HKUST Annual Report 2018-19

43 HKUST EMPLOYER OF CHOICE In accordance with HKUST’s goal to provide a high-caliber workplace, the University completed a non-academic staffing review, followed by the implementation of a new grading and salary structure, performance and development review, and merit salary adjustment framework in April 2019. These moves enhanced the University’s competitiveness in talent acquisition and retention, and promoted a performance culture in line with global practice, by providing greater flexibility in salary setting and facilitating staff development and job rotation. To foster a caring campus community spirit, learning and development programs were organized to boost staff well-being and motivation. These included orientation programs, performance management workshops, and health seminars. CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT The Campus Master Plan moved forward over the year, leading to the completion and handover of the Indoor Sports Center at the seafront, the launch of the expanded and upgradedData Center, and several major renovations in the Academic Building and the Lee Shau Kee Business Building. Construction continued at the Boathouse, with the project due to be completed in early 2020. The Jockey Club Global Graduate Tower is on track for September 2020 while extensions to both the LG7 canteen and laboratories in the Academic Building are on-going. In other building developments, the design for the Shaw Auditorium was finalized, tendered, and a groundbreaking ceremony held in April 2019. The elliptical, multi-purpose building is expected to become a campus landmark, hosting concerts, theater performances, exhibitions, events and ceremonies. There will also be space for seminars, learning, indoor and outdoor gatherings, and a café. The three-story building can cater for up to 1,300 people. In addition, the University submitted proposals for Government funding for two new research facilities to greatly enhance university research innovation and entrepreneurship. The two new facilities will be complementary, one with wet labs focused on life and chemical sciences, one with dry labs focused on physical sciences and technologies. Meanwhile, the location and subsequent design of the 1,415-bed student residence enabled a further 136 beds to be provided, taking total provision to 1,551. The accommodation is due to be available in the 2023-24 academic year. Successful applications for the UGC’s annual Alterations, Additions, Repairs and Improvements Program also facilitated the refurbishment and upgrading of a number of laboratories, offices, and teaching areas. On the catering front, renovation of outlets to provide a greater variety of offerings on campus saw the primary concourse cafe outlet open in November 2018. Work on two adjacent outlets on the concourse progressed. They are expected to be ready by the start of 2019-20. LIBRARY PIONEER HKUST Lee Shau Kee Library headed into a new digital era with the virtualization of its Information Desk in 2019, handling WhatsApp, email, and phone enquiries. It was the first academic library in Hong Kong to initiate such an advance. Face-to-face help can still be provided if needed. In another innovative move, a facial recognition system alternative to using HKUST identity cards was tested at one of the Library entrance turnstiles. This was part of a novel student guided learning project under the Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab platform (see also P47). DATA UPGRADE FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Further IT advances saw a University reporting system introduced inMay 2019 to providemore efficient collection and higher quality data on knowledge transfer key performance indicators in relation to HKUST’s social, community, and cultural engagement activities. The project was a joint undertaking between the Technology Transfer Center, Office of Institutional Research, and Information Systems Office. LONG SERVICE RECOGNITION In March 2019, the first Long Service Awards for 30 years’ employment at HKUST were presented to 28 staff members who had worked at the University since 1989, when the institution was still at the planning stage. Awards for 20 years’ service were also presented to 15 faculty and staff members in recognition of their loyalty and contributions. Infrastructure and administrative systems advanced as the University further developed its high-performance culture