Message from Acting Head
The world is facing any number of difficult challenges – from climate change, to the impacts of new technologies, to social inequality. In public policy, we often speak of the “complexity” of these challenges. But complexity is not a barrier; it is the terrain on which society operates. We cannot expect simple solutions in the spaces where systems meet values, where innovation meets equity, and where decisions and trade-offs must be made collaboratively.
At the Division of Public Policy at HKUST, we embrace this terrain. Our work is rooted in the belief that policy is the hard work of improving society, where we are not just responding to problems, but working on shaping our futures. And to build futures for our community and world that are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient, we must engage in dialogue between science, society, and governance.
Our faculty and students are committed to these futures, and to reach our goals, we work across boundaries—disciplinary, sectoral, and geographic. Some of us are modelling climate transitions; others are exploring the governance of AI, or rethinking urban resilience. What unites us is a shared commitment to reflexivity: to questioning assumptions, surfacing values, and engaging with uncertainty rather than avoiding it. We believe that good policy is not only evidence-based, but value-aware.
This Division is a space for joined-up thinking. We draw from engineering, economics, history, sociology, and environmental science to deepen our expertise and reach. Our postgraduate programs in Public Policy and Public Management train future policy leaders to go beyond technical expertise, equipping them with sharp strategic instincts and a deep sense of ethical purpose. We prepare our graduates to lead in systems they understand, and to question systems they seek to improve.
I am optimistic about what lies ahead—not because the challenges are small, but because the capacity for thoughtful, collaborative, and courageous policymaking is immense. If you are curious, critical, and committed to making a difference, I invite you to explore our Division and join the conversation.
Prof. Kira Matus
Acting Head and Professor
Division of Public Policy