The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) hosted the Asian Deans' Forum 2026 - The Rising Stars Women in Engineering Workshop at its Clear Water Bay campus from September 13 to 15. The event brought together nearly 50 outstanding early-career women engineering scholars, researchers, and professionals from 14 universities across four continents to examine the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on engineering education and research, while exchanging insights on academic leadership and talent development.
The three-day program commenced with a welcome dinner on September 13, followed by an opening ceremony on September 14. Held annually, the workshop is designed for talented women pursuing or embarking on academic careers in engineering. Through keynote lectures, panel discussions, and interactive mentoring sessions, the program fosters research collaboration, facilitates the exchange of career development experiences, and strengthens cross-institutional networks, helping to nurture the next generation of women academic leaders and advancing the engineering profession in Asia and beyond.
Since its inaugural edition at HKUST in 2018, the workshop has grown into a prominent platform for nurturing female scholars, fostering inter-institutional collaboration and deepening exchanges within the engineering education community across Asia. This year's event holds special significance as HKUST hosts the workshop once again in celebration of its 35th anniversary. The workshop is jointly organized by seven leading engineering schools in the Asia-Pacific region: HKUST, the University of New South Wales, Seoul National University, the National University of Singapore, NTU Taiwan University, the University of Tokyo, and Tsinghua University.
The opening session featured welcome addresses from Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, and Prof. Hong K. LO, Dean of Engineering. The University was honored to have Ms. Mable CHAN, Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government, serve as the Guest of Honor and deliver the opening remarks. Representatives from the seven organizing institutions also attended the opening ceremony.
In her welcome remarks, President Ip drew on her journey from a neuroscientist to becoming the first woman to lead a publicly funded university in Hong Kong, saying, "My own journey from neuroscientist to becoming the first woman president of a publicly funded university in Hong Kong has reinforced my belief that passion, perseverance, and the support of mentors and colleagues can empower individuals to overcome barriers and achieve their aspirations. Diversity is not only a matter of fairness, but a catalyst for excellence and innovation. At HKUST, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can realize their full potential and contribute their unique perspectives. As we celebrate our 35th anniversary and embark on exciting new initiatives, including the establishment of HKUST School of Medicine and the launch of the new Department of Materials, we welcome talented women from around the world to join us in advancing discovery, driving innovation, and creating lasting impact for society."
Addressing the participants, Ms. Mable Chan highlighted Hong Kong's transport and logistics initiatives in Smart and Green Mass Transit Systems, the low-altitude economy, and AI-driven public licensing and traffic management. She also underscored the vital role of engineers-particularly women leaders-and the need for responsible, human-centric innovation, noting: "As we embrace these new technologies, our focus must go beyond capability to ethics, governance, and trust. While technology can enhance our work, accountability cannot be delegated to machines. Trust must be earned through robust governance, rigorous validation, strong cybersecurity, and human oversight of critical decisions."
Prof. Lo said, "The female scholars participating in this year's workshop represent some of the most promising and accomplished emerging talents in engineering. HKUST remains deeply committed to driving innovation in engineering and creating a meaningful global impact. We deeply value the opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and further strengthen our partnerships with leading institutions worldwide."
This year's program placed a special focus on the transformative role of AI in higher education and research. The workshop featured a plenary session by Prof. GUO Yike, Provost of HKUST and Director of the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center, on "AI Empowers the Future Development of Higher Education". Participants also attended a presentation on "Human-AI Co-Intelligence Education" delivered by Prof. WANG Yu-Hsing, Director of the HKUST Center for Engineering Education Innovation.
During the institutional presentation session, "Next Frontier in Engineering Education," engineering deans, AI experts, and senior leaders from the co-organizing universities shared innovations, emerging trends, and practical experiences in integrating AI into engineering education and research. Discussions also explored broader issues such as academic leadership, social engagement, and institutional impact-offering participants valuable insights into how leading universities around the world are preparing future engineers to navigate a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Over the past seven editions, the workshop has built an extensive global network of more than 300 scholars and professionals. It continues to serve as an important platform for early-career women engineering academics to expand their professional networks, forge research collaborations, and advance their academic careers.
For complete program details, please visit: https://risingstarsasia.org/schedule.php.
