Reaching Out to the Next Generation
The 2013 HKUST Information Day attracted over
30,000 visitors from the secondary school sector, while
a JUPAS admission briefing session was organized for
local secondary school teachers in November 2013 to
share the University’s experience on the admission of
the first two HKDSE cohorts.
President Chan hosted two luncheons for local
secondary school principals and teachers and Hong
Kong-based international secondary school principals
and teachers respectively. Briefing sessions were also
held for parents of international schools in Hong Kong.
Following last year’s successful visit, a second group
of teachers from notable French high schools visited
the campus to experience HKUST life and encourage
students to apply to the University.
POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION
The postgraduate student population saw overall
growth of 7.6%, compared with the previous year, with
a total headcount of 4,242, as of 31 December 2013.
Growth was seen in both research postgraduates and
taught postgraduates. Recognition of HKUST’s standing
in the research community was further demonstrated
by its continuing success in the Hong Kong PhD
Fellowship Scheme. The University received the largest
number of awards among institutions, securing 65 out
of a total of 223 across Hong Kong, representing 29%
of the awards offered.
The Joint School of Sustainable Development, a
collaboration between HKUST and Xi’an Jiaotong
University, saw its first cohort of research students
start their studies. A total of 27 students are involved
in the program.
Research Student Support
A new matching-fund scheme was launched in
2013-14 to encourage recruitment of local research
postgraduates. Meanwhile, the percentage of
international students among non-local research
postgraduates continued to increase, reaching 10%
in 2013-14. Another matching-fund scheme for
international visiting internship students was launched
in Spring 2014 to draw students from a select group
of institutions to HKUST to encourage them to pursue
research postgraduate studies at the University. The
new scheme helped the University receive 109 visiting
internship students in 2013-14, up from 64 the
previous year.
To enhance professional knowledge, ethical standards,
and transferrable skills of research postgraduates, a
required Professional Development Course (PDC) was
introduced from Fall 2013. The Overseas Research
Awards Scheme increased from 24 to 36 awards,
offering senior PhD students the valuable experience
to participate in research work abroad. Attendance at
conferences also continued to be supported through
the research travel grant program.
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EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT