The undergraduate academic program structure will be re-engineered to encourage students to become autonomous and lifelong learners. Students will be guided to take responsibility for making choices on their study program, and for managing their hall life and extra curricular activities. Underlying all programs will be a common core curriculum designed to provide breadth of outlook and grounding in fundamental human values.

Plans to achieve these outcomes focus on three main areas:

• Innovative academic structure. To establish an academic structure that empowers students to take responsibility for their own learning, to make flexible choices of majors and minors, and to have ample opportunities for exchange and internships. To introduce new and exciting academic programs, such as interdisciplinary studies, double majors, and accelerated options for the best and brightest.
• Undergraduate research. To integrate research and learning by introducing undergraduate research credits, senior research theses, research mentorships, and work-study in research facilities and centers. To increase the number of research postgraduate students to strengthen the bridge between HKUST's research culture, the postgraduate research experience, and the undergraduate learning environment. To recruit the very best academic staff, who can combine the roles of caring teacher and inspiring research mentor.
• Living and learning. To provide infrastructural support and residential opportunities for campus life that encourage richer and deeper social and intellectual engagement. To develop an internationalized campus community that is fully integrated into the undergraduate learning experience.