HKUST Annual Report 2016-17

46 HKUST 2016-2017 Annual Report ADAPTING TO CHANGING BUSINESS NEEDS With major shifts in the global geopolitical landscape and technological capabilities, the business environment is changing rapidly, and the School has moved fast to respond to such developments in order to nurture the next generation of talent. In line with this, the School has actively fostered an innovative and entrepreneurial culture to help students harness opportunities in different areas through enhancing the curriculum and providing a positive environment for potential entrepreneurs. The School also played host to the One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition in Beijing for the second year running, receiving strong support from its alumni network. FINTECH AND EMERGING MARKETS Given the increasing significance of financial technology (FinTech), the School has established a FinTech Group, comprising experts across three academic departments, to chart its way forward in this area. Courses and programs introduced different aspects of FinTech. The School also sets its sights on becoming a FinTech intellectual powerhouse through rigorous research. The School sees emerging markets and the One Belt One Road countries as other areas that can open up new pathways for students, academics and the region. In accordance, faculty members have undertaken an interdisciplinary research project exploring “Trade and Investment under One Belt, One Road and Implications for Hong Kong” , funded by the Strategic Public Policy Research Scheme under the Hong Kong government’s Central Policy Unit. The study will provide valuable evidence-based insights to help Hong Kong formulate optimal trade and investment policies to bolster the city’s future development. GLOBAL EXCELLENCE REINFORCED The Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA (EMBA) program was ranked No.1 globally by the Financial Times in 2016, the seventh time in the past 10 years. In 2017, the program was named the world’s No.1 joint EMBA program in the inaugural Global EMBA Rankings, conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The HKUST MBA was ranked No.15 in the world by the Financial Times in 2017, the eighth consecutive year that the program ranked in the top 15 globally. The School received a fresh accolade when it was named CEMS School of the Year in 2016. CEMS is a global alliance that collaborates with 30 world-leading business schools, including HKUST, to offer an MSc in International Management. The School was the first Asian school to receive this international honor. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Following a smooth transition to the new administration, the School made significant advances on several fronts in readiness for its next phase of development