Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) signed a landmark agreement with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia (MoECRT), making HKUST the first university in Hong Kong to nurture outstanding Indonesian undergraduates under the Indonesia Education Scholarship for Degree Program in collaboration with MoECRT.
Following the agreement, the first batch of 12 top Indonesian undergraduate (UG) students will join HKUST the new academic year (2024-25) via a rigorous selection process. MoECRT will provide them with a full scholarship covering tuition fees, living expenses and other allowances, for the duration of their academic programs. The students will be joining HKUST in September to study UG programs in Science, Engineering, Business, Humanities and Social Science, as well as interdisciplinary fields.
The partnership with the Indonesian Government is a testament to HKUST's commitment to attracting top international students, particularly from Belt and Road countries. This aligns with Hong Kong Government's goal of establishing the city as an international education hub by relaxing the non-local student admission cap in publicly-funded universities last year.
"I extend my sincere gratitude to the Indonesian Government for their partnership and support," said Prof. GUO Yike, HKUST Provost, during the signing ceremony. "HKUST actively cultivates connections with the global community, particularly the Belt and Road regions. Building on our successful endeavors in European countries, India, the UAE and Vietnam, this collaboration will not only attract more aspiring Indonesian students but also promote diversity and the generation of new ideas on our international campus. It will certainly advance Hong Kong's development as an international hub for higher education."
Mrs. SUHARTI, Secretary General of the MoECRT added, "The Indonesia Education Scholarship for Degree Program is a program that offers opportunity to the best Indonesian students to study at the best universities in the world. We believe that by studying at HKUST - one of the best universities in Hong Kong, our awardees would be able to develop and enhance their personal, academic and social competencies to the fullest extent possible as the University offers ample opportunities for their students to gain practical experience through hands-on research and internships."
HKUST has the most diverse UG student population amongst all funded universities in Hong Kong. More than 160 Indonesian students are currently enrolled in HKUST's UG programs, making them amongst the top three international student communities at the University. To further attract outstanding Indonesian students, HKUST conducted a series of recruitment talks and school visits in Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya in October last year, providing Indonesian students with up-to-date admission, program and scholarship information.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, engineering and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated "Internationally excellent" or "world leading" in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong's University Grants Committee. We were ranked 2nd in Times Higher Education's Young University Rankings 2023, and our graduates were ranked 29th worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global Employability University Ranking 2023. As of September 2023, HKUST members have founded 1,747 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 13 exits (IPO or M&A), generating economic impact worth over HK$ 400 billion. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, 12 subjects have been ranked in the top 50 globally, with "Data Science and Artificial Intelligence" securing the 10th position, the highest ranking among the local universities in the field.
