The School of Business and Management of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School) and the Hong Kong branch of a multinational tech giant announced the AI Business School 2.0 Strategic Partnership, an extended partnership of Hong Kong’s first MBA elective featuring an AI curriculum.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming and shaping the ways in which organisations conduct business. As the pace of AI adoption across business disciplines accelerates continually, AI talent in Asia continues to be in high and robust demand. By introducing the AI-centric elective to HKUST students under the Global AI Business School Initiative back in Spring 2020, over 130 MBA and MSc students have taken part in the course. These graduates now stand ready for an AI future and know better different tech solutions that can improve business decisions, processes, and productivity.
The enhanced collaboration between the two parties goes beyond AI upskilling and further empowering business leaders, organisations and young talent with critical strategies and knowledge on in-demand technologies, such as Big Data and Cloud Computing. The two parties will also collaborate on curriculum integrations, professional training, as well as academic research and business cases development.
Extended partnership to nurture future-ready business leaders and young talent
In the AI Business School 2.0 partnership, HKUST Business School will continue to strengthen the AI-centric elective course in its MBA program by leveraging the tech giant’s AI Business School curriculum to provide the latest thinking on AI transformation in business. This business-focused course will also be available for students of HKUST MSc programs with a plan to extend to executive education looking ahead.
In the future, the two will launch an enhanced AI program on digital upskilling for around 150 students from all fields of study. By leveraging the curriculum on the tech firm’s Learn online platform, the program will enable students to acquire role-based technological skills, knowledge and industry-recognised certifications on AI, Big Data, and Cloud Computing, and equip future-ready business talent with a deep understanding of cutting-edge technologies and their trends for their careers.
The General Manager of the Hong Kong and Macau arm of the tech firm stated that technology plays an important role in our daily life; hence, digital skillset has become as essential as language skills. The company’s mission is to equip talent with the technological understanding and skills they need to achieve ambitious goals and create a more sustainable future. It was noted that the company is excited to continue partnering with HKUST Business School to unleash the full potential of Hong Kong business executives and young talent and empower them to thrive in the age of AI.
Empowering an AI-ready Business School
Meanwhile, the Dean of HKUST Business School stated that how AI and vital technology can keep us connected and transform organisations to succeed in the ‘new normal’ is now being realised.
With a shared belief in the power of AI, the extended partnership with the tech giant is transitioning into another new phase of development. It not only attests to the university’s commitment to nurturing talent for tomorrow but also to combining its strengths and resources in developing research projects in the fields of fintech and green finance and also in developing business cases.
As a major research powerhouse in Asia, HKUST Business School will develop timely insights with proactive industry support from the tech company and its key partners and customers as well as the winning companies from its recent Excellence of Digital Transformation Recognition event.
The three companies have expressed interest to participate in HKUST Business School’s business cases development on digital transformation, which contributes positively towards a sustainable and AI-powered future. Their best practices will be published in international business case research journals, showcasing Hong Kong’s success in business innovation.
In addition, the Hong Kong arm of the tech firm will support HKUST Business School’s academic research projects by sharing relevant research and survey papers and helping the School to adopt the company’s pioneer data analytics tools and platform.
