HKUST Annual Report 2016-17

8 HKUST 2016-2017 Annual Report development of University technologies and research, and supporting early- stage student start-ups, respectively. Student know-how and networks were further amplified by participation in major University-related innovation events, including the 7th HKUST One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition, Hackathon@HKUST, and Entrepreneurship Week@HKUST. LOCAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL FRONT-RUNNER The scope of HKUST leadership vision encompasses our contributive role to the wider society, including advocacy for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at primary and secondary school levels. Thus, in July 2016, the University was delighted to host the 57th International Mathematical Olympiad, which drew over 600 secondary school contestants from 109 countries and regions. This was followed in November 2016 by the official opening of the 350-member HKUST Academy for Bright Future Young Engineers, which gives our engineering students an on-going opportunity to enthuse Hong Kong’s next generation about the potential of technology. Looking ahead to the rising influence of the Asian higher education sector, we took the lead in becoming the only Hong Kong founding member in the 15-member Asian Universities Alliance, and joined the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Alliance of China, both set up by Tsinghua University. HKUST delegations engaged in successful visits to Japan, Singapore and Australia over the year to foster relationships and raise our profile while my visit to Iran and the United Arab Emirates as part of a high-level Hong Kong delegation opened up potential institutional relationships and research collaborations in countries within the One Belt, One Road footprint. HKUST also participated in major global forums exploring future trends and issues, including the 11th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian and the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. While attending the Forum, I was pleased to join the Global University Leaders Forum again, which brought together over 25 elite research university heads. ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF CAMPUS LIFE As always, I am deeply grateful for the Hong Kong community’s on-going support for HKUST’s advancement through donations that expedite University undertakings to attract top faculty and students, and sustain cutting-edge research and campus facilities. This year, I would like to pay a special tribute to the contributors to our 25th Anniversary Global Vision campaign. Overall, this drive raised a remarkable $1 billion, which will be invaluable for the University’s future. Among the initiatives supported through such giving was the HKUST Named Professorship Program, which assists the University in recruiting and retaining key faculty talents and saw the total number of such prestigious professorships rise to 39, just five years after the program started. Campus development also received a tremendous boost, enabling the University to plan and take forward an array of buildings to enhance our student experience and community interaction. Over the year, construction of the new Indoor Sports Center and Water Sports Center moved ahead. In addition, more students will now gain the hugely important chance to try hostel life with the opening of the HKUST Jockey Club Hall undergraduate hostel in Tseung Kwan O. In an inclusive move, we established a DiversAbility Team under the Student Affairs Office to widen support for those with special educational needs; and we planned our First-Year Experience@ Residence Program, which is set to launch in 2017-18, to ease the often daunting transition from high school to university. LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD Along with all such achievements, the year brought the final events of our successful 25th Anniversary program. These joyful occasions incorporated the publication of our commemorative book and overseas gatherings in Beijing and Singapore, enabling our alumni in different locations to join in. Earlier reunions had taken place in London and San Francisco which, along with a major event in Hong Kong, made the anniversary a truly worldwide celebration. In this busy and fruitful year, I would like to thank students, faculty, alumni, staff, Court and Council Members for their commitment and accomplishments. I wish to commend our community supporters, who enable us to press ahead with our development vision. And I look forward to the University striding into the future with the direction and momentum to shape the next generation of thoughtful innovators, bold entrepreneurs and open-minded citizens, generate the research breakthroughs and solutions to global challenges, and inspire a world of positive difference. President PROF TONY F CHAN, JP