Business YoungStars, The HK University of Science & Technology

China Entrepreneur Network - HKUST Chapter (CEN-HKUST)
中華創新與創業聯盟香港科技大學分部
About:
China Entrepreneur Network (CEN) is a university alliance with chapters across the continent. We aim to connect university students with local startups & social enterprises, empower them with entrepreneurial skill sets and nurture future global leaders.
CEN‘s mission is to develop leaders for a sustainable future.

🌟2023 ”TechFrontier“HKUST Science and Technology Carnival
It provided a platform for startup teams to seek investment and advice from investors and experts.

🌟Company Visit – AXA
We visited AXA under the guidance of HKUST alumni Joey and learnt some information of family offices.

🌟The Wealth Flow Sandtable
The Wealth Flow Sandtable is a game that simulates life for the ages of 20 to 60 in just 2 hours. The game content is very rich, from getting married and having children, to buying a house and investing. Each time you play, you can get a different experience.
The wealth flow sandbox allows you to leave your mistakes in the Sandtable and bring wisdom back to life

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Preparing your application to HKUST, or wondering what life is like at HKUST Business School? 🤔 Give a follow to see this week’s sharing from our talented Business School Ambassadors! 😁 ✨ 🤩

My SBM exchange program is coming to an end, and I must talk about this unforgettable experience!

Campus life:
I spent the past semester at Erasmus University Rotterdam at their Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). The campus has beautiful ponds accompanied by all kinds of flora and fauna. They offer varied business courses, which proved to be a great exchange institution for GBUS and IS credit transfers. Learning styles are interactive and hands-on, which I find helpful for thoroughly understanding theories and concepts. We also had tons of fun with our exchange buddy on the introduction day at an indoor winter sports complex! Campus events like these let us meet new friends and form tighter bonds.

The Netherlands:
What does the Netherlands remind you of? Windmills? Tulips? Or cheese? Why not all of the above? There has been plenty of time for me to travel within the country and experience the Dutch culture from top to bottom. Each city or town has their uniqueness or are known for something special. I’m a big fan of the Dutch canals. Rotterdam is also not far from big cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague (train rides are within an hour), which makes affordable day trips feasible and easy to pull off.

Beyond the Netherlands:
Visiting other EU countries is definitely the most exciting thing during exchange! With careful planning, we can go on many trips and enjoy ourselves to the fullest. For all these world-class attractions that I’ve heard of since I was little, it has been an unreal experience when I can visit them in person! What makes these trips even better would be going with your friends or catching up with them at their exchange country. To think that meeting your buddies at different countries isn’t that hard anymore, this is all thanks to the exchange program.

Internships are one of the most popular extra-curricular activities for SBM students. Not only can you craft your CV, but also gain actual work experience and learn from industry professionals first-hand. Let’s have a quick look at my past internships!

Storius Limited:
Storius is a local startup that focuses on tourism and innovation. It mainly operates an app that serves as an audio guide for travellers, so they can listen to stories of heritage sites and other spots with rich history. Interns were involved in all sorts of operations.

I applied through SBM’s SBMT2200 (social enterprise internship program) where applicants are matched with dozens of local social enterprises partnering with SBM. The 1-month winter program granted me 1 credit on completion. Outstanding students may receive the HK$10000 (HK$20000 for summer) Public Service Internship Scholarship!

Dah Sing Bank summer internship (corporate banking):
Dah Sing Bank is a local bank that also does business in China. In the corporate banking division, I could thoroughly learn the credit line application (businesses asking for loans) process and help draft part of the company assessment report. This is a key step for analyzing whether loan applicants are likely to default or not for risk analysis.

Maples Group summer internship (trust services):
To determine whether I am a good fit for compliance-related roles, I decided to look for relevant experiences. The Family Office Association Hong Kong (FOAHK) organized an internship program that matched applicants with their member companies. I trust team Maples Group

Under this program, there were even private sessions organized by many finance firms exclusively for us during summer. Some of them include Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Sotheby’s, and some sessions were held at their offices! The firms shared their relationship with family offices and businesses, different investment products, and investment trends.

When asked “what is GBUS” back in my first year, it was a tough question to answer properly since I hadn’t taken any GBUS courses yet! Since many are curious about the program, I think GBUS deserves a post itself.

GBUS is a comprehensive program that helps develop a global mindset through practical and meaningful experiences. Here are some facts of our syllabus:

- Overseas exchange is a compulsory graduation requirement, and we even have the privilege to go for two times, while other SBM majors are capped at one.
- Compulsory GBUS courses focus on business case studies, consulting, and all sorts of project-based learning. For example, the compulsory GBUS2010 course taught us various business frameworks and concepts weekly, and we put them into practice in several case studies and group presentations.
- Our elective choices come from virtually every SBM department, which provides high flexibility for us to choose what areas we want to focus on.
- Given that the credit count in GBUS is not particularly high, most of us pursue a second SBM major as an additional focus.

GBUS program enhancement
Apart from academics, GBUS has its own student-initiative teams that host and organize events ranging from cohort gatherings to outreach activities. The Career and Professional Development (CPD) team that I belong to regularly hosts events like internship sharing sessions, company visits, and even career-oriented workshops for GBUSers. I am also a Student-Staff Liaison Committee representative, and we hold annual meetings with our program director and manager to discuss how we can further improve the GBUS program.

How is it being a GBUSer?
After getting an insider’s view of GBUS, I can say we are a helpful community of bright minds who are willing to share and collaborate. Our seniors and alumni, in particular, are more than willing to answer our questions and share their past experiences. Thanks to their support, we could navigate our way through different challenges easier. We also have many non-locals in the cohort, who can bring in different perspectives when we work as a team and allow us to embrace cultural diversity.

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Preparing your application to HKUST, or wondering what life is like at HKUST Business School? 🤔 Give a follow to see this week’s sharing from our talented Business School Ambassadors! 😁 ✨ 🤩

[Courses at HKUST! 🎓]

SUST1000 - Sustainability Fundamentals🌍

This captivating course delves into the challenging issues we face and equips you with essential frameworks for achieving sustainability. In the first half, you’ll tackle the hurdles of implementing sustainability through engaging games and simulations facilitated by our professors. 🌱

In the second half, the course takes a focused approach on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), empowering you to contribute positively. Get ready to showcase your creativity through a stimulating poster presentation. 🖼️ Overall, SUST1000 has given me a profound understanding of the importance of protecting our planet for a brighter future. 🌎✨

SOSC1850 - Understanding Society🧠

This course explores key concepts from functionalism to Marxism and internationalism, offering a captivating journey into understanding society. 🌍

What makes this course truly exceptional is the dynamic teaching method employed by our passionate professor. The classes are anything but boring, as the material effortlessly comes to life. With clear explanations and relatable examples, you’ll easily grasp complex sociological theories and expand your knowledge of society. 📖💭

[Exchange Experience🌍]

Hey everyone! 📣 I wanted to share my incredible exchange experience at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱 It’s an international study hub where 50% of the students come from abroad, creating a diverse community without language barriers. 🌍💬 We could all communicate effortlessly in English, making it easy to connect with classmates and engage in meaningful discussions with our buddies.

One of the highlights of my time at Maastricht was the project-based learning approach. 🎓🌱 It was a refreshing and innovative way to actively participate in real-world projects, developing practical skills along the way. This hands-on experience truly prepared me for the challenges of the professional world and allowed me to contribute to meaningful initiatives.

During my exchange, I had the opportunity to live in off-campus accommodation, and it was an absolute blast! 🏠✨ The building was buzzing with fellow exchange students, creating an enriching environment where we could learn from each other and broaden our horizons. The rooms were well-equipped with cooking utilities, allowing us to whip up delicious meals together. Plus, the view from our building was simply breathtaking! 😍🌆

But my exchange experience didn’t stop at the university or our accommodation. 🌍✈️ I embarked on an unforgettable journey during my study break and explored 11 incredible countries across Europe! 🗺️🌟 Each destination brought unique learnings and unforgettable memories. To challenge myself and foster independence, I even ventured on a solo trip through Northern Europe, where I met incredible people and forged lifelong friendships.

This exchange experience has broadened my perspective, enhanced my skills, and allowed me to immerse myself in different cultures. 🙌🌟

[Living in Dorm🏘️]

I lived in Hall 2 during my Year 1 and Year 3 Fall semester at HKUST, and I was lucky to have a triple room with an amazing sea view.🌅🌊 Whenever I felt stressed, I could always find comfort by simply looking out from my room and enjoying the beautiful view. What made Hall 2 even better was the large common area where they had cooking facilities and microwaves. I could cook and make my own dishes without any restrictions, which was super convenient. And that’s the reason of why I always enjoy a hotpot gathering with my roommates.🥘🍳

The hall committee in Hall 2 was awesome! They organized so many fun activities like ice skating and dessert nights.⛸️ These events were not only a great way to have a good time, but they also gave me a chance to meet new friends and expand my social circle.👯 It really made the whole experience in Hall 2 more enjoyable and made me feel like part of a community.

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Preparing your application to HKUST, or wondering what life is like at HKUST Business School? 🤔 Give a follow to see this week’s sharing from our talented Business School Ambassadors! 😁 ✨ 🤩

🏡 In my first year, I resided in Hall V, which featured a bunk bed, along with a sink, wardrobe, and small refrigerator in each room. The bathrooms were communal and shared by the entire floor. There is also a common room on each floor. 🚪Despite the smaller room size compared to other halls, my experience in Hall V was enjoyable as people were very welcoming. 💖Additionally, I was able to become closer with my roommate, who is also from the Philippines, and we have remained roommates this year. ❣️Aside from this, Hall V is close to the campus, making it convenient for me to go back and forth to hall. 🚶‍♀️

This year, I chose to live in Hall VIII. 🏡The hall offers the choice between double and single rooms. The double rooms consist of beds and tables positioned opposite to each other, along with a sink, two wardrobes, and a refrigerator. The bathroom is shared among four residents, comprising two double rooms. Additionally, each floor is equipped with a common room that provides a scenic view of the sea. 🌊Hall VIII is close to the Fok Ying Tung and Tsang Shui Tim Sports Centers 👟🏃‍♀️

Women in Business:
HKUST Women in Business strives to empower women and address the gender gap in leadership positions within the business world. As a member, I had the opportunity to attend talks by prominent professionals from various industries, gaining valuable insights and inspiration.

The Base:
The Base is a dynamic and supportive hub that nurtures the entrepreneurial spirit among HKUST students and faculty. Their mission is to provide aspiring start-ups with an ideal environment to develop their ideas and receive support on their entrepreneurial journey. During my first year, I joined The Base as a writer for their promotional content team, contributing to their website through blog writing.

Dance Society:
In my first semester of Year 1, I became a member of the dance society. This allowed me to participate in the annual Mass Dance performance. Through regular training sessions, we honed our dance skills in preparation for the performance, enabling me to pursue my passion for dance while balancing my academic responsibilities.

Spark Global:
As a Spark Global leader in Year 1, I had the opportunity to lead student groups on various tours and activities in Hong Kong. This included organizing a hike at Victoria Peak, conducting a tour in Chungking Mansions, exploring Sham Shui Po, and facilitating a religious diversity tour in Wan Chai.