HKUST and Princeton University Launch Joint Undergraduate Research Exchange Program for Engineering Students

Abstract

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

22/03/2011 HKUST and Princeton University Launch Joint Undergraduate Research Exchange Program for Engineering Students

Prof Khaled Ben Letaief, HKUST Dean of Engineering (left) and Prof Vincent Poor, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science of Princeton University, sign the agreement on undergraduate research exchange program

Prof Vincent Poor speaking at the distinguished lecture

Prof Khaled Ben Letaief presents an HKUST souvenir to Prof Vincent Poor

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) School of Engineering and Princeton University School of Engineering and Applied Science have formed a partnership to launch a research-based undergraduate summer exchange program, which aims to provide engineering students with an international research experience of the highest standard, a global outlook, and an all-round education. HKUST is the first university in Asia to enter into an undergraduate summer research exchange partnership with Princeton in engineering. Combining hands-on research experience with international exchange, this program marks a difference from existing exchange programs offered by the HKUST Engineering School. Participating students will not only conduct academic research in an international setting, but will also gain invaluable cultural exposure through staying abroad and interacting with people with diverse backgrounds. The new program will also be another option to further enrich undergraduate research learning experience in highly-ranked universities in engineering and technology. Within this program, and for a period of 8 weeks, HKUST students will engage in research with Princeton's faculty members on designated research projects, whereas Princeton students will undertake research in collaboration with HKUST's faculty members as well as the professional research teams from The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI). Princeton currently has 8 institution partners around the world for reciprocal semester study abroad exchange. For the summer engineering research exchange, HKUST is the second Princeton partner -the first being the three German universities in the Ruhr Area (University of Dortmund, Ruhr University of Bochum and the University of Duisburg-Essen). The HKUST School of Engineering thus becomes the first two-way summer research exchange partner in engineering with Princeton in Asia. Prof Khaled Ben Letaief, HKUST Dean of Engineering, said, 'HKUST School of Engineering is committed to producing global citizens with an excellent undergraduate education. We are therefore very excited about this initiative which will not only allow our students to acquire an international outlook but would further develop their appreciation of research. Besides, this unique program will create a close partnership between the world-class faculties at Princeton and HKUST with industries and undergraduate students.' Prof H. Vincent Poor, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science of Princeton University, said, 'Princeton and HKUST are both world-renowned research universities with strong commitments to undergraduate education. We are very pleased to establish a partnership with the HKUST Engineering School to jointly advance the levels of distinction in discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding through this research exchange program. This program will surely offer our engineering students an excellent enrichment experience.' As a top scholar in electrical engineering, Prof Poor delivered a well-received distinguished lecture on 21 March 2011 at the HKUST campus on the topic of 'Information and Inference in the Wireless Physical Layer'. The distinguished lecture was co-organized by HKUST's Engineering School and the HKUST Institute for Advanced Study. About HKUST School of Engineering Exchange HKUST School of Engineering currently has over 70 exchange partners in more than 20 countries/regions. Among its exchange partners are top-tier technology universities including UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, Cornell, Purdue, Northwestern, USC, University College London, Tsinghua, KAIST and Tokyo Tech. The number of students participating in exchange programs has been setting new records in recent years. In 2009-10, over a quarter of the Engineering School's students went on exchange. All News More News at Media Information Center

For media enquiries, please feel free to contact : Ross Lai Tel: 2358 6306 / 9103 2928 Email: rosslai@ust.hk Kit Yip Tel: 2358 6313 Email: kityip@ust.hk