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In 2004-05, the Undergraduate Research
Opportunities Program was introduced
to enable undergraduates to work
closely with faculty members and to par-
ticipate in research, scholarly or creative
activities. This sets out to develop interest
in research as a career and thus expand
Hong Kong's pool of academic talent.
The move was well received, with 80 stu-
dents working with 41 members of facul-
ty on projects under the program.
In addition, the School of Science
brought in a range of internships to
enable undergraduates to apply what
they have learnt in their studies. The
internships give science students a
chance to help organize exhibitions for
the Hong Kong Science Museum, design
interactive science and maths classes
for primary school students, as well as
participate in research with HKUST facul-
ty. Suzuki Café Scholarships has spon-
sored the program.
Meanwhile, internationalization of the
campus is continuing to move forward.
In 2004-05, nearly 400 students went on
exchange to overseas and mainland
universities, with many others coming to
experience life at HKUST. There was also
an increase in the enrollment of non-
local undergraduate students, including
those from the Mainland, to around 10%
of the intake.
While a larger number of mainland stu-
dents came to study at HKUST, more of
the University's students took the opportu-
nity to familiarize themselves with life
across the border through the Mainland
Internship Program. Supported by a
HK$500,000 donation from the Drs
Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee
Charitable Foundation, this program
enables HKUST students to take up sum-
mer training in mainland enterprises, pro-
viding greater insight into the working
culture on the Mainland and helping to
build networks and boost future job
prospects. Some 240 students joined the
program in 2004-05.
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Global vision in teaching and learning
has always been important at HKUST and
in 2004-05 the University was able to
strengthen this objective in several differ-
ent ways.
Groundwork for the development of
undergraduate education at HKUST, a
major focus of the Strategic Plan 2005-
2020, got underway during the year, with
a number of initiatives designed to pro-
vide a broader educational experience
for those studying at this level.
Under education system changes to
come in Hong Kong, secondary school
students completing three years of junior
secondary school plus a three-year sen-
ior secondary program will be eligible to
apply for admission to a new, four-year
university curriculum from 2012. To pre-
pare for the "3-3-4" framework, the
University set up a 334 Task Group to re-
examine its undergraduate programs
and their relation to other aspects of uni-
versity life.
As envisaged in the Strategic Plan, an
innovative academic structure will
enable students to take more responsibil-
ity for their own learning, with flexible
choices of majors and minors and further
opportunities for internships and
exchange programs. In addition, the
introduction of interdisciplinary studies,
double majors and accelerated options
for high-flyers will help to attract the best
young minds, not only locally but also
from the Mainland and overseas, to
bring global perspective to all aspects of
the HKUST student experience.
Plans for the four-year degree have
already been discussed with the
University Grants Committee (UGC),
including proposals for new buildings to
accommodate the larger numbers of
students that will derive from the conver-
sion to the four-year degree and expan-
sion of non-local admissions.
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