HKUST Annual Report 2023-2024

15 HKUST Annual Report 2023-2024 Postgraduate Pathways that Lift Competitiveness To keep Hong Kong and the wider community in step with changing times, the 45 taught master’s programs we offered in 2023-24 formed a valuable platform to reinforce knowledge and skills and expand the talent pool in fast-evolving fields. The launch of the MSc in Chemical and Energy Engineering will nourish the next generation of sustainability innovators. Looking ahead, the MSc in Drug Regulatory Affairs and Policy was approved for 2024-25 in line with the University’s strategic focus on biomedical research and medical care. The degree answers the increasing demand for pharmaceutical professionals and policymakers equipped with understanding of drug regulations across the international landscape. Proactively Fostering Student Diversity Turning to campus life, HKUST views a multicultural student population as essential for a university experience that generates wider understanding, tolerance, as well as global friendships and connections. This outlook helped HKUST become the first university in Hong Kong to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, enabling 16 top Indonesian students on full government scholarships to join HKUST in September 2024. Other targeted countries for recruitment of government scholarship holders include the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. We also recruited the first batch of five High-Achieving, Low- Income (HALI) students from Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ghana respectively. All achieved outstanding results in their national examinations, with further commendations in leadership, entrepreneurship, and community service projects.