HKUST Business School Magazine

Biz@HKUST Biz@HKUST 60 61 // Feature SGFN Program Highlights Business & Finance | Managing CSR | Derivative Securities | | ESG Investing | Green Finance Case Analyses | | Social Sustainability Risks and Challenges | | Circular Economy and Life Cycle Assessment | | Introduction to Sustainability | | Green Business Strategy | Environment & Sustainability More New Funding for Green Finance Research In addition to nurturing green finance talent, HKUST has taken active steps in expanding its understanding of green finance. In our ongoing effort to support this realm, we are pleased to receive major funding from the Theme-based Research Scheme of the Research Grants Council for our research project entitled “Developing Hong Kong as a Global Green Finance Centre”. Our funded proposal will gather an interdisciplinary team of academic specialists in the areas of finance, environmental science, public policy, and technology, as well as former policymakers and experienced practitioners, to address As part of the Program, students will study a wide range of topics across disciplines. These include ESG investing, sustainable supply chain management, green business strategy, the use of engineering technology to solve environmental problems, and more. According to Professor Fung, the four-year programme is particularly suited to students who have a strong interest in green development and green projects. They will be able to apply a knowledge of finance to enhance the financial sustainability of projects. “Sustainability will be at the heart of the economy in the 21st century and beyond. The new program is set to equip students with the essential knowledge and skills to fill the talent gap for green and sustainable finance.” fundamental research questions of green finance through a series of cohesive studies. Professor Chu ZHANG, Head of the Finance Department and Project Coordinator says, “Our research team represents six main research areas and will contribute towards helping various stakeholders achieve the ‘brown to green’ transition. Adopting a ‘think and do’ approach, we will gather academic insights, work with industry partners and government units, and guide them in implementation and execution phases of a broad range of green finance tasks.” Professor TAM Kar Yan, Dean of HKUST Business School, says, “The cross-disciplinary nature of this project emphasizes the importance of collaboration across various industries and disciplines to ensure the success of building and financing better solutions for our planet.” Themed “Scaling FinTech Future Together”, the Hong Kong FinTech Week 2021 was held between 1-5 November. Our faculty joined many respected speakers, in several panels, to share their insights into different timely topics. In a panel on “AI and Big Data Adoption in APAC: A Talent Development Perspective”, Professor TAM Kar Yan, Dean of HKUST Business School, discussed with experts about the adoption status and talent needs of AI and Big Data technologies. Senior Associate Dean and Elman Family Professor of Business, HUI Kai-Lung, talked about fintech talent development in Hong Kong and beyond, while Associate Professor HONG Weiyin explained how to use AI to derive insights from data analytics. Recognizing the growing need for fintech talent, HKUST has signed an MoU with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) to form a new partnership in talent development as well as research and application to the development of fintech. Under the Industry Project Masters Network (IPMN) of the HKMA, a Mentorship Network will be established. Through this network, each fintech or industry project of the IPMN scheme will be supervised by mentors from various fields. HKUST together with three other local universities will collaborate with the HKMA and other stakeholders on the IPMN scheme. Postgraduate students of these universities in the discipline of fintech will be eligible to join IPMN. The School has worked with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) to launch an executive education course on Sustainable Finance. This is the first time that HKEX has partnered with a university in Asia to offer this kind of course in this important field for MBA students The elective course “Sustainable Finance with Business Practices” introduces the framework of sustainable finance and responsible investing and examines various approaches to ESG investing, relevant products and strategies, and the governed practices. With experienced faculty from HKUST and experts from HKEX, MBA students will be able to understand the key challenges and opportunities in different contexts of green and sustainable finance. Collaborating for the Next-Generation Finance Services In Support of InvestHK for HK Fintech Week MoU with HKMA to Open Up Mentorship Opportunities Pioneers with HKEX in Sustainable Finance Education Through advocacy and education, the HKUST Business School has partnered with respected organizations in promoting green finance and fintech.