News & Stories

With over 17,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from more than 80 countries or regions at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), we pride ourselves as a true cultural melting pot. In the Global Minds@HKUST series, we’ll take a closer look at the unique experiences of some of our international students.  Embarking on a dual PhD program across two different countries may seem like a daunting task, but for Shabnam TAGHIPOUR, an Iranian student pursuing dual PhD degrees in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Civil Engineering at Sharif University of Technology (SUT) in Iran, it’s an opportunity to make a difference. In the third edition of Global Minds@HKUST series, we delve into Shabnam’s story and explore how she balances her academic pursuits with a deep sense of social responsibility for a more inclusive world.

It's not common that respected academics reveal their personal struggles, especially to their colleagues, students and even strangers. Prof. Paul FORSTER from the Department of Management and Division of Environment and Sustainability, who has recently been awarded IPO (Interdisciplinary Programs Office) Teaching Excellence Award for the postgraduate category, has decided to disclose his decades-long battle with depression, in the hope of breaking the mental health stigma and encouraging people to seek help for mental health problems.