HKUST Annual Report 2022-2023

20 21 To build up leadership competency among the young generation, we sent our student organizations’ office bearers to a training exchange in Singapore in June 2023. Additionally, programs such as Self-Leadership, Ripples Fellowship, and The Next Changemaker helped 100 students explore self-discovery and leadership. The promotion of well-being was another focus of the University’s student support efforts. Over the year, we held nearly 5,000 counseling and special educational needs (SEN) sessions and 130 wellness activities, reaching over 7,400 students. To encourage peer support, the Peer Companions service continued to empower students to help others. During the year, an expanded contingent of 206 trained volunteers provided face-to-face chat services to 250 (+29%) of their fellow students. For those who preferred seeking support online, a digital social platform with mental health toolkits and peer sharing in theme- based social rooms was in place, benefitting 1,165 (+17%) users. Empowering Student Success with Scholarships and Financial Aid HKUST offers a variety of scholarships to honor students’ academic and non-academic merits. It also supports students’ applications for externally funded awards. Over the year, scholarships totaling over HK$104 million recognized thousands of our undergraduates and postgraduates’ achievements in various fields. Recipients and awards both increased by 18%, while the total scholarship amount rose 9% year-on-year. Number of Scholarship Recipients 2,727 18% year-on-year Total Scholarship Amount $104.4M 9% year-on-year As an indication of HKUST’s research renown, the University again attracted the highest number of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme awardees in 2023-24 among the eight local University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions. Some 78 top-quality students from 16 countries and regions will start their doctoral studies at HKUST in 2023-24, equivalent to 26% of the scheme’s total awards for the year. To encourage next-generation scholars to explore research environments and life beyond Hong Kong, we presented the Overseas Research Award to 41 PhD students in the year. Institutions offering research experience include Harvard University, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and the National University of Singapore. Agreements on postgraduate dual degree programs, joint PhD training programs and student exchanges were entered into or renewed with 11 universities and research institutes around the world.