Candidates

Candidate Name: CHOW, Teem Tai Tyler

Personal Statement:

       As a second-year business student at HKUST, a member of the HKUST Tennis Team, and an executive committee member of the Tennis Society, I have seen the many diverse needs and aspirations within our student body. My background as a young entrepreneur and my involvement in HKUST's student life have prepared me to bridge the student community and the University Council. I am standing for election to ensure every student's voice is heard, and that students continue to have a healthy and fulfilling university life while meeting their academic goals.

       Co-founding an NFT business that generated 1 million HKD+ in revenue taught me that a successful venture is built on collaboration and adaptability. Managing a global team of developers and artists, I learned to communicate across diverse perspectives and solve problems creatively. With my entrepreneurial mindset, I plan to focus on identifying opportunities for the student body and pursuing them.

       As a student-athlete, I understand the importance of balance, resilience, and teamwork. Competing across Asia has taught me to perform under pressure and work as a team to win championships. On the Tennis Society Executive Committee, I have worked with other students to organise events and manage resources, giving me an understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our student-led clubs.

If elected, I would prioritise three main things:

1. Student Health and well-being
   
          I will advocate for a more holistic approach to student health, where both physical and mental well-being are equally prioritised. For example, expanding mental health services so that it is both culturally and linguistically inclusive, so students from all backgrounds feel understood,not limited to English and Chinese. This also includes more practical improvements, such as more affordable healthy food options on campus, upgraded gym equipment, better fitness facilities and beginner-friendly exercise and wellness programs. By making healthy living easier, student success will be more sustainable and prevalent.


2. Peer Mentoring and academic support
   
          HKUST already has its own peer mentoring system, but it can be more accessible. I will push for a low-barrier system where senior students can answer quick questions from younger students about courses, majors, internships and campus life. This could include a searchable Q&A platform, quick drop-in sessions and informal cross-year channels. No student should feel stuck because they don't know who to ask.


3. Innovation and career
   
          While HKUST already provides a lot of opportunities for real practical work, I want to continue to expand this and push for more cross-disciplinary projects and industry connections. My own experience in creating the NFT showed me the value of real-world application, and I want to continue to create more pathways for students to gain these experiences.

       If I were to be elected, I would work towards a healthier HKUST, one where students don't have to choose between physical and mental wellbeing and academic and career excellence. I wish to serve as an active voice and partner in shaping our community, and I look forward to representing the HKUST student body on the University Council.

Candidates

Candidate Name: ZHANG, Yiheng

Personal Statement:

My name is Yiheng Zhang, a first-year Ph.D. student in Integrated Systems and Design and the Student Vice President of HKUST Graduate Students and Alumni Association (GSAA). I am standing for Student Member of the Council with a strong sense of commitment and responsibility.

My Background and Strengths:

My background combines sustained student leadership with diverse academic and professional experiences:

1. Director of the Secretariat during undergraduate studies


2. Class Representative at NUS


3. Vice President of HKUST GSAA


4. Background across Hong Kong, Singapore, Chinese Mainland (THU, Tencent, Xiaomi), Middle East (Technion), and USA (Stanford), spanning academia, industry and entrepreneurship.

As a Ph.D. student, I understand the needs of students at different stages and can contribute continuously to the HKUST community in the years ahead.

Key Initiatives and Action Plan

1. Increasing Scholarships and Financial Assistance
   
   I will push for scholarships and financial assistance to keep pace with rising tuition, accommodation and living costs, so that financial pressure does not limit students' development.


2. Allowing More Flexible Two-Year Completion for MSc Students
   
   Current minimum course-load requirements make it difficult to spread a one-year MSc program over two years. I hope to review these restrictions and allow greater flexibility for students who wish to extend their study period.


3. Integrate AI-native tools into platforms such as Canvas and Student Center
   
   As AI reshapes learning, I hope to integrate AI-native tools into platforms such as Canvas and Student Center. AI can handle routine tasks such as interpreting syllabi, structuring course timelines, and navigating complex administrative processes such as tuition payment and registration. Under clear academic guidelines, AI can also support deeper learning through mindmaps, adaptive quizzes and rapid feedback, especially for students outside computing majors who may have less exposure to advanced AI tools.


4. Collaborate with Alumni to Increase working opportunities
   
   For one-year MSc students, I will support earlier and more structured access to alumni resources, helping them build stronger connections with HKUST despite their intensive and relatively short period of study. For UG and RPG students, amid an increasingly uncertain job market, I will support expanding access to alumni mentoring, recruitment, industry networking, venturecapital opportunities, etc.


5. Activating the International Student Community
   
   I will support more cultural and professional networking opportunities for international students and alumni, especially by building and strengthening regional alumni associations, with activities ranging from cultural and social gatherings to career sharing.


6. Strengthening Local-Mainland-International Student Exchange
   
   I will advocate for dedicated funding to support more cross-cultural activities among local, Chinese mainland and international students, e.g., international food festivals, localinternational exchanges on Chinese mainland culture and career opportunities.


7. Improving Course Feedback and GPA Policies
   
   I will advocate for a stronger course-feedback mechanism that turns student input into visible improvements. I will also review GPA policies that may create unnecessary pressure, especially for undergraduates, and promote more feasible assessment while maintaining academic standards.

"For Every Student, For Every Stage, For a Better HKUST."
I humbly ask for your vote!

Candidates

Candidate Name: ZHOU, Hanqin

Personal Statement:

This is Hanqin Zhou, a fourth-year PhD student in ECE and a graduate of Imperial College London. I am running to serve as the elected student member of the University Council. At HKUST, I have served on the Senate for two academic years, served two consecutive terms as president of MSSS, and contributed to university committees, including the selection process for a new food outlet at the CYT Building. These experiences have taught me that representing students involves more than voicing opinions, it means organizing different concerns into workable recommendations and consistently following up within the system.

The 35th anniversary of HKUST marks a new era for our university. The spirit of "Can-do" means not only the courage to innovate, but also service to the community. As our campus becomes increasingly international, AI will reshape education; new facilities, cross-campus opportunities, and academic programs will continue to develop. However, progress should not be measured solely by rankings, buildings, or programs. Students should feel these improvements in their daily studies and lives. I would focus on areas that need better coordination.

Transportation has always been a concern for students. With Kwun Tong and other downtown teaching venues opening, connections among locations matter even more. Students report long wait times for minibus 104 between HKUST and Ngau Tau Kok, and limited shuttle availability across courses. A class in Clear Water Bay followed by one in Kwun Tong leaves little room for delays. I will collect feedback on class schedules, commutes, and wait times, then work with the university to report these needs to the relevant authorities.

Another challenge is not a lack of announcements, but confusion when messages from different offices appear together. During this year's orientation, we helped clarify questions about when the anti-scam course would appear on Canvas and why some newly registered students could not enter the library. Each notification may have been correct on its own, but from the students' perspective, it was easy to be confused about the sequence across offices. I would bring these cases to relevant offices to improve communication during orientation and service adjustments.

The challenges faced by UG, TPG, and RPG students are not identical. Hall assignments may determine whether UG students need off-campus housing, and popular sports classes may be hard to secure. TPG students studying at different venues must balance intensive coursework and job applications, and need course schedules early enough to arrange housing. RPG students facing financial uncertainty or difficulties with advisors need confidential, reliable advice. The university offers support, but students' experiences may not fit neatly within one office's remit. With my experience in student organizations and theSenate, I can identify support that is difficult to navigate and bring recurring issues to appropriate offices and the Council.

A student member of the Council should neither promise instant solutions nor simply pass complaints from one meeting to the next. I will listen across our diverse community, offer grounded suggestions, and keep asking for updates. I hope to get your support.