Digital transformation presents an unprecedented opportunity to solve complex social issues. However, gaps remain in ensuring that solutions are sustainable, scalable, and aligned with policy objectives.

The APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025 will empower students to design technology-driven process improvements and regulatory innovations leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. These solutions aim to bridge existing gaps in underserved communities across Southeast Asian (SEA) countries. The focus will be on initiatives that are self-sustaining, deliver a good return on investment (ROI), and are ready for implementation.

Objectives

Guided by mentors from the academia, tech industry, public agencies, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders, participants will develop actionable solutions to one of the following policy challenges:

1. Pathways for Supporting Financial Inclusion in the Digital Economy – Exploring scalable business models, fintech innovations, and regulatory mechanisms that enhance financial access for underbanked communities.
2. Ensuring Interoperability, Access, and Digital Trust – Developing business processes, governance models, and policy-aligned solutions that enable seamless integration across digital platforms, strengthen security, and build trust in digital transactions.
3. Adapting to AI-Driven Economies – Designing market-based and regulatory solutions that help underserved communities navigate the transition to an AI-driven economy, focusing on workforce adaptation, AI-and data driven economic integration, governance and safety, upskilling, accessibility, and localization.
4. Developing Digital Trust as a Pathway to Solve the Digital Equity Gap – Establishing policies and technological frameworks that build trust in digital financial systems and services, promoting broader digital equity.

Teams will produce a policy brief and develop a working prototype. Judging criteria will emphasize real-world feasibility, innovation quality, policy relevance, and the potential for high-impact scalability.

Timeline

Awards

● A prize of US$1,000 will be awarded to the winning team.

● US$500 will be awarded to the first and second runners-up teams respectively.

Requirements

● Participants should be organized by teams, with each consisting of 3 - 5 postgraduate and/or undergraduate students. 

● Teams are highly encouraged to be composed of members of diverse disciplines and gender backgrounds.

● Preferred disciplines: AI/Impact Data Science, Law, Business Administration, Political Science, and Humanities.

● Each team should be endorsed by a faculty member from their university.

● Each member of the applying teams should have the availability to join the online training sessions and in-person hackathon in Bangkok.

*HKUST is one of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) member universities. For more details, please visit APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025. 

To register: Here

Remarks: This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the "Personal Enrichment & Community Service" category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW 1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets and Wellness. To receive 24 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

Enquiry email: global@ust.hk

Ready to unravel stress with every stitch? Welcome to 'Handmade Cantonese '! Join this vibrant journey where Icelandic yarn becomes both your language tutor and stress-relief partner. Whether you're a Cantonese beginner eager to connect with culture or a crafting enthusiast seeking creative therapy, this workshop will transform your threads into meaningful conversations!

To register: click here

Remarks: This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the “Personal Enrichment & Community Service” category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive 1.5 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins. 

Enquiry Email: lcilang@ust.hk

*students of HMAW1905 must register with their “ITSC" email.

Call for New Cohort of IPIC -  HKUST Dream Builder 2025-2026 Cohort #1 is calling for applications. Application Deadline will be on 28 Dec 2025.  

Come join the IPIC to obtain funding, coaching and training, mentorship, and an array of in-kind support to realize your start-up dreams! HKUST Dream Builder 2025-2026 Cohort #1 aims to facilitate startup projects in carrying out their proof of concept and developing their MVP/ prototype within twelve months, enhance the team competitiveness for next stage of growth and encourage early adoption of HKUST technology in their innovative startup projects. Application deadline of 2025-2026 Cohort #1 will be on 28 Dec 2025. Let us check out what HKUST Dream Builder offers as below! 

With exclusive support from HKUST Dream Builder, admitted start-up teams will be able to achieve the following by the end of the supporting period:

Eligibility:

• Team or company applications are both accepted.
• The main applicant must be a full-time current student (undergraduate or postgraduate) of HKUST till the end of project within the supporting period, while other team members can be HKUST students, alumni or staff.
• If the start-up is already a registered company, the company shall have been registered for no more than one year at the time of application.
• At least two HKUST full time current students are playing important roles (Founder/ Co-founder) in the project.

Timeline of 2025-2026 Cohort#1:

• Online Info Session: 15 Dec 2025 (16:30-17:00), Register HERE
• Application Deadline: 28 Dec 2025
• Interview of shortlisted applications:  Jan 2026
  *the presenter must be main applicant or HKUST students who are team member
• Result Announcement: Jan 2026

Application Details:

• Application Form: Here
  The application form should enclose the following documents:
  - 10-page Pitch Deck
  - List of Team Members 
  - Financial Budget Estimation 
  - BR, CI & NNC1 (for registered company only)
   
• Funding Guideline: Here
   
• Enquiry: dreambuilder@ust.hk (Miss Sue HUI)

Useful Information:

(1) More details of HKUST Technology: https://exp-license.hkust.edu.hk/ 

(2) Startup advice: please reach us at the BASE Advising Counter or send email to dreambuilder@ust.hk.

Imagining Hong Kong: Four Visions of Island Landscapes in Ink and Color invites four young ink artists from Hong Kong— Chan Kwan Lok, Sam Cheng, Shum Kwan Yi, and Yau Wing Fung—to present their interpretations of Hong Kong's landscape, characterized by its various islands, peninsulas, and land surrounded by sea. They have employed techniques rooted in Chinese painting tradition, including ink and color, plain line drawing, and meticulous fine line and color.

觀想香港: 四種島嶼山水的墨•色想像邀請四位香港年輕的水墨畫家—陳鈞樂、鄭丹珊、沈君怡、邱榮豐，以水墨設色、白描、工筆設色等中國傳統技法，表現由大小島嶼、半島、陸地組成，海域環繞的香港山水。

Want to enhance your intercultural skills and build stronger connections on campus and beyond? This self-pace online module equips you with the knowledge and skills to navigate intercultural interactions and thrive in our diverse campus and Hong Kong community. Explore topics like self-awareness, overcoming stereotypes, understanding bias, and building inclusive dialogue through four engaging chapters, each with exercises to reflect on your experiences collaborating with people different from you.  

Completion Period 2: 1 Dec 2025- 9 May 2026  

Remarks: 

• This module is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the "Personal Enrichment & Community Service" category under the "Self-Directed Experience" of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive 1 hour, you must complete the module in full. 
• For HMAW1905-recognized hours in 2025-26, you need to complete the module by 9 May 2026 for the hours to be counted towards the HMAW1905 final grade. The 1 hour will be uploaded on Canva at the end of the spring semester in early May 2026.
• To complete DSVT1010 Cultural Sensitivity for Thriving in a Diverse Community in full, finish all the videos and activities to get all points, plus the quiz (7/10 correct; multiple attempts allowed!).  

Ready to Get Started? 

👉 Step 1: Sign in with your HKUST email here.   
👉 Step 2: Find DVST1010 & click “Begin Course” 
👉 Step 3: Complete all videos/exercises and a quiz to get your e-certificate! 

Enquiry email: dstohmw@ust.hk 

Featuring new works by students of Dr. Ilari Kaila from HUMA2103 Introduction to Music Composition.

• Date: December 17, 2025 (Wednesday)
• Time: 7:30 PM
• Location: Main Hall, Shaw Auditorium, HKUST
• Arrival: Please arrive 15 minutes before the concert begins

Free admission. First come first served.

Feeling like the semester is flying by?

If life's feeling too rushed, you're not alone. Let's hit pause together.  

Join us to Pause @ Sundial and take a break from the finals grind.

📅 10 - 11 Dec 2025
🕒 3–5 PM
📍 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Atrium

You will get to:

• 🎨 Color your Chaos: Paint your favorite mood monster at our giant mural

• 💛 Grab a Freebie: Pick up a goodies bag (with a note from HKUST staff) or a refreshing drink to fuel your day

• 🧋 Just Breathe: Take a moment to connect with yourself and your friends. 

⭐Notes:
*Goodies bag and boba are available while stocks last.
*No registration needed. Drop by with your SID card and pause with us.

Enquiry: posvibes@ust.hk

HKUST Connect is collaborating with Project WeCan to provide learning support and care for students who are disadvantaged in learning, empowering them to pursue higher education.

We are currently recruiting volunteers to prepare Form 6 students, including ethnic minorities, from HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No.3 Secondary School for the HKDSE exams this year. The subjects to be taught include Biology, Economics, and Mathematics in English, as well as Physics, Chemistry, and Economics in Chinese, taught separately for English and Cantonese-speaking students.

為了協助中學生更有效地應付香港中學文憑考試(HKDSE)，科大侍學行現招募科大同學為「學校起動計劃」下的其中一間中學 - 香港道教聯合會圓玄第三中學的中六學生，包括部份少數族裔生進行實體義補，包括以英文應試的生物、經濟及數學，及以中文應試的物理、化學及經濟。義補會以英文應試和中文應試的學生分開教授。

Briefing
Date: 5 Jan 2025 (Mon)
Time: 4:30 - 5pm
Venue: Online via Zoom

Service
Date: 10, 17, 24 Jan 2026 (Sat)
Time: 8:45-10:45am or/and 11am-1pm
Venue: Tseung Kwan O

Time: 8:45-10:45am (2 hrs)
Subjects:
Chemistry (examined in Chinese)
Mathematics (examined in English)
Economics (examined in Chinese)

Time: 11am-1pm (2 hrs)
Subjects:
Physics (examined in Chinese)
Biology (examined in English)
Economics (examined in English)
*Volunteers are required to teach one subject at a time in one medium only.

Debriefing
Date: 26 Jan 2025(Fri)
Time: 2 - 2:30pm
Venue: Online via Zoom

# You are required to attend the whole service program, including Briefing, Service & Debriefing.

Remark:1. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email from connect@ust.hk, and will be able to find their application status listed as "Confirmed" on the Social Career portal/app.

2. [HMAW1905] This is a recognized event in the "Self-directed Experience" component of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive your participated hours, you must attend the registered sessions in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

3. Upon completion of the service, the actual service hours will be subjected to the confirmation of the partner association.

4. Enquiry: forrest.kwan@ust.hk

Sign up here by 01/01/2026 11:59PM

https://app.socialcareer.org/en/volunteers/6253e130-61a2-457c-a845-ebf4094d50b5

Sustainable Development Goal(s):SDG 4, SDG 10

To support the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, HKUST Connect has designed a series of games to educate our future generations. Collaborating with P.L.K. Fung Ching Memorial Primary School, you will have the opportunity to manage one of the SDG-themed game booths. Through these engaging activities, you can educate primary students about sustainable development and global citizenship. Join us in creating a brighter future!

為支持聯合國2030年可持續發展議程，科大侍學行設計了一系列的遊戲以教育學生。我們將與保良局馮晴紀念小學合作，你將會有機會負責其中一個以可持續發展為主題的攤位。通過有趣的活動，你能教育小學生有關於可持續發展及全球公民意識。齊來參加，教育我們的下一代！

Briefing
Date: 20 Jan 2026 (Tue)
Time: 2:30 - 3:30pm
Venue: HKUST Campus

Service
Date: 21 Jan 2026 (Wed)
Time: 2 - 4pm
Venue: Hang Hau

# You are required to attend the whole service program, including Briefing, Service & Debriefing.

Remark:1. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email from connect@ust.hk, and will be able to find their application status listed as "Confirmed" on the Social Career portal/app.

2. [HMAW1905] This is a recognized event in the "Self-directed Experience" component of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive 3 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

3. Upon completion of the service, the actual service hours will be subjected to the confirmation of the partner association.

4. Enquiry: forrest.kwan@ust.hk

Sign up here by 15/01/2026 11:59PM

https://app.socialcareer.org/en/volunteers/be97a765-9ea9-422a-9905-622e5e47fa59

Sustainable Development Goal(s):SDG 4

Our speaker, Jorge Cham, creator of the renowned comic strip PHD Comics, has spoken at Google and over 300 leading universities and research centers worldwide—including Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Cornell, Caltech, Princeton, and ETH. His talks have been well received for his insights into science communication.

We invite you to join us at HKUST for this occasion and hear his perspectives on how science can be more effectively shared with broader audiences.

Date: 10 December (Wed)
Time: 12:30–2:00 PM
Venue: SCIHOME (Opposite to Lecture Theater-B)

About the Talk:
How do we bridge the growing disconnect between researchers and the public? In this thought-provoking talk, Jorge Cham explores the urgent need to close the Science Gap—a divide in communication and perception that threatens progress. Discover why making science accessible and shareable is critical, and learn how scientists and academics can embrace new forms of collaboration to tackle the complex challenges of the future.

More about Jorge Cham:
Jorge Cham is the best-selling, Emmy-nominated creator of PHD Comics, the beloved comic strip about life in academia. He co-created and co-executive produced the acclaimed PBS Kids animated series Elinor Wonders Why, and co-authored the award-winning book We Have No Idea (and its follow-up FAQ-U). Jorge also hosts and produces the iHeart Radio show ScienceStuff, co-founded PHDtv—a science outreach video collaborative—and authored Oliver's Great Big Universe and Out of Your Mind. His work blends humor, creativity, and science to make complex ideas accessible and engaging worldwide.

Register Now: https://ust.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3IBM0X5YZpquhv0 (Deadline: 23:59 8 Dec)

Seats are limited—don’t miss this unique chance to hear from one of the most influential voices in science communication!

Remarks: This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the “Personal Enrichment & Community Service” category under the "Self-Directed Experience" of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. To receive 1.5 hours, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.

Enquiry email: advise@ust.hk