Individualized Interdisciplinary Major (IIM)
Your Own Pathway to Success

Today, there is a critical need for flexible, incisive next-generation front-runners, who can tackle the increasingly complex issues of our times through the integration of knowledge and original approaches to solution-building and problem-solving.  To help address this need, HKUST’s new Individualized Interdisciplinary Major (IIM) offers a non-traditional, cross-School academic pathway for exceptional Hong Kong and international students with the vision, talents and character to create their own study program.

At leading universities globally, such programs have established themselves as a superb option for a small group of high-potential achievers – those who flourish best by moving beyond regular curricula to fully engage their passion for a particular subject or a pace-setting combination of disciplines.

HKUST’s cutting-edge major, developed and administered by the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas, first-of-its-kind in the Greater China region. With unique specialisms and skills, and the ability to step out of established comfort zones, IIM graduates can initiate new fields and job, bringing resourceful insights and multifaceted understanding to community and global advancement.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Initiative to Excel

IIM addresses community demand for graduates and researchers who can tackle the increasingly complex issues of our times through acquisition of a unique combination of knowledge and skills. It also cultivates different types of educational environment, mindset and research experience for those interested in integrating their capabilities and developing original approaches to solution-building and problem solving.
 

IIM students are expected to:

• Create an individualized program of study drawing on theories, methods, and practices from a variety of disciplines;
• Integrate knowledge and skills across courses in a unique major to be individually pursued;
• Develop multi-dimensional perspectives and innovative problem-solving skills to existing and emerging problems;
• Develop distinctive skill mix that enables them to communicate effectively with people of different levels and work areas within and across organizations;
• Take initiative and responsibility to apply their interdisciplinary knowledge to solve the problems pressing social issues outlined in their program proposal;
• Adopt an inter-disciplinary approach to tackle complex real-world problems;
• Communicate effectively with people of different levels and work areas;
• Transfer acquired knowledge to meet changes and challenges in different fields;
• Engage in activities that lead to impact of social improvement;
• Have the ability to create and innovate with divergent thinking.

Quality Assurance

For each IIM application, it has to go through four-level of approval.

The 4-level of approval serves as a gate-keeper to uphold the academic standard of the program, and at the same time, to provide necessary advising to the student throughout the application process. We work with each individual student closely throughout their journey in IIM.

The IMAC will meet each student once per semester and discuss with the students on the academic progress, personal development and career planning issues. With the Program Director as the ex-officio member of each IMAC, students’ comments and suggestions can be addressed and responded each time during the IMAC meeting. The secretary of the IMAC will follow up on the issues which cannot be settled during the meeting and update the IMAC and the students afterwards.