This September, the HKUST Business School MSc Virtual Week gave participating students around the world an insightful taste into the opportunities that they could have at the School’s Master of Science programs. Watch the program information webinars for more information.
Students had the unique opportunity to connect with professors and alumni from various prestigious and globally recognized programs. Through a series of featured events, students have also gained valuable insights into seven world-class programs.
Throughout the week, students went on a virtual tour of the stunning HKUST campus to learn more about life as a student on campus. The events also offered useful information to help them plan for their study and career development ahead of submitting their applications.
One of the major themes during the Virtual Week was the idea that a postgraduate degree is not just about academic rigor. It is also about preparing graduates to be leaders able to navigate a fast-changing business environment.
Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has accelerated many trends, especially in digital and data. As such, “One way to prepare, understand, and deal with these disruptive innovations in business and society is by becoming a part of these programs,” explained Professor Theodore CLARK, Academic Director of the MSc in information Systems Management program.
Preparing students to have a better understanding of how technology enables new forms of businesses will also help them capture business opportunities.
“When change happens fast, it is often stressful for firms and employees. It becomes difficult for them to see and seize opportunities, and we are seeing this pace accelerating,” explained Professor Clark, “Big changes and disruptions require a merger of tech and business insights.”
The programs help students get ahead by preparing them to sharpen necessary skills to do all the above.
“What we do is we help our students to achieve,” said Professor Lancelot JAMES, Academic Director of the MSc in Business Analytics program. “We equip them with the data analytic skills to optimize business performance.”
By doing this, graduates can be expected to add value to businesses and be able to use data to achieve competitiveness while aspiring to become team leaders at the same time. “It is a great path to enhance your ability in various outlets,” said Professor James.
Another recurring theme was the idea of real-world application, which is taking what students have learned to apply it at work.
Professor Qing LI, Academic Director of the MSc in Global Operations program, said it is important for students to find a nice balance between breadth and depth. Before graduating, students need to understand the macro environment they are working in and have the in-depth knowledge to connect all the dots.
Graduates agreed and highlighted the skills they gained from having plenty of real-life experiences through the programs.
Sammi QIAN, an MSc in Accounting program alumna, said what she liked most about the advanced level courses was the chance to work on real-world cases.
“The course content is practical, so we had to dig through the financial statements on companies like Apple and Lenovo and analyze and write a strategy accordingly,” she said.
What’s more, the Virtual Week further highlighted an additional aspect of getting a solid postgraduate education – gaining a cross-cultural learning experience and international exposure.
“We are a business school representing a multinational experience,” said Professor Ellick WONG, Academic Director of the MSc in International Management (MIMT) program. Not only are graduates linked to some of the world’s biggest names from a host of industries, such as Deloitte, JP Morgan, Adidas, and Huawei, but the School also has a global alliance with leading business schools worldwide. This guarantees international student exchange opportunities for MIMT students. Notwithstanding, the School also provides short-term exchange options for other MSc students to learn at renowned European business schools to gain international experience.
Furthermore, the School’s MSc programs provide a strong network for students and graduates. These industry ties can go a long way and help jumpstart or accelerate graduates’ careers.
“The Business School has a strong alumni network and a supportive and inclusive environment. The program management office is focused on providing everyone with an opportunity to pursue whatever they want,” said MIMT program student Yixi WANG.
“This has truly been a unique experience that has given me a lot of international exposure. Next semester, I will travel to Denmark and study at the Copenhagen Business School,” she added.
If you have missed the MSc Virtual Week 2021, video playbacks of the events are available on our event website. Sign up at https://www.sbmmscweek.ust.hk/ for a comprehensive range of program introductions.