Prof Tam (left) and Prof Chan: a fruitful interaction

This autumn sees the launch of a new dual-degree programme by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) which enables students to graduate with two degrees: a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree in their respective discipline and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in general business management.

The four-year joint degree programme - the first of its kind in Hong Kong - builds on the combined strengths of the HKUST School of Business and Management and the HKUST School of Engineering. It is designed to groom future leaders in business and technology, equipping them with both technical knowledge and managerial skills. In this way, the programme aims to contribute to the economic and social development of Hong Kong and the region. "One of the objectives is to retain top-quality graduates in Hong Kong," explains Chan Chi-Ming, professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering and associate dean of the School of Engineering.

Why should the programme suit their needs and those of Hong Kong? "The reason is simple," says Prof Chan. "Hong Kong has a very unique situation. The city is focused on business, so a lot of graduates of the School of Engineering get business or management-related jobs. This programme makes sense as it will teach them how to handle business problems or to make management decisions."

"To succeed in a technology-based and knowledge society, a thorough understanding of engineering and technology along with sound management skills are essential," adds Prof Chan, who is one of the two co-directors of the dual-degree programme.

"Students will be well trained in technology, business management, innovative thinking and entrepreneurship, thereby sharpening their competitive edge in the international job market where all-round leaders in technology and management are always highly sought after," says his colleague Prof Tam Kar Yan, professor and head of the Department of Information and Systems Management of the School of Business and Management.

Besides being associate dean of the School of Business and Management, Prof Tam is the other co-director of the programme. As a result of what the two co-directors agree is a "fruitful interaction" between their schools, engineering students are now eligible for the mentorship arrangements which are a tradition of the School of Business. Under this scheme, senior people from industry are invited to act as mentors for between one and two students, whom they meet three to four times a year.

"The idea is to introduce students to the industry and to expand their social network before they graduate," explains Prof Tam. Conversely, business students are now able to take part in the High-Tech Entrepreneurship Programme of the School of Engineering. Here, teams of between six and eight students try to develop new products for the market.

Could the BBA be a stepping stone to the much-prized Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification? Prof Tam advises against going on to this directly. "We suggest that you don't pursue the MBA straight away. Go out to work for three to four years to gain experience and only then come back to try for the MBA."

Course information

Challenges and opportunities Prospective students of the dual-degree programme need to fulfil the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)'s general admission requirements and also need A-level passes in Physics or Engineering Science, Pure Mathematics, Biology or Chemistry, plus one other subject. (Three A-levels are preferred.) In addition, they need to have obtained good results in languages (English, Chinese or an alternative language, such as French, German or Japanese). If admitted, they can choose from seven technical disciplines - chemical engineering, civil and structural engineering, computer science, computer engineering, electronic engineering, industrial engineering and engineering management or mechanical engineering. They will be enrolled simultaneously into the General Business Management Programme. Naturally, it requires more work to gain two degrees. Dual-degree programme students are required to take between 136 and 154 credits, meaning 50 or 60 hours of study per week. "It will be quite demanding," concedes Prof Chan of HKUST. No wonder, then, that only between 25 and 30 of the most promising students will be admitted to the elite programme each year. And the reward for all this hard work? There will be a lot of job opportunities for graduates of this programme, its initiators are convinced. "Many graduates are likely to find their first jobs in the sales, finance or general administrative departments of companies," says Prof Chan. "It will therefore help that they have a certain amount of technical knowledge." "For example, the petrochemical industry in China is booming now. Companies like Shell and Exxon are trying to set up joint ventures on the mainland. They will need people with engineering skills who can do assessments for these ventures - both technical and business." "Another example is software companies: many are setting up headquarters regionally in an effort to sell to the mainland, Taiwan and Singapore. If you are a sales agent for such a company you will need to understand the product, so you will need both technical and business skills." "Graduates could also become analysts for investment banks. For this, they will need to have technical knowledge about specific industries. For example, the processes involved in the pharmaceutical industry," suggests HKUST's Prof Tam while Prof Chan adds: "Graduates will enter companies at entry level, but hopefully with these skills they will move up faster than their competitors."

Taken from Career Times 2003/10/03