Following the introduction of the collaborative double major programme Interdisciplinary Data Analytics + X by The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), with the first cohort of students admitted in 2023, the universities will launch the new Aerospace Science and Earth Informatics + X (ASEI + X) double major programme in 2024, offering students a broader range of academic opportunities and exposure to Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Students will be admitted by CUHK-Shenzhen and CUHK respectively. CUHK students enrolling in the four-year programme will pursue a major in ASEI at CUHK, along with another major from among the academic disciplines (engineering, science and social science) offered by either CUHK-Shenzhen or CUHK; while students admitted to CUHK-Shenzhen will take ASEI as their second major in addition to the major they applied for (please refer to the Appendix for a comprehensive list).

Students will attend classes and participate in learning and research activities at both the CUHK-Shenzhen and CUHK campuses. They will also have credit-bearing experiential learning opportunities, which will help them to gain exposure in the two prominent cities within the Greater Bay Area. By following a standard study pattern, students in the same cohort can enjoy engaging, overlapping experiences, helping them build their networks. They will also be able to create close connections with industry by the guaranteed admission to CUHK’s Co-operative Education Programme, a unique initiative that offers full-time work opportunities with pay.

Subject to approval by CUHK’s Senate, the new programme is expected to launch in 2024. CUHK-Shenzhen will admit students through the Chinese Mainland’s university entrance examination and international student admissions, while CUHK will admit students through a newly established Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) line and other channels. The intake quota for each university is tentatively set at 20 to 25 students per year.

CUHK’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor/Vice-President (Education) Professor Isabella Poon Wai-yin said, “Through this comprehensive interdisciplinary programme, we aim to help our students develop an in-depth understanding of the complex relationship between space exploration and the Earth’s environment, as well as acquiring expertise in a wide range of areas, including remote sensing, geoinformatics, and geospatial data analysis and machine learning. Another noteworthy characteristic of this distinctive programme is that it helps students to immerse themselves in the rapid and dynamic developments in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. I believe this will benefit our students, allowing them to seize opportunities and enhance their career prospects.”

CUHK-Shenzhen’s Associate Vice-President (Education and CUHK Affairs) Professor Xiaoqiang Cai stated,“Recognised as a global hub for cutting-edge technological innovation, Shenzhen is home to renowned corporations like Huawei, Tencent, DJI, and BYD, among others. China's advancements in aerospace technology are unparalleled, notably in sectors such as launch vehicles, manned space missions, and explorations of the moon and deeper space. Throughout their academic journey,  students of this dual-major programme will have the chance to partake in internships, enterprise visits, and related research projects across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Upon graduation, they will be well-positioned to pursue career opportunities with prominent enterprises within the Greater Bay Area and throughout China.”

Appendix

List of majors offered by CUHK-Shenzhen and CUHK (one to be chosen as a second major):

The participating major programmes from CUHK-Shenzhen are:

• Urban Management (pending for MoE’s approval for admission in 2024)
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Physics
• New Energy Science and Engineering
• Data Science and Big Data Technology

The participating major programmes from CUHK are:

• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Geography and Resource Management (in collaboration with the Institute of Space and Earth Information Science)
• Mechanical and Automation Engineering
• Physics