A Global Journey Begins at HKUST

A 23-hour flight from Tanzania and a leap of faith from Israel’s vibrant startup ecosystem may seem worlds apart. But non-local students like Mary NGOSO, a first-year student on the BSc in Quantitative Social Analysis program at HKUST, and Ran BOSKIS, a first-year student in Business and Management, are discovering a transformative educational experience at HKUST. 

As part of the HKSAR Government’s "Study in Hong Kong" initiative, international students like Mary and Ran are choosing HKUST to broaden their horizons, discover new possibilities, and shape their futures beyond the classroom. This academic year, international students from more than 65 countries and regions, spanning Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, have joined HKUST, bringing fresh perspectives and enriching the University's diverse community.

By choosing HKUST, non-local students are strengthening the city's role as a hub for education, innovation, and talent development through their diverse experiences. 

A Journey Across Borders

“Beyond education, studying at HKUST is also a journey of self-discovery,” said Mary. After the long-haul flight from Dar es Salaam, she landed in Hong Kong with a simple hope: to gain a global perspective through her studies and take what she learns back home to contribute to Tanzania’s development.

Her interest in Quantitative Social Analysis grew from her experience interning with MEDA Tanzania, an organization supporting female entrepreneurs. At MEDA Tanzania, she discovered a passion for working with data while learning from the stories behind the numbers. At HKUST, she found a program that brings together her interests in mathematics, statistics, and sociology.

“I was expecting that it would be lab to lab, class to class, but I realized that learning here is much more open-minded and practical. You don’t just learn to learn, you learn to act,” Mary said. “In SOCI1050, my social science research class, we get detailed readings with examples that help us understand a range of research methods. We are encouraged to pause and think for ourselves.”

HKUST’s interdisciplinary and experiential approach to learning has inspired her to apply what she learns in class to real-world scenarios. 

“I have learned to discover issues, both globally and back home, through a more nuanced lens,” she said.

Seeing the World Through a Global Lens

For Ran BOSKIS, a first-year student in Business and Management, the journey brought him from Israel to HKUST with an open mind and a desire to gain international exposure. Growing up in Nahariya, a small town in northern Israel, Ran’s education exposed him to entrepreneurship and startups from an early age, sparking his interest in business and innovation.

His interest grew through STEM-focused studies in high school, visits to major tech companies such as Google and Microsoft, and conversations with start-up founders. Inspired by their drive to turn ideas into actions, Ran is now continuing that journey at HKUST by exploring entrepreneurship opportunities and gaining a new perspective on doing business in Asia.

“Studying at HKUST has given me true international exposure. Professors and students come from different backgrounds and bring their own unique outlooks. This has really helped me develop my interpersonal skills in business, which I believe are central to being an entrepreneur. It has also given me a special lens—a perspective shaped by the way East meets West in Hong Kong,” he said.

Taking the Journey Forward

For Mary, this broader perspective is closely tied to home. She hopes to return to Tanzania eventually and contribute to its progress, taking with her what she has learned from studying and living in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Ran plans to begin his career in Hong Kong after graduation, building on the networks, experiences and regional insights he is gaining during his studies. 

“When you grow up in a certain country, you carry a little of it with you. But when you learn with a global lens, you begin to see the world through different experiences,” said Ran. “At HKUST, an international education becomes more than a degree — it becomes a journey of discovering new perspectives and where they may lead.”