Aspiring young minds immersed themselves in top-tier academic rigor, practical discovery, team collaboration, and cross-cultural dialogues at the inaugural HKUST Pre-University (Pre-U) Program 2026 over the summer.
Over 800 high-achieving secondary school students from 32 countries and regions—including Australia, Brazil, India, Kazakhstan, Uganda, the UAE, the United Kingdom, the United States, and many others—relished the opportunity to discover more about HKUST as part of the HKSAR Government’s “Study in Hong Kong” initiative.
This initiative and HKUST’s Pre-U Program are closely aligned, seeking to attract global students to Hong Kong, and specifically to HKUST, for intellectual development and holistic growth, especially in areas like AI and Future Readiness.
An Interdisciplinary Adventure from Theory to Practice
The program’s curriculum aimed to cultivate versatile talent across 16 specialized offerings guided by four thematic pillars. In the first, the flagship Summer Bootcamp for Polymath, students learned to combine technical innovation with holistic problem-solving skills through an AI-centered, interdisciplinary approach.
In keeping with HKUST’s priorities on leadership potential, they worked on capstone projects enriched by real case studies from industry titans including Bank of China (Hong Kong), Cathay, and Microsoft Hong Kong.
Under the Credit-bearing Courses pillar, students could develop Android apps, explore microbes, analyze the marvels of the human body, and investigate business risk management and sociology in everyday life.
HKUST professors guided students at every step of the learning process, and students earned credits applicable to their future studies at HKUST.
Additionally, the Thematic-based Programs pillar empowered aspiring innovators to reflect on real-world challenges and transform creative ideas into meaningful solutions. Activities included hands-on, collaborative STEM projects in entrepreneurship, AI workflows, robotics, Python programming, cybersecurity, and business models.
The Collaborative Corporate Program with LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS and Tencent WeTech Academy opened up a world of AI innovation in game development, enabling students to witness its transformative potential firsthand.
Learning also flourished outside the classroom. Through vibrant activities from orientation and interactive workshops to seaside barbecues and city excursions, students embraced HKUST’s diverse and inclusive campus culture, forged cross-cultural friendships and broadened their horizons.
Interactions with Industry Leaders
The unforgettable journey culminated at Hong Kong Disneyland with a signature Leadership Forum cum Gala Dinner themed “AI, Humanity, and the Future of Leadership”.
During the event, corporate visionaries discussed how future leaders can leverage AI and data analytics to drive positive, lasting societal impact.
According to Prof. Emily NASON, Director of Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions, all 16 summer programs received an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response, reflecting strong interest among young people in interdisciplinary learning and exploring future opportunities.
Ir. Eric CHAN, Chief Public Mission Officer at Cyberport Hong Kong, was impressed by the students’ remarkable creativity and insight. “Through the real-world challenges presented by Cyberport as part of the capstone projects,” he said, “I was delighted to see students apply AI and data analytics to develop innovative solutions for societal and ESG-related issues.”
Ms. Tania WAN, Deputy General Manager of the Personal Banking and Wealth Management Department at Bank of China (Hong Kong), highlighted how the collaboration with HKUST empowers students to become the next generation of leaders and address future challenges with a strong sense of social responsibility.
The students’ curiosity and critical thinking also drew praise.
“By combining academic exploration, industry engagement, and hands-on experience, this program equips students with the innovation capabilities, resilience, and leadership skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world,” said Mr. Aldric CHAU, General Manager Digital at Cathay Pacific Airlines.
Mr. Fred SHEU, National Technology Officer at Microsoft Hong Kong, emphasized the importance of grounding technological innovation in human-centric values, noting that the future of leadership lies at the intersection of technological capability and human empathy, wisdom, and ethics.
“For the younger generation, mastering AI is no longer just about technical proficiency—it is about learning how to leverage AI to amplify human potential, solve complex global challenges, and lead with purpose,” he said
Journeys of Personal Growth
Student participants said the HKUST Pre-U Program was a truly transformative experience and that they would strongly recommend it to their schoolmates and friends.
“I gained exposure to subjects ranging from civil engineering to business and finance,” said Robin HO from the Philippines. “The diversity at HKUST opened my eyes to global perspectives, showing me the value of pushing beyond my comfort zone.”
Another participant, Karina LOI from Macau, said designing an AI for a theme park to increase its revenue was a memorable experience. “It makes me know more about the area I’m interested in and wish to pursue,” she shared.
For Allen HUANG from Hong Kong, he felt the had built a strong foundation in decision-making and risk analysis through the Pre-U program, despite having little prior background in the field.
“What impressed me most was the dedication of the HKUST faculty,” Allen said. “Whenever I had questions after class, the professor patiently took time to explain complex concepts, ensuring I understood how to mitigate real-world risks.”
Moving forward, HKUST will continue to champion the “Study in Hong Kong” initiative and strengthen its position as a premier international education hub, nurturing more young innovators ready to shape a smarter and tech-empowered tomorrow.
