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            HKUST 2011-2012 Annual Report
          
        
        
          INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS OFFICE
        
        
          
            Research education initiatives
          
        
        
          A new research program (MPhil and PhD) in Environmental Science, Policy and Management was organized under the
        
        
          Division of Environment to be launched in 2012-13.  The program aims to facilitate interdisciplinary research on cutting-
        
        
          edge environmental issues, ranging from scientific understanding and engineering solutions to policy and management.
        
        
          The IPO Best Research Award was established to recognize research postgraduate students who make outstanding
        
        
          contributions through their studies.  The Office also worked together with the School of Engineering to launch a series of
        
        
          enrichment seminars and workshops for research postgraduate students.  Topics included journal publishing and research
        
        
          ethics.
        
        
          
            Enriching the undergraduate experience
          
        
        
          The Office strongly believes that undergraduate education means more than classroom training.  It has been the Office’s
        
        
          ambition to provide exposure and enrichment programs to encourage students to become responsible, contributing and
        
        
          caring members of society.
        
        
          During 2011-12, a number of students raised awareness of sustainable development through creating and participating
        
        
          in different community programs.  One example was the Eco-Business Innovation Award set up by the Interdisciplinary
        
        
          Programs Students’ Union and the Environmental Students’ Society.  Over 100 HKUST students enrolled in the competition.
        
        
          
            The Interdisciplinary Programs Office is committed to innovation and endeavor, and serves
          
        
        
          
            as an effective platform for furthering HKUST’s collaborative interdisciplinary education and
          
        
        
          
            research.  The IPO offers a series of high-powered programs under the Division of Environment
          
        
        
          
            and the Division of Biomedical Engineering.