Election for the Appointment of Students to the Senate

Statement:
Hi everyone, I am Eric, a year 2 student majoring in IIM (Computational Linguistics) from AIS, and I am here to run for UG Representative on the Senate.

Our university has always been known as the university of “sunshine and tomorrow”. However, to the students, we often see another side: “stress and tension”. Lately, I’ve been noticing more and more of the latter side. I’ve seen the campus deep in the night, many people still struggling to meet one deadline or another. I’ve witnessed first years struggling for major selection, second years struggling for grades, third years struggling for internships and research opportunities, final years struggling for offers.

I have listened to many students from different majors having complaints about their major pathway or the content of an individual course. They feel that their curriculum is too hard, too easy, or simply unsuited for the practical needs of the students. Some courses feel disorganized or lack integration with other courses. Graduates say that the skills they learned feel unsuitable for their current work.

I’ve chatted with many of my peers, the majority of them saying that they are under high pressure and stressed out for academic achievement. A number said that they have some sort of trauma. Many students feel in university: they don’t know what to do, or what they plan to do, and more importantly, they don’t have the time to slow down and think. We need to change this. University should be a place for enthusiastic learning and exploration, not exhausting, endless, excessive pressure from all directions.

Together with all parts of the University, I hope to propose solutions that can reduce stress on students, reorganize curricula, and help students where they are most needing. Some of these problems I mentioned are too grand in size to be solved by individuals or even by the Senate. But we can try. As the University of Science and Technology, we can adapt to the changing times. And we shall.

Communication is critical for the functioning of the university. In the decision process, sometimes the student voice is unheard, not because of negligence, but simply because of lack of student action. By running for this position, I hope to collect student voices and represent them in University decision-making.

I recognize the diverse needs of our students. Different majors, different backgrounds, different aspirations, different dreams. We don’t, and will likely never, have a one-size-fits-all solution to all our problems. But we can try to get as close as possible. My unique position as a person of many and complex backgrounds – culturally, academically, socially – has allowed me to be a bridge between people, meditating conflicts and leading the creation of innovative solutions. And that is what we need for a university of tomorrow: together forging innovative solutions to solve problems.

With the above in mind, I submit my candidacy of undergraduate representative to the Senate. I thank every one of you for your vote, and I hope to serve the University diligently.

PERSONAL STATEMENT BY THE CANDIDATE
Candidate Name: SO, So

Statement:
As a biotechnology major and the president of the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Students' Society at HKUST, I wish to express my interest in joining the University Senate. My leadership skills, experiences, and involvement in the student community have given me a valuable perspective. I aim to amplify our students’ voices and enhance our university experience.

In my role as president, I have organized workshops, events, and seminars that connect students with Science School’s professionals, enhancing the bounding between the school and our students. Moreover, I planned and led an orientation camp for up to 150 participators recently, helping freshmen to navigate their way to a new university life. These cherished experiences have allowed me to cultivate a stronger bonding between me and the society members and support others academically. Through this role, I have developed strong leadership skills by leading large-scale events and my effective communication has also played a crucial role in gathering ideas and feedback between students and faculty, creating a supportive environment.

Additionally, I have joined the Science School Band, Particles, which has provided me with opportunities to engage with fellow students outside of my academic focus. This has fostered my teamwork skills and let me build connections between different disciplines.

As an Undergraduate Student Representative, I hope to contribute to the University Senate by helping to plan, develop, and review academic programs, enhancing communication by providing effective platforms for students to voice their concerns on academic. I aim to ensure that our academic framework supports the diverse needs of students, regulates teaching and research effectively, and maintains high standards for admissions and examinations.

In conclusion, I am eager to leverage my leadership, planning, and communication skills, along with my passion for biotechnology, to serve as an Undergraduate Student Representative at HKUST. Hoping that we can create a supportive and thriving environment that enhances the student experience for everyone in our school. I appreciate your consideration and hope to have the opportunity to serve my fellow students.

PERSONAL STATEMENT BY THE CANDIDATE
Candidate Name: XIE, Zequan

Statement:
Dear fellow students,

I am a second-year CSE student, and I am running for the position of UG Representative on the University Senate. My experience at URAO and as a UG Teaching Assistant at CSE has given me valuable insights into the perspectives of various stakeholders on academic matters. I aim to bring forward suggestions from UG students’ viewpoint to enhance our overall study experience.

Assessment is a vital component of the learning process, and grading significantly impacts students' futures, whether they pursue further studies or enter the workforce. While differentiating grades is essential for maintaining high academic standards, it is crucial to reconsider the Grade Distribution Guidelines approved in April 2020, especially given the global trend of grade inflation. As a reference, the average GPA on graduation of UG students at University of California, Berkeley is around 3.5. A more lenient grading system could improve our UG graduates' competitiveness internationally, as recruiters and admissions officers often focus solely on GPA rather than grade distribution, if they care about candidates’ grade.

Moreover, a more flexible grading system, similar to those at prestigious institutions worldwide like University of California, Berkeley and National University of Singapore, can be adopted, allowing students to choose Pass/Fail grading instead of letter grade for certain courses. This approach would relieve stress and encourage exploration beyond major. For example, common core courses aim to provide a balanced education that broadens students’ horizons. In this context, letter grading can add to pressure and limit free exploration, while a Pass/Fail grading option could be a beneficial alternative.

It has been more than 2 years since the establishment of HKUST(GZ). Under the unified HKUST, complementary campuses framework, students from HKUST will have opportunities to take courses or pursue degrees at HKUST(GZ) and vice versa. The introduction of such cross-campus initiatives, or even cross-campus UROP experiences will surely enhance study experience, and thus shall be prioritized, if possible.

Students' opinions are essential in the decision-making process regarding academic matters. Together, we can make HKUST an exceptional place for undergraduate studies.

PERSONAL STATEMENT BY THE CANDIDATE
Candidate Name: ZHOU, Hanqin

Statement:
Dear Members of the HKUST,

I am Zhou Hanqin, a second-year PhD student in Electronic and Computer Engineering at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and I am honored to present myself as a candidate for the PG student representative of the Senate.

Incorporating studies from my undergraduate from Imperial College London to my master's degree from the university of Manchester, I can say that I’ve made strides in my academic coursework, social works, and the world of music. These are aspects that have influenced my creative endeavors and in turn shaped my perspective which I will be bringing to our university.

During my time at the Mainland Students and Scholars Society (currently serve as President for the 2024-25 session), I have had the opportunity to lead and participate in several initiatives aimed at bridging the divide in the community. I have attempted to help shape the community over the years, whether it was by planning orientation events, visiting for welcoming ceremonies, or provision of information and information services community.

I have made it a point to extend my concern for the student experience among departments interacting with students like the Student Support & Activities, Sports Development, Career Center, Entrepreneurship Center, DSTO, URAO, Provost Office and President’s Office through student training, student workshops and collaborative projects with local and international institutions.

In addition to the university, we also focus on encouraging HKUST students to explore various resources in Hong Kong by organizing exchange activities, including the society such as social organizations, businesses and the government institutions are collaborations that make sense. These activities have included things such as visiting of the Police Headquarters and Hong Kong Garrison Barracks, Workshops in collaboration with Hong Kong's renowned banks and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, etc.

Being a PG student, I know the unique requirements of TPG and RPG students. TPG students are often focus on employment and jobs for their future life. In contrast, RPG students’ expectations involve being engaged in active research streams and having support for commercialization initiatives. In the same time, All PG students also pay attentions on campus infrastructures, resources, and future plans. The ongoing integration project of Clearwater Bay and Guangzhou campus has been a subject of discussion and aspiration for PG students but the ability to raise such issues in our organization is difficult.

In elected, I will try to enhance the participation of students by reaching out to the university management for those concerned topics. Based on my academic, research and student engagement background, I will perform my duties and responsibilities in the interest of our community and enhance the wellbeing of our university as an institution for the benefit of all.

I humbly ask for your support and the opportunity to represent the voices and aspirations of PG students on the Senate.

Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Warm regards,
Zhou Hanqin