HKUST Annual Report 2022-2023

52 53 Members of the Court offered their insightful advice and guidance to the University’s Administration in terms of overall strategic planning directions, as well as the focus and approach to be adopted in the HKUST 3.0 Vision Plan. The Court Meeting in October 2022 was conducted in the Shaw Auditorium on the Clear Water Bay campus where Members actively exchanged their views on how initiatives under the 2021-2028 University Strategic Plan could be further refined. The discussion also touched on various governance issues including the University’s collaboration with HKUST(GZ), and matters related to risk assessment and management of HKUST. The subsequent Court Meeting, held in February 2023, focused on the proposed initiatives under the HKUST 3.0 Vision Plan and its roadmap. Court Members were excited to learn from the President the list of new initiatives under the Plan and had actively shared their comments with the Administration Team on how key issues like resources planning, communication strategies, professional validation for graduates and policy support etc., should be addressed. The need to attract and retain talents in HKUST, as well as the strategies in promoting future research and innovation, were also deliberated during the Meeting. In addition to meetings, Court Members had participated actively in major University events, including the Spring Concert, the HKUST Fun Day and the Flag-Raising Ceremonies from time to time. On membership, six new Members, all from the University Council, were appointed to the Court in the past 12 months, while two serving Members were appointed as Honorary Members, in order that the University can continue to benefit from their wisdom and counseling. The Senate Being the supreme academic body of the University, the Senate reviewed and approved important academic policies and regulatory matters, as well as proposals of new and revised undergraduate and postgraduate programs, both in HKUST and HKUST(GZ). One of the key proposals considered and approved by the Senate during the review period was the renaming of the Interdisciplinary Programs Office, which has been a major vehicle for the University’s promotion of interdisciplinary undergraduate programs since 2008. The new title of Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) is expected to better describe the work of the unit, and thus help promote its position as a unique platform for HKUST to cooperate with prestigious international organizations and academies on a wide variety of interdisciplinary endeavors. Based on the rationale, the Senate has also approved the migration of the Division of Integrative Systems and Design from the School of Engineering to AIS to further strengthen the latter’s interdisciplinary education and research prospects. With the aim of attracting additional outstanding and accomplished researchers to the University to advance its research efforts, and in support of the University’s initiatives to recruit and retain talents, the Senate has approved the establishment of a new rank of “Research Professor”. This new group of Professors is expected to help elevate the University’s capacity in excelling in breakthrough research, through large-scale interdisciplinary research efforts, and new strategic research initiatives. On program development, the Senate has reviewed and approved a number of proposals including i) the Master of Science Program in Biomolecular Engineering and Health Informatics, which aims to train students how to solve bioengineering problems through integration of knowledge in biomolecular engineering and data analytical skills; as well as ii) a new Undergraduate Minor Program in Smart City which was designed to address the increasing demand of talents in the market, both locally and globally. Under the “Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses” framework, the Senate has been playing an important role in overseeing matters of HKUST(GZ) to ensure its standard of programs is comparable to that of HKUST. To enhance academic governance, notably the content and delivery of programs in HKUST(GZ), the Senate has approved the setting up of joint committee sessions for respective Committees of the Senate of HKUST and HKUST(GZ) to exchange their views on various program matters. In anticipation of HKUST(GZ)’s launching of the undergraduate programs from Fall 2023-24, the Senate has reviewed and approved three undergraduate program proposals of HKUST(GZ), covering the subject areas of i) Artificial Intelligence, ii) Data Science and Big Data Technology, and iii) Smart Manufacturing. As for postgraduate programs, the Master of Science Program in Technology and Policy and the Master of Public Policy Program, which are jointly offered by HKUST and HKUST(GZ), have also been reviewed and approved by the Senate.