HKUST Business Review

18 HKUST Business Review “Students must keep expanding their horizons,” Tung says. In particular, it is essential to avoid tunnel vision — the instinct to consider only one’s own market or viewpoint. Graduates must also understand how an event halfway around the world might have repercussions on supply chains, markets, and business models. Learning How to Learn Therefore, Tung believes, business schools must teach students how to interpret and anticipate such issues rather than simply absorbing existing knowledge. The ability to understand disruptions, whether economic, geopolitical or relating to technology, and to foresee possible implications will allow future leaders to navigate uncertainty. To do this, however, practical experience is vital, which makes HKUST’s applied approach, with corporate projects, internships and simulations, one of its greatest strengths. These experiences mirror the sometimes messy realities of business life, giving students the confidence and competencies to operate in fast moving, high stakes environments. The University’s ties with companies on the cutting edge in engineering and science add to this advantage. “We talk a lot about the importance of tech and innovation, so having these links is very, very important,” Tung says. Graduates must also understand how an event halfway around the world might have repercussions on supply chains, markets, and business models.