Dual Degree Students Offered Real Life Business Proposals to Industry Leader

At the closing ceremony that took place on Monday July 17, 2006 at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Dr. Chee Chen Tung, Chairman and CEO of Orient Overseas (International) Ltd (a parent company of OOCL), and Prof Paul Chu congratulated the team of 4 Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management (T&M) students that won the Business Proposal Champion and celebrated the closure of the OOCL-HKUST Corporate Project that was launched back in March.

The Corporate Project was part of the Enrichment Program designed for T&M students to provide a well-round education with real life business exposures. Sponsored by OOCL, 16 students from the Dual Degree Program went to Shanghai in March, observed the operation of OOCL’s logistics center in the Shanghai Waigaoqiao free trade zone. After the visit, they developed proposals to OOCL suggesting possible business opportunities in logistics industry with the use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and GPS (Global Positioning System) technology.

Dr. Tung expressed that in devising the project scope, his colleagues have taken careful consideration to ensure that it would be fitting for the current business environment and at the same time provide a learning experience that is in line with the core structure of the T&M program. Eventually, the topic RFID Technology in Logistics Business: an eLogistics Solution was designed and the first free trade zone in China, Waigaoqiao, was selected as focus of the case study.

The team of 4 students, including Angela Hung, Mary Lau, Ivy Leung, and Brian Wah, did extensive studies and wrote a brilliant proposal on “Shanghai enters into spirit”, detailing the great opportunities and potential financial rewards for OOCL’s operation in Shanghai to enter into the wine business. The team demonstrated superb ability in integrating their technical skills and business knowledge, and an enterprising entrepreneur spirit.

As mentioned by Dr. Kenneth Chih, Director and CIO of OOCL, in his congratulatory statements, he was deeply impressed by the detail and logical analysis of PRC logistics industry, the thoughtful application of technologies in business, and the superb organization of the proposal presented by the winning team. “With no previous exposure to RFID and GPS, the students demonstrated abilities beyond the judging panel’s expectations”, Dr. Chih said.

The appreciations were mutual. As Prof Paul Chu remarked, the Dual Degree students were indeed fortunate to have this invaluable opportunity to observe the operation of OOCL, one of the world’s largest integrated international container transportation, logistics and terminal companies, in close up and with guidance. Not only is HKUST grateful to OOCL for their financial sponsorship, but also for their thoughtful planning, sense of community responsibility and professionalism in offering this first-rate learning opportunity to UST students. “When our students learn, they learn from the best. OOCL has truly opened their eyes”.

This project marks only the beginning of the many enrichment projects that the Dual Degree Program plans to offer. As a conclusion to the ceremony, Prof Kar Yan Tam, Co-Director of Dual Degree Program announced the launching of the OOCL-HKUST-SUN Corporate Project. Students can look forward to more first-rate learning experience as they enroll in the innovative elite Dual Degree Program at HKUST.