12
HKUST 2014-2015
Annual Report
The University continued to advance its student-focused four-year curriculum,
increased its international recognition for graduate employability, strengthened
entrepreneurship education, and made fresh advances in global e-learning
EDUCATION
DEVELOPMENT
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
The year under review marked the final year for three-year
undergraduate degree students, bringing the double cohort
to an end. The progression of the first batch of four-year
undergraduate degree students continued to be smooth
during their third year of study.
Responding to Individual Needs
The University advanced its efforts to diversify the
undergraduate education experience. HKUST’s incoming
students are no longer a homogeneous group, displaying
increasing variety in terms of academic preparation, career
goals, and aspirations. In response to such diversity, the
University has adopted a tri-modal educational framework
to address this development. HKUST is seeking to build on
its enterprising and flexible four-year curriculum through
cross-disciplinary courses, active learning, and in-depth
academic engagement. Innovative practicum or experiential-
based courses are being developed to extend active learning
provision and accelerated honors courses for students
seeking more in-depth academic pursuits.
Such learning extensions will generate additional opportunities
and are intended to address individual interests, readiness
and motivation to enable students to fully engage in all
dimensions of their chosen undergraduate program and
more effectively realize their potential.
HKUST also underwent a Quality Assurance Council audit
during the year. The Council, set up under the aegis of the
Hong Kong University Grants Committee (UGC), carries out
periodic audits on the quality of students’ learning experience
at UGC-funded institutions to provide feedback and
guidance to individual institutions and continuously enhance
quality provision. The report is due out in Fall 2015.
