The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is set to establish the third medical school in Hong Kong. Nancy Ip, the President of HKUST, said that the medical school team has taken shape. Currently, six clinical professors have joined the team. Professor Ip is very confident in recruiting high-quality teaching talents and will conduct global recruitment. In her eyes, the founding dean of the medical school should have rich experience in managing hospitals and medical education with a thorough understanding of both the Mainland and Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Photo source: online image
Professor Ip emphasized that the university will fully provide financial support for the development of the medical school, with an estimated investment of over 7 billion HKD in the next 25 years. HKUST will also confer with the government and the Hospital Authority about the relevant details of the possible cooperation with other teaching hospitals before the establishment of the medical school campus in Ngau Tam Mei.
As for the background of students admitted to the medical school, Professor Ip said that students would have a background in biological sciences initially. As the school continues to develop, it would be possible to admit students from other fields, such as those with a background in artificial intelligence. When asked if there would be new first degree programs in addition to second degree, Professor Ip said that, considering the high quality of the two existing medical schools in Hong Kong with the focus on first degree education. The development orientation of the HKUST's medical school would be clear.
When asked whether the students of the medical school would intern in the Greater Bay Area, Professor Ip said that, since the university has cooperative relationships with different hospitals in the Greater Bay Area, students will have opportunities to intern in different hospitals and visit other hospitals around the world for knowledge exchange. She emphasized that HKUST would develop an excellent curriculum design and provide the best learning opportunities to students to explore the integration of technology and medicine.
Nancy Ip, the President of HKUST, Photo source: Reference image
The joint interview delegation themed “Leveraging New Advantages to Align with the 15th Five-Year Plan” visited the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town and the Zhuhai M.U.S.T. Science and Technology Research Institute on August 27, experiencing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent between Macao and Hengqin.
The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, Photo by Bastille Post
The National 15th Five-Year Plan states that the construction of the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town should be promoted, and support should be given to Macao higher education institutions to extend their campuses in Hengqin. The University Town is being constructed in three phases. The first phase was put into use in August this year, and currently three public universities — the University of Macau, Macao Polytechnic University, and Macao University of Tourism — have moved in, with more than 1,400 students.
The first phase of the University Town was put into use in August this year, and currently three public universities — the University of Macau, Macao Polytechnic University, and Macao University of Tourism — have moved in, with more than 1,400 students. Photo by Bastille Post
The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, Photo by Bastille Post
The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, Photo by Bastille Post
Macao Closely Monitoring the Northern Metropolis University Town Construction
Kong Chi Meng, Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of Macao, revealed that the first to third phases of the University Town construction will progressively cover more higher education institutions. The second phase, expected to be fully completed in 2029, will be led by the University of Macau; the third phase campus will be fully completed in 2030, led by Macao University of Tourism and Macao Polytechnic University.
Kong Chi Meng, Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of Macao, Photo by Bastille Post
The University Town will continue the existing internationalised education system of Macao’s higher education institutions, with network access conditions consistent with Macao, achieving a “soft connectivity” demonstration. Faculty and students will also be able to move freely within the cooperation zone, and a unified academic system will be adopted.
The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, Photo by Bastille Post
The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, Photo by Bastille Post
Since the HKSAR Government is also preparing for the construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town, Kong Chi Meng said he believes the two university towns each have their own advantages, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance has also carried out multiple joint research projects and seminars, providing a good foundation for cooperation between the two. The Northern Metropolis University Town is still in the planning stage, and Macao is closely monitoring the situation and is willing to share its experience with Hong Kong.
The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, Photo by Bastille Post
The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, Photo by Bastille Post
“A Classroom for Macao Higher Education Institutions in Hengqin”
Sun Lin, Deputy Director of the Talent Development and Social Security Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, said that the University Town operates under the state-approved "Extended Schooling" Policy, and the extended education units are not branch campuses or campuses, but rather “a classroom for Macao higher education institutions in Hengqin.” The majors offered at the University Town campus are all in fields that the three universities have not previously offered in Macao, such as medicine, artificial intelligence, and robotics manufacturing.
Sun Lin, Deputy Director of the Talent Development and Social Security Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Photo by Bastille Post
In the new semester, students at the University Town campus can already take courses across universities, and in the next academic year, the three universities will each offer some “micro-major” courses for students to select and take across schools, with credits counted simultaneously.
The mechanical engineering laboratory at the University Town, Photo by Bastille Post
The mechanical engineering laboratory at the University Town, Photo by Bastille Post
Pan Yong, a PhD student in Electromechanical Engineering at the University of Macau, said that being in Hengqin, many start-ups have formed partnerships with the university, allowing students to personally understand the entire process from robot production to equipment manufacturing. “This is very helpful for our progress. Although we are in school, we are not disconnected from the industry — this is our advantage.”
Pan Yong, a PhD student in Electromechanical Engineering at the University of Macau, Photo by Bastille Post
HK's Multiple Advantages in Science and Technology Innovation
The delegation then visited the Laboratory of Intelligent Micro-Display and Advanced Light Sources at the Zhuhai M.U.S.T. Science and Technology Research Institute in Hengqin. The laboratory focuses on the manufacturing of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices, dedicated to OLED device production and development.
The Laboratory of Intelligent Micro-Display and Advanced Light Sources at the Zhuhai M.U.S.T. Science and Technology Research Institute in Hengqin, Photo by Bastille Post
The Laboratory of Intelligent Micro-Display and Advanced Light Sources at the Zhuhai M.U.S.T. Science and Technology Research Institute in Hengqin, Photo by Bastille Post
The Laboratory of Intelligent Micro-Display and Advanced Light Sources at the Zhuhai M.U.S.T. Science and Technology Research Institute in Hengqin, Photo by Bastille Post
The Laboratory of Intelligent Micro-Display and Advanced Light Sources at the Zhuhai M.U.S.T. Science and Technology Research Institute in Hengqin, Photo by Bastille Post
Lee Shuit-Tong, Dean of the Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering at Macau University of Science and Technology and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that China's scientific and technological development has shifted from “catching up” to “surpassing,” providing a broad stage for young people from Hong Kong and Macao.
Lee Shuit-Tong, Dean of the Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering at Macau University of Science and Technology and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Photo by Bastille Post
In response to a question from Bastille Post, Lee Shuit-Tong pointed out that Hong Kong has many advantages in the development of science and technology innovation, such as its geographical location, international environment, and talent attraction. Macao and Hengqin can also absorb Hong Kong’s successful experience and avoid the unsuccessful aspects.
The Zhuhai M.U.S.T. Science and Technology Research Institute in Hengqin, Photo by Bastille Post
