The Department of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science offers a selection of programmes in various disciplines of computing and electronic and computer engineering that keep up with the latest technology trends. For example, the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Cyber and Computer Security programme launched in 2020–21 offers electives in specialized technologies including digital forensics, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT), while the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence is structured with reference to SAS Institute exams and covers such topics as machine learning, deep learning, big data, AI and algorithms. Students of the Department have benefited from devising innovative solutions in project courses and taking their work to competitions organized by professional chapters such as the International Facility Management Association and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or participating in competitive contests like hackathons. These special experiences have greatly boosted students' self-confidence, unlocked their potential and sometimes led to career opportunities.
S&T has also been playing a part in the popular interdisciplinary area of STE(A)M. In 2019, it embarked on the four-year Jockey Club STEAM Education Resources Sharing Scheme with funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and has since supported many secondary schools across Hong Kong in conducting STEAM education (details on pp.18–19). At the tertiary level, the Department of Applied Science has recently launched a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Science (STEM) programme aimed at training versatile talent. 'The programme will produce the kind of talent required by 21st century Hong Kong — people who have developed a broad perspective on a broad, integrative knowledge base,' explains Dean Prof. Wang. Graduates of the programme will also be adept STE(A)M educators.
Opening doors to a promising career
On the practical side, S&T has a rigorous programme to ensure that every full-time student leaving the University can transition seamlessly to their industry. It has received funding from the Quality Enhancement Support Scheme for self-financing institutions to implement a three-year Industrial Attachment Project for Science and Technology Students starting from 2021. The project aims to develop a domain-specific industrial attachment framework by sourcing industrial attachment places for students, organizing general as well as technical pre-attachment training workshops, and holding career
seminars, CV clinics and career fairs to help students find work. The project will also yield a bank of prototype teaching materials for long-term use. For the summer of 2021 and the academic year 2021–22, nearly 120 companies based in Hong Kong or the Greater Bay Area were identified to provide industrial attachment places in different industrial domains, while this year's spring Career Fair featured 60 companies looking out for new blood.
The School is also becoming increasingly attractive to young people looking to start a career in academia or research. Altogether, its three Departments are providing nurturing grounds for 22 research students, among whom 14 are at doctoral level, with 10 being on one of the recently launched PhD programmes. 'Research students are our valued assets. As a young and growing university, we're offering them unique opportunities to grow with us,' says Prof. Wang, who personally supervises one of the PhD students.
