Research Student Centre

Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

About us

Promotion of a new Culture with the establishment of Research Student Centre

Innovation is one of the most important components in the strategy plan of HKU. The Research Student Centre (RSC) in the Faculty is a vehicle to foster the innovation and entrepreneurship activities in an unconventionally way. Traditionally, research postgraduate students are placed in the laboratories or offices separately in different departments. The separation of location is a detrimental effect in the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration of research. With the establishment of the RSC, over 140 students from the 5 departments are housed in the same facility. Inside the RSC, students from different departments are mixed in their seating based on their research interestes in line with the Faculty’s interdisciplinary research clusters, and no physical barrier will separate them. This will establish an ideal environment that promotes the exchange of ideas.

Creating a Culture for Interdisciplinary Practice and Innovation

The RSC aims to change the traditional culture, and promote excellence in exploration (identify emerging research problems), evaluation (derive cross-disciplinary solutions) and entrepreneurship (develop, compete and launch business). The RSC will collaborate with other organizations and departments inside or outside HKU to organize a series of student-centred learning activities in three aspects, i.e. academic, personal and professional developments, to help RPG students acquire an enjoyable research experience, lifelong research partners and mentors, valuable professional skills and networks, a sense of proudness and spirit in a unique community, etc.

facilities

The RSC is located at the Ground Floor of Haking Wong Building with an area close to 750 square meters, which can house over 140 RPG students. With a high head room, a mezzanine floor was constructed. The RSC will facilitate group exchanges in 5 discussion rooms yet retain a quiet environment for individual students. The RSC is equipped with pantries and air-conditioning systems. To enhance the connectivity between ground floor and mezzanine floor, the RSC includes an interior spiral staircase between ground floor and mezzanine floor.