HKUST - Master of Public Policy Program

You grab a glass of water without thinking twice. As you should. But behind every sip is a system designed to keep it safe.

And you can be a part of that system with HKUST's Division of Public Policy (PPOL). Here, future policy leaders develop interdisciplinary solutions to tackle pressing health, environmental, and societal challenges across Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Asia.

Get started with its MPP program: https://ppol.hkust.edu.hk/mpp-program-overview

👏Warm congratulations to Dr. Fangxin Francine Yi, Research Assistant Professor of the Division of Public Policy at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, on securing two prestigious national-level research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).👏

1.NSFC General Grant: Studies human-machine collaborative deliberation to optimize public policymaking
2.NSFC-RGC Joint Fund: Builds AI-generated content detection and ethical alignment rules for multimodal large models

These two new projects fill key research gaps at the intersection of tech ethics and public administration, delivering actionable insights for regulators navigating the AI era. This milestone further demonstrates PPOL’s strength in cultivating cutting-edge, solution-oriented public policy research responding to fast-evolving digital governance needs.

👏 Warm congratulations to Prof. Julien de TROULLIOUD de LANVERSIN, Assistant Professor of HKUST’s Division of Public Policy, for being awarded a fellowship of the AI Academic Upskilling Program for Social Scientists! 👏

The AI Academic Upskilling Program for Social Scientists, hosted by the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative (AIGI), brings together an international cohort of scholars to strengthen social science engagement in AI governance. Through expert-led training and collaborative research, the program equips social scientists to contribute to AI governance research and policy.

Prof. Julien’s fellowship reflects PPOL’s continued commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research and embracing innovative approaches to public policy scholarship. As AI increasingly transforms policy analysis and governance, this achievement highlights our faculty’s dedication to leveraging new technologies for impactful research and education.

What does award-winning public policy look like?

For HKUST's Division of Public Policy (PPOL) students Hu Lingyi and Liu Yangyang, it meant combining public policy with GIS-based spatial analysis to explore smarter, more sustainable urban planning — an approach that earned them Second Prize at the Global Sustainability Challenge (Asia-Pacific Final).

Here, all MPP students learn to turn complex ideas into practical solutions with real-world impact.
Explore the program: https://ppol.hkust.edu.hk/mpp-program-overview

The first time someone asks you to introduce yourself at a conference, you’ll do the talking, not your degree.

That’s why the MPP at HKUST’s Division of Public Policy (PPOL) trains you for career-readiness. Its Professional Development course offers four main modules that strengthen your skills, network, and wellbeing through practice.

Visit https://ppol.hkust.edu.hk/mpp-program-overview to explore the MPP.

👏 Warm congratulations to Dr.Jeffrey Chow, Research Assistant Professor of HKUST’s Division of Public Policy, for winning funding from the Environment and Conservation Fund!👏

His project "Comparative Assessment and Valuation of Ecosystem Services Generated from Recreation and Conservation in Coastal Wetland Habitats" will quantify both conservation and recreational values of Hong Kong’s coastal wetlands. Building a standardized evaluation framework, the research will supply solid empirical data to guide wetland protection, eco-tourism planning and evidence-based environmental policies.

Dr. Chow’s cross-disciplinary research bridges environmental science and public policy. It addresses local research gaps in ecological valuation and offers practical policy suggestions to balance biodiversity preservation and sustainable coastal recreation. This milestone once again highlights PPOL’s strength in producing solution-driven public policy research for Hong Kong’s environmental challenges.

Fashion trends come and go, but our relationship with clothing may be changing for good.

Kate Middleton's latest outfit repeat reflects a growing mindset that values longevity over constant consumption.

Professor Kira Matus from HKUST's Division of Public Policy (PPOL) found that the pandemic prompted many consumers to become more intentional about what they buy, with a stronger focus on quality rather than quantity.

Discover how public policy helps explain the choices we make: https://ppol.hkust.edu.hk/mpp-program-overview

Even Shah Rukh Khan can't escape India's power outages. But smart policies, like those holding companies accountable for prolonged outages, may make breathable air possible for the world’s most populous country sooner rather than later.

Explore issues like this and more in HKUST's Master of Public Policy (MPP): https://ppol.hkust.edu.hk/mpp-program-overview

“Made in China” used to mean affordable. Now it often means innovative and globally competitive. The rise of companies like Xiaomi reflects a bigger story: how policy helped build one of the world's most successful EV industries.

HKUST's Professor Pengyu Zhu examines how China's green-tech strategy reshaped global markets.

Explore how public policy influences industries, innovation, and society and how you can be part of shaping what's next: https://ppol.hkust.edu.hk/mpp-program-overview

You can’t escape climate change, not even at the biggest sports event of the year. Rising temperatures aren’t just affecting Cristiano Ronaldo. Everyone and everything is affected.

Understanding these challenges starts with better thinking about the rules and regulations that govern the world we live in. Learn more about public policy here: https://ppol.hkust.edu.hk/mpp-program-overview