The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Celebrating World Photography Day with a playful new perspective on HKUST 📸

Sometimes, all it takes is a small shift in angle to see campus in a completely different way.
HKUST becomes a canvas for imagination, where shapes, lines and spaces come together to create unexpected visual surprises.

This World Photography Day, let’s look at campus with fresh eyes. Capture your own perspective illusion, discover hidden details, and show us how creative HKUST can be.

Which campus spot would you reimagine through your lens?

What a fantastic wrap-up to the Firebird Hackathon! 🎉

Hosted by the HKUST Mainland Alumni Association to celebrate HKUST’s 35th anniversary, this event aims to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and capital. Anchored in genuine industry challenges, the hackathon turned alumni experience into direct support for the next generation of tech innovators across the Greater Bay Area.

We were honored to kick things off with an incredible lineup of opening ceremony speakers, including Ms. Qi Pu, President of the HKUST Mainland Alumni Association, and Prof. Kai-Lung Hui, Associate Provost (Academic Development) at HKUST. They were joined by the Hon. Duncan Chiu, HKSAR Legislative Council Member (Technology and Innovation), alongside Ms. Ma Ye and Ms. Chen Fangxuanzi, Vice-Presidents of the Association and Co-Chairs of the Organizing Committee.

The energy was unmatched, with over 200 participants across 104 registered teams representing at least nine countries and regions. Impressively, 55% of these innovators hold a master's or doctoral degree. These brilliant minds competed across two distinct tracks: the Challenge Track, which featured specific briefs from our industry partners at Google Cloud, HKGAI, and TK Group, and the Open Track, which encouraged participants to define and solve problems entirely from their own observations.

A huge congratulations to our overall winners: Team Firebird 404 took home the Challenge Track Championship, while Team Legendary Horizons secured the Open Track Championship.

Beyond the exciting pitches, we also moved the conversation forward with two highly engaging thematic roundtables. Industry experts and academics gathered to discuss how to seize real opportunities in the AI startup wave and how to redraw the boundaries of responsibility as AI enters enterprise management.

Thank you to all our partners, judges, and participants for making this such an inspiring event! 🚀

🎉 Bravo to our Year 4 Finance student, NG Wing Lam, for a stellar performance at the WTT Star Contender São José dos Campos 2026! 🏓

🥈 Women's Doubles: 1st Runner-up with partner DOO Hoi Kem
🥉 Mixed Doubles: 2nd Runner-up with partner YIU Kwan To

The entire HKUST community is incredibly proud of your hard work and determination on the global stage. Join us in celebrating Wing Lam's success!

Photo credit: WTT

HKUST Pre-University Program Attracts around 800 Secondary School Students Worldwide

HKUST has successfully concluded its Pre-University (Pre-U) Program 2026. As one of the University’s flagship summer initiatives, the inaugural program attracted over 800 high-achieving secondary school students from 32 countries and regions across six continents, forming one of the University's most globally diverse summer cohorts to date. Through in-depth academic exploration, cross-cultural experiences, and direct interaction with industry leaders, students embarked on a rich and rewarding summer learning journey.

HKUST actively supports the HKSAR Government's "Study in Hong Kong" initiative, leveraging its international education platform to attract young people from around the world to study and engage in exchanges in Hong Kong, thereby contributing to the city's development as an international hub for post-secondary education.

At the heart of the 2026 program were 16 specialized and cutting-edge summer programs spanning four key pillars: HKUST Summer Institute Credit-bearing Courses, Thematic-based Programs, Collaborative Corporate Programs, and the "HKUST Summer Bootcamp for Polymath", designed to cultivate interdisciplinary thinking. The Credit-bearing Courses covered a diverse range of subjects, including decision analytics, chemistry, risk management, microbial control, Android app development, the human body and diseases, and sociology. The Thematic-based Programs focused on entrepreneurship, discrete mathematics, sensing technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) workflows, and STEM projects, enabling students to explore knowledge across disciplines and develop an interdisciplinary mindset.

Beyond classroom learning, participants took part in a rich array of social and wellness activities, workshops, thematic talks, city excursions, and campus networking events, including an orientation campus hunt and a barbecue gathering.

Find out more about the HKUST Pre-University Program: https://hkust.edu.hk/news/hkust-pre-university-program-attracts-around-800-secondary-school-students-worldwide

HKUST Workplace AI Study Reveals Hong Kong Leads the World in Adoption Rate with Over 70% of Employees Using AI at Work

A recent survey conducted by HKUST revealed that over 70% of Hong Kong’s working professionals frequently use AI tools in their jobs, a rate significantly higher than the global average. Despite the growing adoption of AI, many employees remain uncertain about how to reskill and stay competitive in an AI-driven workplace. As a pioneer in AI education and application in Hong Kong, HKUST is cultivating a new generation of talent equipped with AI literacy and hands-on skills through innovative programs, supporting the city's digital transformation and technological development.

Prof. TAM Kar-Yan, HKUST Vice-President for Administration and Business and Chair Professor of Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management, who led the study said, “The findings suggest that Hong Kong workplaces are entering a new phase of AI adoption, where AI is increasingly becoming part of employees' daily work rather than an emerging technology on the horizon.”

As a pioneer in innovative education, HKUST has long embedded emerging technologies into teaching and learning. The University was the first higher education institution in Hong Kong to introduce a campus-wide generative AI platform and has since launched AI literacy courses and the innovative "Major + X" extended major framework, which enables students to combine disciplinary expertise with AI knowledge. Starting from the new academic year this September, HKUST will further strengthen its emphasis on Human-AI Co-Creation and Data Literacy, equipping students with the skills needed for effective human-AI collaboration, interdisciplinary problem solving, and the practical application of AI. Through these efforts, HKUST aims to prepare students to thrive in an increasingly digital and AI-enabled world.

Discover how three HKUST alumni put AI to work to transform their careers and stay ahead in a fast-changing workplace: https://hkust.edu.hk/news/hkust-workplace-ai-study-reveals-hong-kong-leads-world-adoption-rate-over-70-employees-using

Once and Always Faculty Experts — Professors Emeriti offer profound contributions post-retirement

After dedicating the prime of their lives to HKUST, Professors Emeriti remain an active and valued part of the University community. Since 2022, a group of devoted former faculty has come together to establish the HKUST Retired Professor Association (RPA), with the hope of continuing to contribute to the University in meaningful ways.

RPA members exchanged views on HKUST’s latest developments and offered constructive feedback at their AGM at the Clear Water Bay Campus on July 7. Members also elected a new Executive Committee and engaged in a fruitful dialogue with members of the University’s senior management team.

The RPA is currently pursuing two key initiatives: the creation of an oral history documenting the University's development and a mentorship scheme. Read more: https://hkust.edu.hk/boundless/article/once-and-always-faculty-experts-professors-emeriti-offer-profound-contributions

HKUST Presents "Ode to Chinese Characters" Calligraphy Exhibition by Su Shishu

HKUST has received a generous donation of 35 calligraphy works from the Ode to Chinese Characters series by renowned contemporary Chinese calligraphy master Mr. SU Shishu. The collection will be showcased in an exhibition at the Lee Shau Kee Library from August 1 to September 7, 2026.

This marks the first exhibition in Hong Kong of the complete set of 35 treasured calligraphy works from the series. Accompanying activities, including a lecture on Chinese calligraphy, will offer HKUST faculty, students, and members of the public a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insights into and appreciation of traditional Chinese arts and culture. The donation will also further advance the University's efforts in academic research, cultural promotion and international exchange in the field of Chinese character art.

The "Ode to Chinese Characters" Calligraphy Exhibition by Su Shishu is jointly organized by HKUST, Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Limited and the Beijing Su Shishu Museum of Hanzi Art.

An opening ceremony and donation agreement signing ceremony were held recently. Officiating and speaking at the event were Prof. Nancy IP, HKUST President; Mr. Su Shishu, Standing Committee Member of the 11th and 12th National Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the 7th President of the China Calligraphers Association; Prof. Ambrose KING Yeo-Chi, Former President and Emeritus Professor of Sociology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Mr. FU Weizhong, Chairman of Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Limited; and Prof. Charles NG, HKUST Vice-President for Institutional Advancement. Marking the official launch of the exhibition, the ceremony brought together faculty, students, industry leaders of the arts and cultural sector, and distinguished guests from across the community to celebrate this landmark event, which promotes the preservation, appreciation and exchange of Chinese culture.

The 35 works generously donated by Mr. Su Shishu, coinciding with HKUST's 35th anniversary, resonate meaningfully with the University's remarkable journey and embody a shared aspiration to foster a fusion of innovation and humanities.

Learn more about the exhibition and the artistry behind Ode to Chinese Characters: https://library.hkust.edu.hk/news-events/event/su-2026

Read the full story:
https://hkust.edu.hk/news/hkust-presents-ode-chinese-characters-calligraphy-exhibition-su-shishu