The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is joining the “Level Up Digital Talent Program” launched by Facebook today as the lead partner to nurture future digital talents.  Utilizing Facebook’s Blueprint digital marketing materials, HKUST has helped develop a curriculum to equip not just its own students, but those from other partnering universities with digital marketing skills that would help the younger generation thrive in the new digital era.

As a pioneer in entrepreneurship education, HKUST has seen an increasing need in bridging the skill gap among the younger generation in harnessing social media as a digital marketing tool.  So in this new semester, the University has launched ENTR1001 – a credit-bearing entrepreneurship course offered by the HKUST’s Division of Integrative Systems and Design for students at HKUST as well as those from Lingnan University, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design.  Students from the three universities will work in teams to put marketing theories into practice, much like the future of work.

To further extend the reach and impact, HKUST’s Entrepreneurship Education Team and Facebook also co-developed a set of digital marketing modules and workshops for university students from HKUST, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Live training sessions will be provided by Facebook Blueprint trainers and HKUST teaching staff, where students can develop their Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger skills, and equip themselves for the digital marketing field.

Students who successfully complete the ENTR 1001 course or the workshop will receive free vouchers from Facebook, which they can use for taking Facebook’s examinations.  Those who pass will gain certifications that would allow them to join the Facebook Certification Career Network, where they will be able to share profiles and credentials directly with major employers like BBDO, dentsu, GroupM, Havas Media, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, Reprise Digital, Vayner Media, Facebook and others.

Other interested parties are also welcomed to attend the workshop but they would have to take the examination at their own costs.  

“The future our students face is dynamic and filled with wicked challenges that need to be addressed by transdisciplinary and innovative solutions,” said Prof. King CHOW, Acting Dean of Students at HKUST.  “At HKUST, we believe everyone should be entrepreneurial – curious about the world, driven, collaborative and risk-embracing. These are key qualities of future talents.  We are delighted to join hands with Facebook to nurture future digital talents by offering different learning opportunities for students from HKUST and other local and global universities.”

Meanwhile, Facebook will also launch a “Digital Marketing Master Class for NGOs” with The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Institute to equip NGO practitioners with the necessary skills, knowledge and resources to cope with the rising challenges and changing dynamics of the social environment.  Students who complete the workshops and obtain the Facebook certificates may have the opportunities to work together with selected NGOs on their digital marketing campaigns.  

Students of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) Division of Integrative Systems and Design (ISD) have collaborated with Hong Kong Tramways to come up with innovative eco‐friendly design concepts that could be incorporated into future generations of tramcars.  

The project, entitled “Trams in the Hong Kong transport system: designing the 8th‐generation tram for low‐carbon transport futures,” was an ISD and Tramways joint effort to hone students’ critical thinking in approaching complex problems in society, particularly those related to the global challenges of climate change. In the last semester, students conducted research and designed with objectives of enhancing passenger flow or the air‐ventilation of the tram, aiming to realize low‐carbon transport futures.   

Head of ISD, Prof. TSUI Chi‐Ying, thanked Tramways for giving the 27 second‐year students a unique opportunity to work on the project last semester. “Trams are an iconic and ingenious mode of low‐carbon transport in Hong Kong. I am grateful that Tramways has provided our students with a platform to nurture their creativity and utilize their innovative ideas. Our students are young and creative, yet how they will develop their ideas in useful and elegant ways is what we want to see,” said Prof. Tsui.

Managing Director of Hong Kong Tramways, Mr. Cyril AUBIN, said, “I am delighted with the ISD students’ performance and concern about the environment and pursuit for low‐carbon living. Their aspirations are in sync with Tramways’ vision. Furthermore, their concern about the customer and the comfort of people using the tram has impressed me. Designing trams is not just about the transport, but also about connecting with people, our city and history – the students are able to capture all that.”

One of the designs is “Flow,” in which air is dragged through two sets of meticulously‐designed vertical ribs placed at the front and rear of the air tunnel on the upper deck. In addition, air is brought to the lower deck through an open staircase design.   

“We have also applied semantic design language to promote passenger experience with a wavy ceiling. We want passengers to both feel cooler and realize how the improved air flow works,” said Katie CHONG, who worked on the project with Joshua WONG and Cici CHEN.

Another team developed “Seabreeze”, a modular design that makes use of the Coanda effect as realized in a seashell. It enhances the natural evaporative cooling effect by increasing each module’s surface area. Aesthetically, its wavy outlook echoes the wind blowing from the ocean.  

Team member Jasmine LI said, “We have tried to upgrade air ventilation so as to encourage more people to use this fascinating low‐emission means of transport.” Her teammates are Colman CHEUK and Connie CHOW.

 ISD Lecturer Dr. Luisa MOK Sze‐Man said, “This course develops students’ systems thinking integrated with a design approach to solve problems in real life. Coming from the design discipline, I like teaching engineering students because of their background and interest in technology, which highly enhance design solutions for, in particular, climate change challenges.”

The project was part of ISD’s course works for students to explore design interventions for systems change. It covered an iterative design development process of deliberations, verifications of concepts, testing of prototypes, and repeated improvements on designs. During the last semester, the students created a total of 10 models for tramcars.  

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