11 10 HKUST Annual Report 2020-2021 LEARNING FOR LIFE Facing a world reshaped by global challenges, HKUST vitalized the collaborative dexterity of its teaching and learning to stay ahead of the evolving education landscape while meeting society’s changing needs LEARNING FOR LIFE UNLEASHING MULTIDIMENSIONAL TALENTS In line with HKUST’s proactive outlook, the University launched Hong Kong’s first “Extended Major” under its new “Major + X” degree structure over 2020-21, with “X” representing artificial intelligence (AI), an area that is rapidly transforming multiple fields and jobs. By blending traditional majors with popular emerging areas, the novel degree option enhances the integration of existing and new knowledge, adding to students’ multidimensional perspectives and skills, while increasing the University’s agility to respond more rapidly in light of society’s fastchanging needs. A second “X”, focusing on digital media and creative arts, will be offered in 2022-23. HKUST further advanced its Common Core Program, a key part of the University’s undergraduate education that can broaden students’ interests beyond their major field of study and inspire a lifelong passion for learning. This move introduces a progressive three-tier model comprising Foundation, Broadening, and Experiential courses, all of which will develop and track students’ competencies as they progress through the program, to address the needs of future talents and to keep up with recent education advances and best practices from around the world. Two Foundation courses will be piloted in Fall 2021, while the overall revitalized structure will be launched for the incoming cohort from Fall 2022. Postgraduates have also benefited through early initiatives under the novel Unified HKUST-Complementary Campuses framework, established to integrate provision at Clear Water Bay and our new Guangzhou campus, which is set to open in 2022. Over 2020-21, a Clear Water BayGuangzhou PhD dual-degree opportunity was initiated to provide access to complementary expertise and stateof-the-art equipment at both campuses and facilitate integration while MPhil and PhD degrees in 15 research thrust areas at the new campus were rolled out under the HKUST(GZ) Pilot Scheme. To broaden HKUST’s contribution to innovation and realworld problem-solving, a new MPhil/PhD program in Integrative Systems and Design and a Master of Public Management are set to increase the pool of talent taking these two fields forward. The former places emphasis on the knowledge and technical skills essential to the creation of user-oriented products and services with human and societal benefits. The latter will bring interdisciplinary perspectives to policy, management, and governance issues, in particular those related to technological innovation and sustainability, and prepare participants for senior management roles in public sector organizations, among others. In addi t ion, two t imely front-running business and management programs wi l l acce l erate corporate leadership development. The flexible Digital Master of Business Administration for Global Leaders is a firstof-its kind program in Asia for executives who have difficulty committing to regular face-to-face classes. The Doctor of Business Administration, launched in Fall 2021, offers rigorous training to leaders, senior executives, and entrepreneurs to enable them to develop a portfolio of skills in practice-based research. MAJOR + X HK’s First “Extended Major” H K G Z
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