HKUST Boundless Article

Walking past a Computer Science classroom, you might expect rows of students focused on complex algorithms or code. But a lecture by Professor Andrew HORNER from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering is quite different.

There, the air crackles with the energy of what Prof. Horner calls a “Hogwarts magic class,” where students learn to cast visual and sound spells in music videos and trailers as audio designers, editors, and directors.

Dissecting a rat is perhaps not everyone’s most relished activity in biology class, especially if you are a bit squeamish. But innovative teaching tools developed in the Division of Life Science (LIFS) offer a complementary approach to essential dissection activities and much more through this interactive, multimodal learning environment.

It’s a new platform that is creating highly engaging classes for young scientists-in-training at HKUST. 

The demand for active, technology-enhanced teaching is reshaping expectations for learning spaces, according to Dr. Sean McMINN, Director of the Center for Education Innovation (CEI).

As teaching practices evolve, faculty and students increasingly require more flexible environments for collaboration, experimentation, and experiential learning, Dr. McMinn added.

The International Research Enrichment (IRE) Program at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) School of Science is designed for students who feel a deep calling toward scientific discovery.