HKUST Annual Report 2023-2024

17 HKUST Annual Report 2023-2024 inclusive environment. Participants worked closely with departments, student organizations, and external units to provide chat services, share personal experiences, and organize outreach activities. An online peer support community with around 1,650 student members was established, strengthening connections and fostering mutual support. Aiming to foster an open and encouraging environment for interdisciplinary exchanges among research postgraduate students in response to the growing number of students, the Research Postgraduate Hub expanded in its second phase, launched in late January 2024, to accommodate an additional 93 students with new desk spaces and meeting areas. Widening Student Reach and Recognition Scholarships recognize students’ academic and non- academic merits and extend the reach of a university education to learners who might otherwise not be able to afford to attend. In 2023-24, scholarships totaled HK$122.8 million, recognizing thousands of HKUST undergraduates and postgraduates for their excellence in their studies and other achievements including arts, community engagement, sports and innovation. HKUST continued to draw the highest number of awardees for the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), organized by the Research Grants Council. The University attracted 89 HKPFS students from 19 countries and regions for 2024-25, accounting for 25% of the total awards. We now have the largest HKPFS community among local institutions, with recipients hailing from over 50 countries and regions. 1.4% year-on-year $ Total Scholarship Recipients 2,751 17.9% year-on-year Total Scholarship Funding HK$ 122.8M