Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Bachelor of Science (Honours) Scheme in Information and Artificial Intelligence Engineering
Hung Hom, Hong Kong
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Under the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/ Bachelor of Science (Honours) Scheme in Information and Artificial Intelligence Engineering, there are three undergraduate programmes, namely BEng(Hons) in Electronic Systems and Internet-Of-Things, BSc(Hons) in Artificial Intelligence and Information Engineering and BSc(Hons) in Information Security.
Students admitted to the scheme study together during the first year and then complete their preferred programme (one of the above three programmes), normally within three years. Under this arrangement, students can make their choice after they have obtained a better understanding of the programmes. There is a quota restriction on the above three programmes.
1. BEng (Hons) in Electronic Systems and Internet-of-Things
Programme Characteristics and Intended Learning Outcomes
This programme emphasises both theory and applications. The curriculum includes the following components:
- lectures;
- tutorials;
- hands-on laboratory classes;
- Industrial Centre training;
- projects (individual and group);
- presentations; and
- various industry placement opportunities.
Students may choose to engage in overseas exchange schemes and earn recognised credits in a university outside of Hong Kong for one semester.
The programme also provides workplace training opportunities for students to gain work experience within and outside Hong Kong through Work-Integrated Education (WIE).
2. BSc (Hons) in Artificial Intelligence and Information Engineering
Programme Characteristics and Intended Learning Outcomes
The Programme offers a good mix of basic theory, hands-on practice and application examples. In the latter part of Year Three, students make use of the knowledge that they have acquired to conduct an artificial intelligence-based Integrated Project. They can focus on selected areas by choosing relevant electives. In the Final Year, students must complete a Capstone Project.
Students can join an exchange programme that allows them to study in an overseas institution for one semester. Financial subsidies may be provided by the Faculty of Engineering. The exchange programme offers an excellent opportunity for students to study abroad and broaden their horizons and allows them to appreciate the cultures of other countries.
3. BSc (Hons) in Information Security
Programme Characteristics and Intended Learning Outcomes
The programme offers a good mix of basic theory, hands-on practice and application examples. In the latter part of Year Three, students can make use of the knowledge that they have acquired to conduct an integrated project. During the summer of Year Three, students have the opportunity to join an internship programme. In the Final Year, students can focus on selected areas by choosing relevant electives.
Students can take part in the University’s exchange programme that allows them to study in an overseas institution for one semester. Financial subsidies may be provided by the Faculty of Engineering. The exchange programme provides an excellent opportunity for students to study abroad and broaden their horizons and allows them to appreciate the cultures of other countries. Very positive experiences have been reported by students who have participated in the programme.
The intended learning outcomes of the programme are the attributes of the graduates who have completed the Programme successfully. These attributes are classified into two broad categories. Category A consists of attributes such as knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes that are related to information security. Category B consists of the attributes that make our graduates all-rounded attributes and support their further development.
BEng (Hons) in Electronic Systems and Internet-of-Things
Programme Aims
The proposed programme aims at developing students into professionals in the fields of electronic and communication engineering with specialisms in the Internet-of-Things (IoT). The programme covers the leading-edge technologies in electronic engineering, with a special focus on IoT and related applications.
This Programme aims at producing graduates with:
- 1. a wide range of professional knowledge and skills relevant to Electronic Systems and Internet-of-Things. These include artificial intelligence of things, robotics, sensor technologies, electronic devices, and their associated software to sense, measure, interpret, connect, and analyse data;
- 2. creativity and innovation;
- 3. adaptability to changing technology and society; and
- 4. all-rounded attributes.
BSc (Hons) in Artificial Intelligence and Information Engineering
Programme Aims
Following the rapid expansion and dissemination of information and smart communication technologies in our daily life, professionals in the areas of information engineering and artificial intelligence are in great demand. This programme aims at developing students into artificial intelligence specialists and professionals in information engineering. The programme covers technological innovations in artificial intelligence and information engineering, focusing on machine perception and data science. Specifically, the programme aims at producing graduates with the following attributes:
- a wide range of professional knowledge and skills relevant to Artificial Intelligence and Information Engineering. These include technological innovations in artificial intelligence and information engineering, focusing on machine perception and data science, as well as applications related to information engineerings, such as computer vision, healthcare technology, bioinformatics, natural language processing, and automatics robotics,
- creativity and innovation,
- adaptability to changing technology and society, and
- all-rounded attributes.
BSc (Hons) in Information Security
Programme Aims
This Programme aims at producing graduates with:
- a wide range of professional knowledge and skills relevant to information security;
- creativity and innovation;
- adaptability to changing technology and society; and
- all-rounded attributes.
1. General University Requirement (GUR) Subjects
- a. Language and Communication Requirement (LCR) – 9 credits
- b. Freshman Seminar - 3 credits
- c. Leadership and Intra-Personal Development - 3 credits
- d. Service-Learning - 3 credits
- e. Cluster-Area Requirement (CAR) - 12 credits
Students should not take more than 3 credits from the same cluster area. They also need to fulfil the English and Chinese reading and writing requirements and 3 credits of the China Studies requirement (CSR). Students may apply for a waiver if they have fulfilled the English and Chinese reading and writing requirements and/or CSR requirements in their previous studies.
f. Healthy Lifestyle
2. Discipline-Specific Requirement Subjects
The curriculum in the first year is common for the three programmes offered under the Scheme. It includes fundamentals in mathematics, information technology, data science, artificial intelligence and information engineering and computer programming. In addition, language enhancement and general education courses are provided.
1. BEng (Hons) in Electronic Systems and Internet-of-Things
- Year One: Basic Mathematics, Introduction to Information and Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Freshman Seminar for Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Programming and Foundations of Data Science.
- Year Two: Mathematics, Introduction to Internet of Things, Basic Circuit Analysis and Electronics, Logic Design, Object-Oriented Design and Programming, Fundamentals of Machine Intelligence, Engineering Economics and Industrial Centre Training.
- Year Three: Microcontroller Systems and Interface, Communication Fundamentals, Computer System Fundamentals, Dynamic Electronic Systems, Data and Computer Communications, IoT Project, Wireless and Mobile Systems, Database System, Service-Learning, Industrial Centre Training and Technical Elective subjects (from a pool of over 40 subjects).
- Year Four: IoT Security, Engineering Management, Professional Communication subjects, Multidisciplinary Manufacturing Project, Society and the Engineer, Capstone Project and technical elective subjects (from a pool of over 40 subjects).
To graduate from the programme, students must complete the Work-Integrated Education requirement (A minimum of 1 WIE credit), i.e., two weeks of full-time employment within the study period.
2. BSc (Hons) in Artificial Intelligence and Information Engineering
- In the first year of study, the programme offers courses in the fundamental knowledge of artificial intelligence and information engineering, such as Basic Mathematics, Introduction to Information and Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Freshman Seminar for Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Programming and Foundations of Data Science.
- The curriculum in the second, third and fourth years covers fundamental and advanced knowledge and applications of artificial intelligence and information engineering.
- Core subjects cover the theories and applications of computers, data science, artificial intelligence, mobile systems, programming, data and computer communications, databases, intelligent technologies, IP networks, web systems and technologies, together with an integrated project and a Capstone Project.
To graduate from the programme, students must complete the Work-Integrated Education requirement (a minimum of 1 WIE credit), i.e., two weeks of full-time employment within the study period.
3. BSc (Hons) in Information Security
- Year One: Basic Mathematics, Introduction to Information and Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Freshman Seminar for Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Programming and Foundations of Data Science.
- Year Two: Data Structures, Database System, Digital and Computer System, Discrete Mathematics, Applied Cryptography, Object-Oriented Design and Programming and Operating Systems.
- Year Three: Computer Systems Principles and Security, Data and Computer Communications, Database Security, Integrated Project, Legal Aspects, Professionalism and Ethics of Computing, Network Security, System Programming, Web Application Design and Development and Technical Elective subjects.
- Year Four: Engineering Management, Service and Cloud Computing, Service-Learning, Wireless and Mobile Systems, Capstone Project and Technical Elective subjects.
To graduate from the programme, students must complete the Summer Internship (2 training Credits)/Work-Integrated Education requirement (a minimum of 2 WIE credits), i.e., four weeks of full-time employment within the study period.
Recognition and Prospects
Full accreditation from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) for the BEng(Hons) in Electronic Systems and Internet-of-Things, BSc(Hons) in Artificial Intelligence and Information Engineering and BSc(Hons) in Information Security programmes will be sought.
1. BEng (Hons) in Electronic Systems and Internet-of-Things
Internet of things (IoT) is a fast-developing field throughout the world. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global IoT market was valued at US$190 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach US$1,102.6 billion by 2026. However, Immersat Research shows that around 47% of organizations surveyed do not possess sufficient IoT skills and are outsourcing the work. Gartner Research predicts that around 75 per cent of the IoT projects may take twice as long as they should because of the shortage of IoT talent. In 2020, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region published the Hong Kong Smart City Blueprint 2.0 in which over 130 initiatives, many of them related to IoT, were put forward by the Government. This programme aims at training IoT professionals who will meet the pressing manpower need of Hong Kong in the emerging IoT area. Students will acquire the necessary professional skills that enable them to contribute to the IoT development in Hong Kong and overseas by participating in various IoT projects in both public sectors and private companies.
2. BSc (Hons) in Artificial Intelligence and Information Engineering
Information engineering encompasses vital technologies that support worldwide economic growth. With the increasing popularity and technological advances in artificial intelligence, products and services with intelligent features are in great demand, and new models and apps are being developed every day. Upon graduation, students will acquire sufficient knowledge to commence careers in the following areas:
- Smart mobile communications services – e.g., network engineer, telecommunication engineer.
- Software / Mobile apps developments – e.g., software engineer, mobile app developer.
- Internet-related business via the use of cloud technologies and data analytics – e.g., data scientist and engineer, intelligence system engineer.
- Data centres – big-data developer, cloud engineer
- AI-related applications and development – e.g., AI specialist, machine-learning engineer
3. BSc (Hons) in Information Security
The field of ICT offers enormous opportunities in Hong Kong and worldwide, particularly in information security. Corporations recruit ICT professionals to support their businesses by deploying new technologies. The further transition toward a knowledge society and the shifting of the ICT sector toward cloud computing and mobile communications will require ICT employees to acquire new skills and knowledge, particularly in the area of information security.
Several recent employment surveys conducted in Hong Kong and worldwide reflect the need for manpower in information security. For example, the 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide shows that chief information officers (CIOs) found it challenging to find qualified IT staff in IT security, software/application development and data/database management areas. Qualified technology professionals in Hong Kong are getting multiple offers, as IT job opportunities are on the rise, prompted partly by the growth of mainland Chinese companies investing in and expanding into Hong Kong. Another salary survey, the “Hong Kong Technology Salary Guide 2019” conducted by Robert Walters, echoed that demand is high for specialists in infrastructure and cyber security, as companies need to review security policy and respond to the growing threat of cybercrime. Salary increments of more than 30% can be expected for technology job seekers with niche/scarce skill sets related to information security. In summary, graduates of the information security discipline can expect very promising career prospects both locally and globally.