Fall was a busy time for fresh starts at the School of Engineering with the rst undergraduates taking up their studies in four innovative bachelor degree programs. In line with the growing emphasis on multidisciplinary knowledge and skills in many of today’s emerging elds and careers, the BEng in Sustainable Energy Engineering is jointly o ered by the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electronic and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The BSc in Data Science and Technology is a cross-School undertaking by the Departments of Computer Science and Engineering in the School of Engineering and Mathematics in the School of Science. The BEng in Decision Analytics, a signi cant emerging area in the knowledge economy (see P ), and the BSc in Integrative Systems and Design, a University-wide program employing a project-based learning approach rather than a xed curriculum, are also now underway. The former is run by the Department of Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics while the latter is managed by the Division of Integrative Systems and Design (see P - ). “The School is delighted to o er undergraduates, locally and from outside Hong Kong, the chance to move into and make an impact on these key elds of tomorrow,” said Prof. Philip MOK, Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies). “And to help them do so through leading educational approaches and a student experience that will truly make a di erence to their lives – and the lives of others.” (see P ). A BEng in Bioengineering will be launched by the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in Fall . A novel interactive endeavor launched by HKUST is set to build the next generation of technology and science innovators by fueling interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among school students. The STEM@HKUST One-stop Online Platform (https://stem.ust.hk/) provides materials to encourage young learners to investigate daily life problems in a scienti c way. It also supports school teachers in their e orts to build the essential attributes of a STEM explorer, namely a critical mindset and problem-solving skills. The website presents original videos by the University’s faculty, sta , and students, which explain everyday phenomena and answer intriguing questions about how the world works. Learners and teachers can also put forward their own topics or the experiments they would like to see featured. The platform was co-founded by Prof. WOO Kam-Tim, Founding Director of the Center for Global & Community Engagement, School of Engineering, and Prof. King CHOW, Director of the University’s Center for the Development of the Gi ed and Talented. Prof. Chow noted that STEM subjects in local schools were still largely textbook and practice-oriented rather than focused on developing the thinking required to be successful in these elds. STEM education actually lies in developing students’ capabilities to analyze systematically, identify a feasible solution, and evaluate the validity experimentally, he said. Spurring early interest in STEM 09 IN FOCUS Cutting-edge degrees for changing times Platform co-founder Prof. Woo Kam-Tim boosts interest in STEM among school students.
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