HKUST Annual Report 2016-17

50 HKUST 2016-2017 Annual Report INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS OFFICE A restructure of Divisions, further diversity of learning opportunities, and boundary-crossing research made 2016-17 an exciting year for IPO FRESH OUTLOOK IPO, first established in 2008, can now appoint tenure-track faculty, providing a more sustainable structure to build a core group of faculty members to drive existing and new efforts to support institutional strategic goals in important and emerging interdisciplinary areas. Over the year, the Division of Public Policy was established. This will serve as an interdisciplinary academic division that advances HKUST’s vision in developing public policy as an emerging strategic area. The Division will also further enhance the synergy between public policy and on-going initiatives in interdisciplinary research and education, with an emphasis on policy- making guided by advances in science, technology and innovation, environment and sustainability. The Division of Environment was renamed the Division of Environment and Sustainability and its mission broadened to enhance synergy across Schools and Departments in research, education and knowledge transfer in both areas. Externally, it will seek to work with industry, government and non-government organizations in building a more sustainable environment for Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta, Mainland China, and the world. Effective July 2017, IPO’s Division of Biomedical Engineering will be integrated with the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering to form the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering under the School of Engineering. DIVERSE LEARNING AND SELF-DISCOVERY IPO’s Individualized Interdisciplinary Major (IIM) allows students to create a unique academic program that best suits their own intellectual interests and passions. A pioneering agreement was signed with the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong to allow IIM students to take courses in these universities and transfer back credits where applicable, and vice versa. The local exchange opportunity provides a platform to diversify students’ choices and expand their horizons. The IPO Industrial Fellowship Program brought together seasoned professionals who are ready to share their personal workplace journey and impart industry insights to broaden students’ perspective on career development. The program also seeks to help students align job aspirations with their passion and interests. Activities ranged from round table discussions to guest lectures and “bite-size” learning modules. The Sustainability Thinking course, offered by the Division of Environment and Sustainability, enabled students to collect real-time consumption data through energy-monitoring equipment installed in student hostels. They analyzed data relevant to sustainable behaviors, particularly within the context of green buildings, and then used the information to design a real- time intervention to shift behaviors in a more sustainable direction. The course effectively raises awareness of the need to preserve energy and assists the University’s estate management in delivering sustainability measures.