HKUST Annual Report 2017-18

40 School of Engineering The School achieved high rankings again in different global league tables. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018 by Subject: Engineering and Technology, HKUST ranked No.18 worldwide and No.1 in Hong Kong. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018: Engineering and Technology, the University was placed No.17 globally and No.1 in Hong Kong. TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION ERA Kicking off a series of key departmental infrastructure changes, the School established the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in July 2017 through the integration of the Division of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. In November 2017, the Division of Integrative Systems and Design was launched to nurture next-generation innovators through programs that develop students’ technical competency, design thinking, understanding of complex and multidisciplinary systems, and entrepreneurial spirit. The Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management was renamed the Department of Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics in January 2018 to reflect its growing portfolio of teaching and research in the rising domain of decision analytics. In line with these changes, the year saw a series of innovative undergraduate programs approved: the cross-disciplinary BEng in Sustainable Energy Engineering, involving four engineering departments; BEng in Decision Analytics; BEng in Bioengineering; BSc in Data Science and Technology in collaboration with Department of Mathematics, School of Science; and BSc in Integrative Systems and Design. All programs will be launched in Fall 2018 except Bioengineering, which will be launched in Fall 2019. ACTIVATING LEARNING The School’s Center for Engineering Education Innovation (E 2 I) began a three- year project exploring ways to nurture an innovative mindset in a MakerSpace environment. The experiential learning study received $8 million funding support from the University Grants Committee. The student-managed MakerSpace attracted over 400 active users in its peak period during the year. A CNC cutting machine and 3D scanning and modeling machine were added to equipment available in the multi-purpose area, which serves as a design and prototyping studio, training center, co-op shop and demonstration area. Showcasing the strength of experiential learning, diverse talents, and team spirit, the University’s student Robotics Team won nine awards in 2017. The prizes included the world championship at the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) International Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Competition in California by members of its ROV sub-team. The achievement marked the first time an Asian team had gained the honor since the contest began in 2002. The ROV sub-team comprised 15 students from 10 different locations. POSTGRADUATE GLOBAL DIMENSIONS Agreements with national and overseas institutions extended options for postgraduates, including dual PhDs with Zhejiang University, joint placements and supervision for doctoral students with the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, and cooperative activities through internship with graduate schools in various engineering fields at Hokkaido University. In addition, an agreement with Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is set to create a Huawei PhD Fellowship Program. Program participants will receive support and can work as interns at the world-leading information and communications technology company while earning a PhD from HKUST. The School continued its sterling track record of drawing the largest number of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme awardees among all engineering schools in Hong Kong, with 36 of the top global awardees starting their doctoral studies at HKUST in Fall 2018. This was the ninth consecutive year that the School had set the pace in the Research Grants Council endeavor to attract the world’s brightest doctoral students to study at universities in Hong Kong. NURTURING LEADING RESEARCH Cutting-edge research facilities expanded to support the demand for more knowledge in emerging areas and significant fields. The University officially established the HKUST-CIL Joint Laboratory of Innovative Environmental Health Technologies, together with Chiaphua Industries Limited (CIL). During the year, the HKUST Big Data Institute became NAVER/LINE’s first university partner worldwide to jointly set up an artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory. A joint lab on AI and computer vision was also set up with Face++. The interdisciplinary GREAT Smart Cities Center got underway with an international symposium including academics and professionals from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and the US. The Center focuses 2017-18 was a productive year, with restructuring of departments and multiple programs introduced