News & Events

To better understand the waste oil recycling and sustainable biofuel development in Hong Kong, a visit to ASB Biodiesel Plant was organized on 9 April 2021. ASB Biodiesel, a green energy which is 100% produced by waste oil that can reduce and provide new source of energy. Waste oil recycling and reuse is not only reducing the landfill pressure but also prohibiting the waste oil from re-entering food chain. The factory is located in Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate that can process 250 metric tons of waste oil and produce 230 metric tons of renewable energy. Biodiesel can be widely used in industry and transportation, replacing the fossil fuel diesel. Through a talk and a guided walk in the factory, students were able to know about the background and products of ASB Biodiesel Plant. They also gained a deeper understanding about the process of converting wasted oil to biodiesel and the safe operation of Biodiesel Plant. Read more

A group of MSc EHS students visited Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve on 24 March 2021. Fung Yuen has been listed as a “Site of Special Scientific Interest” for more than 40 years. Statistics shows over 200 species of butterflies which accounts for about 90% of the total 245 species (in Hong Kong) have been recorded in Fung Yuen. Students were able to know more about the ecological characteristics of Hong Kong and the threats facing through participating in Fung Yuen Culture and Nature Guided Tour. They also joined the Flower Pounding Workshop and learnt the process for transferring the dyes of fresh plants to fabric. With vivid and detailed explanation by the Fung Yuen volunteer, students found the trip interesting and educational. Read more

Date: 2021/3/4, 11, 18 To equip students with better industry knowledge, ISO 22000 Intensive Food Safety Management Systems Certificate Course was organized in the spring semester. ISO 22000 is an international certification standard that defines what an organization needs to do to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe. Upon completion of this course, students were able to understand the requirements and applications of the latest version of ISO 22000; comprehend the key concepts of system documentation, risk assessment, hazard analysis and traceability system of the standard. Students found the courses informative and gained more real-life insights. Students who successfully completed the course with 100% attendance were issued a certificate by SGS HK Limited. Read more

A group of MSc EHS students visited Mai Po Nature Reserve on 17 March 2021. Mai Po is recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the prestigious Ramsar Convention. For more than three decades, Mai Po Nature Reserve has been a paradise for birds and a beautiful, irreplaceable piece of China’s wetland kaleidoscope. Students had a serene guided walk through Mai Po’s stunning scenery, including the gei wai, bird hides, reed beds and rain-fed ponds, they encountered the rich variety of resident and migratory birds. Students were amazed by the unique and diverse ecosystems of the reserve. Read more

Date: 11 January (Monday) Time: 2:00 - 3:30 pm Platform: via Zoom Speaker: Lucia Del Vita Fee: Free of Charge   Jointly organized by MSc EHS and HKUST Career Center, a career workshop regarding personal brand building was held on 11 January 2021. About 30 MSc EHS students participated in the Personal Brand Building Workshop via zoom. A successful brand builds successful company. Establishing a personal brand opens career and business opportunities. This workshop assisted our students in better self-understanding, improving job search skills and industry update. Students’ responses were overwhelming. It was a valuable opportunity for our students to learn from the trainer about creating a personal vision for their future, and the ways to develop themselves to achieve their future vision. Read more

  Date: 6 January (Wednesday) Time: 2:00 - 3:30 pm Platform: via Zoom Speaker: Noorulain Yousaf Fee: Free of Charge   To help student explore and prepare for future career, a CV Writing and Interview Skills Workshop was was co-organized with HKUST Career Center. 40 MSc EHS students participated in the CV Writing Workshop via zoom. The primary purpose of the CV and cover letter is to provide a story a more detailed explanation of a person’s skills and experiences. This workshop was particularly useful and beneficial to soon-to-graduates, as they were able to learn to produce a professional resume and cover letter that is both informative and interesting to employers, and thus help to gain an interview. The trainer also demonstrated winning interview skills that help to win a job, and some tips for the most popular interview format nowadays – virtual interview. Read more

Our MSc in Environmental Health and Safety program has been selected by UGC to award eligible students the fellowships in the 2021/22 academic year.
In recognition of HKUST’s efforts in contributing to the strategic development of Hong Kong, the University Grants Committee (UGC) has awarded HKUST some Fellowship places for the 2021/22 academic year. The scheme encourages students to pursue inter-disciplinary and in-depth postgraduate training in priority areas that are beneficial to society.
  Eligibility Applications are open to local students admitted to the designated TPg programs in 2021/22; The award of the fellowships will be based on merits taking into account the students' academic achievements, professional qualifications, relevant working experience and achievements in other areas as well as the proposals submitted by the students; and To avoid double subsidy, applications from students who are receiving other forms of government scholarship (except student financial assistance) for pursuing the same program will not be considered.   Fellowship Amount The fellowship students are required to pay a minimum tuition fee of HK$42,100, and the differences will be subsidised by the fellowships subject to a cap of HK$120,000, regardless of the actual study period of the TPg program.   Application For interested applicants, please submit the program application online before the application deadline, AND send an email to ocesmsc@ust.hk with your personal statement. Early application is highly encouraged as review of applications is on a rolling basis. Read more

Lamma Island is one of the most popular scenic spots in Hong Kong, famous for its fresh seafood and natural scenery. The Family Trail running from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan on the island is also a hot spot for hikers and visitors. The abundant environmental resources on Lamma Island provide highly diverse natural habitats including mudflats, beaches, flowering shrubs, wall trees and granite hills. Birds such as Pacific Reef-Heron, Little Egret and Great Egret can be found on the sandy shore; Butterflies such as Common Bluebottle and Great Eggfly are flying in the flowering shrubs. With diverse habitats and the well-known wind power station - Lamma Winds, students can learn about the local organisms and plants as well as the development of renewable energy in Hong Kong. Read more

A group of MSc EHS students visited Hoi Ha Wan on 30 October 2020. Hoi Ha Wan is one of the six marine parks in Hong Kong. It was designated in July 1996. It covers an area of about 260 hectares. Coral communities in Hoi Ha Wan is famous in terms of species diversity and richness. Mangroves and rocky shores with various kinds of marine organisms can also be found in Hoi Ha Wan. Students had a survey in rocky shore to observe organisms that live in the upper layer of intertidal zone, such as snails and clams. They also had a coral-observation trip aboard a glass-bottom boat which allows them to gain deeper understanding of coral communities and different types of coral species in Hong Kong. With the vivid and detailed explanation by the WWF volunteer, students found the trip impressive and educational. Read more