In an enterprising move, the HKUST-Academy for Continuing Education is to be established in the Futian Bonded Zone in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Special Collaborative Demo Zone to provide technological education support to industry.

The Academy, based in the landmark Chang-Fu Commercial Building, will be under the School of Engineering but offer a platform for all HKUST departments and offices to engage with tertiary education providers and industry in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

The self-financed Academy will deliver high-quality learning opportunities with an international focus, serving as a professional training center for executive education and knowledge-sharing on the latest technology and industry developments. It will host short courses, workshops, seminars, and support joint initiatives, research, and industrial collaborations.

Funding has been obtained from the Futian district government and School of Engineering, with Prof. CHAN Man-Sun, Electronic and Computer Engineering, appointed Founding Director.

The Academy will be located on the supertall building’s 37th floor, one of three floors provided to HKUST in an agreement between Futian district government and HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute. On the 40th floor, HKUST will open labs for data science, fintech, robotics, and automation, among others, while the 41st floor will provide incubation space and support services for the University’s entrepreneurship community.

This story was originally published in the SENG In Focus magazine (Fall 2019 edition, issue 31, P9).