News & Stories

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) held its Congregation 2024 today (November 23). The occasion witnessed the conferment of Honorary Doctorates upon four prominent and distinguished leaders by HKUST Pro-Chancellor Dr. John CHAN Cho-Chak, in recognition of their remarkable accomplishments and contributions. Also joining the ceremony included HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM, HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP, and other members of the senior management team. This year’s recipients of the Honorary Doctorate, listed in alphabetical order of surnames, were:  Dr. Jensen HUANG, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA – Doctor of Engineering honoris causa Mr. Tony LEUNG Chiu-Wai, the Golden Lion-winning actor – Doctor of Humanities honoris causa

Hello, aspiring wizards and witches of technology! If you’ve ever dreamed of casting spells with code or inventing extraordinary devices, let me take you on a journey through the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Whether you’re a curious Muggle or a prospective student, prepare for an adventure filled with excitement and discovery!

In the second of this year’s Why HKUST? series of interviews, two students and a graduate from the Philippines detail how the University’s cross-disciplinary education approach enabled them to design their own curriculum. In doing so, all three were empowered to take measurable strides forward in their personal and professional development.Charting your own courseMulti-talented candidates are more competitive now, so I found HKUST’s interdisciplinary learning is particularly attractive, says Clyde.

Life’s hardships come much early for HKUST’s third-year Data Science and Technology (DSCT) student Kevin LEUNG, who, despite coming from an underprivileged background, has not sold himself short. Recognized by numerous scholarships at HKUST, Kevin stands out from his fellows not only with his excellent grades, entrepreneurship spirit, and a caring heart for others, but, above all, a zest to turn adversity into opportunity. A dashing runnerRaised in a single-parent family, he has had a lot to shoulder since his youth. “I have helped with household chores since primary grade one, in addition to taking care of my ill father’s daily life,” says Kevin, whose father is diagnosed with kidney failure and is unable to work due to his health condition.

Prof. CHEN Kai, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, is now the brain behind what will become Hong Kong’s ‘brain’ in future – the next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) computing hub for the entire city that encompasses smart bus schedules, taxi dispatch, typhoon warning, medical diagnosis, fintech and others. 

Unlike big tech corporations, tech SMEs or start-ups usually do not have dedicated resources to hire interns who are enthusiastic about innovation and technology. Yet, internships at big tech firms are highly competitive. To help bridge this gap, HKUST has joined the Hong Kong government’s STEM Internship Scheme, through which more than 300 HKUST students have secured internships -- the highest among all universities taking part.The Scheme, offered by the Innovation and Technology Commission to students from UGC-funded universities, aims to foster students’ interest in pursuing a career in IT after graduation to enlarge the local IT talent pool in the long run. 

Prof. Charles NG Wang-Wai (left) and Prof. HUI Pan (right) were elected as the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Fellow and International Fellow respectively.

As governments worldwide are planning to gradually ease lockdown or social distancing measures after months of life disruptions due to COVID-19, an interdisciplinary study co-convened by a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) computer scientist has recently found that universal face mask wearing is an urgent non-pharmaceutical intervention to suppress the spread or second waves of the disease before effective vaccines or treatments are available.