip students with the necessary skills and advance the role of higher education in the next two decades. The afternoon sessions looked at more unconventional programs that could inspire future models. Experimental examples included the HKUST-Minerva Scholar program and Global Virtual Exchange Program.
BOOSTING DIVERSITY
During the year, the Committee on Faculty Diversity and Early Career Support carried out research on faculty gender composition for its second annual report covering a three-year period (2016-2018). Findings showed that gender diversity had improved across all ranks of substantiation-track faculty, in particular Associate and Assistant Professors, and the female faculty ratio had increased across all Schools. The results indicated that both lower turnover rates and greater recruitment efforts had contributed to the recent improvement in gender balance.
In addition, following sharing sessions with the Committee, the School of Science and School of Engineering incorporated a new voluntary diversity survey into their
recruitment process. The survey is designed to raise applicants’ awareness of the University’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity, and facilitate the Committee’s on-going assessment of recruitment efforts.
OUTSTANDING FACULTY
HONORED
The University held its fourth inauguration ceremony of named professorships, with 15 faculty members and the donors associated with their professorial titles receiving recognition. The expertise celebrated encompassed a spectrum of fields from geo-environmental engineering to astrophysics and cosmology and historical cartography. The number of named professorships now stands at close to 40 up from less than 10 in 2009.
Among many external recognitions for HKUST faculty over the year, Prof. Nancy IP, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, was awarded a 2017 Bronze Bauhinia Star from the Hong Kong government for her advancement of science and education, and commitment to academia. Prof. TANG Ching W., IAS Bank of East Asia Professor and Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering,
Chemistry and Physics, was inducted into the US National Inventors Hall of Fame for his pioneering research into organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Prof. TANG Benzhong, Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Professor of Science and Chair Professor of Chemistry and Chemical and Biological Engineering, received the First-class State Natural Science Award 2017. Prof. ZHANG Mingjie, Kerry Holdings Professor of Science and Chair Professor of Life Science, received the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship Award for 2018-19.
Internally, the Michael G. Gale Medal for Distinguished Teaching was presented to Prof. David ROSSITER (Computer Science and Engineering). The award is a
University-wide honor given annually to one exceptional academic who serves as a role model as an educator. Prof. Rossiter is an advocate of IT in teaching, a front-running proponent of active learning, and a multiple teaching award-winner over 20 years at the University. The recipient of the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award was Prof. WANG Jing (Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management) for her interactive and motivational approach to teaching and learning in the Chronicle of Internet Commerce course.
Community
Engagement
SPURRING ON YOUNG
TALENTS
The School of Science took the lead in organizing the Hong Kong Joint School Biology Olympiad, with support from seven other tertiary institutions and a dozen secondary schools. The competition involved over 500 secondary students from more than 80 secondary schools in three rounds of selection tests on biology and applications, as well as a full-day practical assessment. Other activities included lectures and exercises on various campuses ahead of selection of the final winners. HKUST, the Gifted Education Council, Croucher Foundation, and Roche Ltd served as sponsors. The event paved the way for setting-up the first International Biology Olympiad-Hong Kong Contest in 2019, coordinated by the Hong Kong government’s Education Bureau. The School also contributed to secondary school student training for the Asian Physics Olympiad 2018 in Hanoi and International Physics Olympiad 2018 in Portugal. The Pan Pearl River Delta Physics Olympiad was held in Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao in February 2018, with participants from each of the three locations taking part.
On the eco-friendly front, the School launched an environmental education and community action project in July 2017 to promote ecological significance and native biodiversity of intertidal mudflats in Hong Kong. Students served as environmental ambassadors to raise public awareness on protection of mudflats and organisms, and the threats to marine environment posed by
human activities, such as clam digging and razor shell fishing using salt. A second project was co-organized with the Hong Kong government’s Environmental Campaign Committee during the Lunar New Year Fair in Yuen Long. Students gained hands-on experience in
environmental education and community work through promoting green concepts to stall operators to reduce waste and up-cycling to the general public. The government’s Environment and
Conservation Fund sponsored both projects. The School of Engineering, global
unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer DJI, and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) co-organized the first RoboMaster Training Camp in Hong Kong to bring advanced robotics education to secondary school students. The RoboMaster competition is an annual contest organized by DJI challenging teams of aspiring engineers to design and build next-generation robots to compete in a robotics showdown. At the training camp, held over 11 days at HKSTP from February to April 2018, close to 50 students from 28 local secondary schools learned through hands-on experience and applied robotic technology. Student teams succeeded in building sophisticated robots to compete at the final tournament held in a shopping mall in April 2018.
The Academy for Bright Future Young Engineers, established under the School of Engineering, provides high school students with engineering experiences and greater knowledge of the world of engineering. Project WeCan is a
business-in-the-The University connected
up with schools, local
organizations, and the
public while donors widened
future opportunities and
alumni deepened HKUST’s
presence worldwide
29
community initiative launched by Wharf in 2011 to empower local secondary school students from disadvantaged backgrounds through learning opportunities. Over the year, the Academy and Project WeCan co-organized a nine-month joint-school science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) competition. The contest involved 120 students from 28 secondary schools. Those taking part worked in teams and applied engineering knowledge to build their own STEAM prototypes, which later went on public display at a shopping center.
The School’s Center for Global & Community Engagement hosted its annual Underwater Robot Competition under the HSBC/HKUST Robotics for Youths Programme, serving students from diverse backgrounds. The activity aims to boost students’ confidence and encourage inclusion and STEAM between young people. Over 350 teachers and students from 54 different primary and secondary schools signed up for the four-day event.
BROADENING
UNDERSTANDING
The School of Business and Management continued to share its knowledge and expertise with the wider community through various BizInsight@HKUST talks. In an event held with the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO in July 2017, speakers discussed the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Central Asia. A forum on the “Shaping the Future of Chinese Family Businesses” in September 2017 featured academics in the field and a group of next-generation leaders. The discussion, led by the School’s Tanoto Center for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies, attracted more than 160 business leaders and guests. In addition, four thought-provoking lunchtime seminars, with direct relevance to today’s business environment, gave participants the chance to hear the latest research findings from the School’s faculty in Spring 2018. Topics comprised the online labor market, diversity and inclusion, creativity and collaboration in the workplace, and how different factors affect financial behavior and portfolio management.
The Executive MBA for Chinese Executives held its first open classroom lecture in November 2017. At the event, Prof. BA Shusong, Chief China Economist at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and Chief Economist of China Banking Association, discussed Hong Kong’s role in facilitating renminbi-denominated asset allocation and renminbi internationalization. To reach a broader audience and provide understanding on the many rapid
developments impacting the business world the School revamped its Biz@HKUST magazine. In each edition, the publication now examines a different topical issue, such as FinTech and the Belt and Road Initiative. The Division of Humanities held 16 public lectures at the Hong Kong Museum of History throughout the year. Topics ranged from Tang dynasty poetry and the
mysteries of human language to Cantonese pop song lyrics.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The University’s frontier research was the focus of several generous donations over the year to move researchers ahead in their quest for discoveries on how diseases operate, potential preventative measures, and improved therapeutic care through both western and traditional Chinese medicine pathways.A mega gift was received from the Lo Kwee Seong Foundation to support research and education in life science including the acquisition of a Cryo-electron microscopy facility while a gift from the Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation assisted the Hong Kong Epigenomics Project, led by HKUST. Nan Fung Life Sciences Limited supported research into the mechanisms that cause Alzheimer’s disease while Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation Limited provided funding for development of a comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease database for Han Chinese in Hong Kong.
