The result of these efforts and the increasing flexibility
of programs is that almost all students have been able
to enter their first choice of major.
BROADER OUTLOOK
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
(UROP) continues to thrive with 148 faculty members
contributing to the program and almost 400 students
embarking on a journey of discovery. A Year 2 Physics
student, winner of the 2014 Mr Armin and Mrs Lillian
Kitchell Undergraduate Research Award, presented his
new theory on network reliability at two international
academic conferences in Poland and Canada in
summer 2014. Meanwhile the International Research
Opportunities Program (IROP) moved into its third year,
giving undergraduate students the chance to participate
in faculty-led research at overseas universities, including
the MIT-HKUST Summer Research Exchange Program.
In 2013/14, more than 900 students took part in
exchange studies with almost 200 partner institutions,
with support totaling $4.65 million. In addition to the
University’s Exchange Sponsorship Scheme, corporate
donors and community leaders generously support
exchange study through scholarships. Over 90 students
were awarded a total of $2.94 million scholarships for
their overseas exchange experience over the year.
As students prepare themselves for careers, recruitment
activities such as Career Mosaic and placement
courses, programs and talks offer a head start. Another
valuable way to learn about work is through internship
schemes, with University provision including the
Internship Learning Scheme, SOAR Mainland Internship
Program and the ASEAN Internship Program. Schools
and departments are also active in providing and
supporting internships. Among the new developments,
two students from the Global China Studies Program
interned with the US Congress.
Wider Community Service and Student Well-being
Service learning is an increasingly important component
of students’ education at HKUST. Under the REDbird
Award program 125 students participated in 77
service learning projects in 2013-14. HKUST Connect
collaborates with over 80 community partners to
offer different types of service opportunities. In 2013-
14, over 2,600 participants took part in 111 service
projects, including 11 service learning trips to Mainland
China, Cambodia, Malaysia and the United States.
A Student Leadership Program was piloted in Spring
2014. More than 235 students have benefited from
workshops and a study trip.
Students’ willingness to care for others also saw two
undergraduates receiving the Top 10 Outstanding
Youth Awards, presented by the HKSAR Home Affairs
Bureau and Commission on Youth. In addition, the
new Counseling and Wellness Center opened during
the year, creating a fun space and resource center for
students to mingle, relax, seek resources, and work
towards balanced healthy living.
Deepening Campus Integration
The Student s’ Uni on, I nternati onal Student s’
Association, and Mainland Students and Scholars’
Society (Undergraduate section) jointly organized
a week-long conference on campus diversity and
student integration, bringing together over 50 student
leaders from HKUST and overseas universities. Other
student-initiated activities continued to be encouraged
via a range of schemes, including the 1-HKUST
Student Life Award, Student Enrichment Activities
Fund, Graduate Student Life Fund, and publications
such as the Orientation Activities Toolkit for Student
Organize r s . Event s such as TEDxHKUST we re
successfully organized on campus.
Developing Sports and Arts
The University took home the overall championship
in the Inter-University Archery Tournament, won the
flat-water rowing M2X event, and triumphed in the
University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, Mainland
China – Rugby Competition. The soft opening of the
HKUST Water Sports Center in October 2013 was
celebrated with a Dragon Boat Fun Race. Creative
pursuits included the month-long HKUST Arts Festival,
the HKUST Mural Art Project, and the HKUST Music
Alive! concert series, all drawing attention to the role
of arts in innovation.
13
HKUST 2013-2014 Annual Report
