Saddle Up for Unbridled Development in the Year of the Horse

Channeling the spirit of the Year of the Horse, HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP unveiled a bold roadmap with media representatives at a spring reception on March 2, highlighting HKUST’s “can-do” spirit, its strategies for maintaining future growth, and its commitment to supporting the nation’s economic and social development.

Renewal and growth

The timing of the reception was auspicious, set against the backdrop of the 14th National People's Congress and the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, celebrations for HKUST’s 35th anniversary, and the symbolic meaning of the Year of the Horse.

“In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes forging ahead with determination and striving for continuous self improvement — values that resonate with HKUST's can-do spirit,” said Prof. Ip.

The elegantly composed couplet displayed on the uplifting banner perfectly summed up the spirit of the event: "Galloping into its 35th anniversary, HKUST ushers in a new chapter in the Year of the Horse.”

Forward momentum 

At the event, Prof. Ip affirmed HKUST’s determination to excel in the local, regional, and global higher education arena. 

"The University will continue to realize the vision set out in its Strategic Plan 2031, strengthening our international competitiveness, attracting and retaining outstanding talent, and driving innovation and knowledge transfer in strategic areas,” she said.

She also pledged to support the needs of Hong Kong and the nation, underscoring HKUST’s readiness to contribute to the city’s education and innovation agenda and to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.

Among the many highlights shared with the media was HKUST’s focus on promoting strategic research that will facilitate economic and societal growth in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. 

The message to attendees was clear: by developing Hong Kong into an international hub for higher education and health and medical innovation, HKUST is firing up innovation and knowledge transfer in strategic areas, including AI, medical and biotechnology, the low-altitude economy, aerospace science and technology, and deep‑space exploration.

Global talent 

Highlighting faculty achievements in 2025, Prof. GUO Yike, HKUST Provost, shared that more than 200 scholars had been named among the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists in 2025, including 14 scholars ranked in the top 10 worldwide for Annual and Lifetime impact. 

Additionally, 12 scholars had been listed among the Most-cited Scientists 2025, and around 30 scholars had received international awards, including the prestigious Future Science Prize, known as “China’s Nobel Prize”, and recognition from the New Cornerstone Science Foundation under the Tencent Group.

Continued progress in faculty and student recruitment was highlighted, too. Since 2022, more than 160 scholars from top global universities have joined HKUST, bringing the total faculty count to nearly 600. For the 2025/26 academic year, the proportion of non-local students reached 48% of the overall student population, nearing Hong Kong’s 50% cap for tertiary institutions.

Public health and medical research

Regarding the School of Medicine, Prof. Ip said HKUST plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the HKSAR Government in the first quarter of the year. This MoU is expected to cover program accreditation, resources for an integrated teaching and research hospital, faculty recruitment, and funding arrangements.

President Ip said that HKUST is conducting a global search for the Founding Dean of the School of Medicine and has established the Council Advisory Group and a Steering Committee to provide strategic direction and ensure preparations proceed efficiently.

With the School of Medicine joining HKUST’s stable of innovations, accomplishments, and talent recruitment, the spring media reception clearly demonstrated that HKUST is galloping ahead, determined to fulfill the aspirations of Hong Kong and the nation, and advance its status as a world-class university.