CSE Shines at HKUST Common Core Awards 2025

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering is proud to celebrate outstanding achievements at the HKUST Common Core Awards 2025, with Prof. Andrew Horner winning the University-wide Common Core Teaching Excellence Award and three CSE students receiving the Common Core Student Recognition Award.

Prof. Andrew Horner — Common Core Teaching Excellence Award Winner

Prof. Andrew Horner, Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, has been named the winner of the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2025—one of HKUST's most prestigious recognitions for outstanding teaching in the Common Core curriculum.

Prof. Andrew Horner (right) received the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award from President Prof. Nancy Ip (left).

The award honours instructors who have made exceptional contributions to the design and delivery of exemplary Common Core courses. Prof. Horner was recognised for his work in COMP 1943: Creative Sound and Video Design, where he brings an immersive, experiential approach to creative media production that consistently sparks student creativity.

In COMP 1943, students take on the roles of sound designers, editors, and directors—remixing, recutting, and applying visual and audio effects to produce music videos and trailers. Prof. Horner also integrates generative AI tools into the learning experience, empowering students to push creative boundaries and maximise impact in what has become a transformative learning adventure.

Three CSE Students Honoured with Student Recognition Award

Adding to the department's distinction, three CSE students are among the seven University-wide recipients of the Common Core Student Recognition Award 2025—now in its second year. The award honours students for outstanding achievements and growth documented in their Common Core learning portfolios.

The CSE recipients are:

• CHEUNG Man-Ching, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Year 4
• LAM Chak-Hin, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Year 2
• WONG Cheuk-Hei, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Year 3

Student Reflections: How Common Core Transformed Their Journey

The award recipients shared profound insights about how their Common Core experiences shaped their intellectual and personal development:

CHEUNG Man-Ching (Year 4) initially looked to the Common Core "to tackle questions about life that code could not resolve." What began as "casual exploration" transformed into a profound intellectual and personal journey, unlocking philosophy, anthropology, and cultural studies and "fundamentally reshaping how I perceive knowledge, society, and myself." Her Common Core travels took her from Buddhism to anthropological fieldwork on Chinese culture and society, especially traditional practices in Hong Kong. She gained crucial transferable skills including critical thinking, research rigor, complex problem-solving, and cultural awareness, complementing her technical training. Man Ching is now resolved to "carry forward the interdisciplinary mindset, critical empathy, and cultural sensitivity" nurtured by the Common Core Program as an integral part of her future as an engineer and a global citizen.

LAM Chak-Hin (Year 2) pursued Common Core courses in architecture, smart city development, and operations management to deepen his awareness of interdisciplinary complexities and how technology, design, and responsible business can address critical urban challenges. Related project work changed his view of how technology should be shaped after revealing the difficulties visually impaired people face in navigating the city, revealing that "inclusivity needs to be prioritised alongside efficiency." Now with his passion for learning fully ignited, Chak Hin has chosen to pursue a Minor in Smart City and is committed to broadening his outlook even after completing his Common Core requirements.

WONG Cheuk-Hei (Year 3) explored telecommunications policy (inspiring the addition of a second Major in Electronic Engineering), societal and ethical concerns about technology, and Japanese literature analysis. These courses transformed him from a "black and white" view to a more empathetic understanding of life. He realised that technical "correctness" is not scientists' and engineers' only concern—"consequences and impact matter too." This encouraged him to look at issues from others' perspectives and brought him to "fresh academic peaks in his grades." Most importantly, "Common Core courses have influenced me to become a better person in general," he said.

Department Celebrates Outstanding Achievement

We congratulate Prof. Horner, Cheung Man-Ching, Lam Chak-Hin, and Wong Cheuk-Hei on these well-deserved honours, reflecting the department' commitment to academic excellence, creativity, and meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for success as interdisciplinary engineers and global citizens.

Prof. Andrew Horner (second left) is named the winner of the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2025. Cheung Man-Ching (first right), Lam Chak-Hin (second right) and Wong Cheuk-Hei (first left) are the Student Recognition Award winners.

Prof. Nancy Ip (center), Prof. Andrew Horner (fourth right), and winners of the Student Recognition Award, including Cheung Man-Ching (first right), Lam Chak-Hin (third left) and Wong Cheuk-Hei (first left).