News & Stories

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today marked the start of construction of the main building of the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School in Nansha, Guangzhou. "Today's ceremony marks an important milestone in the development of the Fok Ying Tung Graduate School. We are moving one more step forward in boosting the cooperation between academia and industry between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta," said HKUST President Tony F Chan at the construction commencement ceremony.

Commander Christopher Cassidy, astronaut with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), visited the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today. He told a captivated audience about the selection process to become an astronaut, life at NASA prior to mission assignment, the training involved and the mission itself. He also discussed his experience with the International Space Station. Commander Cassidy was born in 1970. In 1993, he graduated from the US Naval Academy with a BS degree in Mathematics. Thereafter he pursued his MS studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he graduated in 2000 with an MS in Ocean Engineering. In 2004 he was selected by NASA for astronaut training, which he completed in 2006. His first space mission was in 2009 and he has performed three space walks totaling over 18 hours. For media enquiries, please feel free to contact : Ross Lai

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has staged a Symposium on Risk Management and Business Intelligence to offer a diversity of perspectives. The Symposium featured a wide range of speakers from the academic, banking, asset management and consultancy sectors. It drew over 300 audiences mainly from the business and academic sectors. Mr Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority gave a keynote speech. He stressed that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has taken initiatives to enhance the risk management practice of the banking sector in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) President Tony F Chan has become Chairman of the Association of East Asian Universities Association (AEARU) for a term of two years. President Chan succeeds President Hiroshi Matsumoto of Kyoto University at the Board of Directors Meeting hosted by Osaka University on 14 May 2010. “I am excited about the assuming chairmanship of a regional alliance of research universities, and the opportunity to promote international exchange in areas of common interest – not only science and technology, but also business, culture and education,” President Chan said.

A significant milestone was laid in the history of campus development at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today, with the commencement of construction for the Lee Shau Kee Campus, which comprises the Business Building and the Institute for Advanced Study. HKUST President Tony F Chan, together with faculty and staff of the Business School, Institute for Advanced Study and other related departments, attended the Ceremony organized by the contractor China State Construction International Holdings Ltd. In his speech at the Ceremony, President Chan said, “All of us at HKUST are now busy preparing for the 3-3-4 transition in 2012, both in terms of hardware and software. While we are in the process of recruiting stellar faculty and enhancing our student admission capabilities, I am glad that the preparation of our hardware is in good hands.”

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) President Tony F Chan today took part in a student activity organized by Hall 7 to promote a healthy lifestyle within the university community through rope skipping. President Chan also signed a pledge to maintain fitness through regular exercise. He also took part in both the individual and group skipping activities. For media enquiries, please feel free to contact : Ross Lai Tel: 2358 6306 / 9103 2928 Email: rosslai@ust.hk   Donna Wong Tel: 2358 6317 Email: donnaw@ust.hk  

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today (Monday) held its first presentation of the Mr Armin and Mrs Lillian Kitchell Undergraduate Research Award. The six award recipients are hand picked from the 250 participants in the latest Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. The championship went to Miss Xu Rui of the Business School, the first runners-up were Mr Yang Yang and Miss Liu Yangyang, both from the Engineering School, while the second runners-up were Mr Wu Degang and Mr Li Rui both of the Science School, and Mr Poon Ho Yee of the Engineering School. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program is designed to promote research culture at the undergraduate level by giving undergraduate students the opportunity to actively engage in research under the guidance and supervision of professors. The number of participants has grown year by year, from 72 students in 2005 to 250 last year.

University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor Prof Andrew Hamilton and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) President Prof Tony F Chan today appeared in an historical forum to exchange ideas on the development of tertiary education in the UK and Hong Kong. The President Forum, presented by Oxford University Press, was attended by Ms Michelle Li, Deputy Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government, leading academics and over 100 school principals. Prof Hamilton and Prof Chan explored a broad range of issues, including the hallmarks of a world-class university, enrolment trends in UK and Hong Kong universities, and reforms in the tertiary education sector to nurture the new generation in various parts of the world.