An Easy Way to Break Into a Growing Industry

Through our parents, we always hear jobs like doctor, lawyer, and businessman as the guaranteed way to a successful career path. Growing up, we’ve heard time and time again how we need to take that road and pursue jobs in that field. And to their defense, those are respectable careers with security and prestige to their name.

With the constantly changing world out there, so many new and innovative industries have sprung up in our midst. As a result, there are so many opportunities out there to thrive outside the traditional mold.

Curious about what the future holds? Let’s take a look at the growing and trending industries for the decade with the help of City University of Hong Kong, also known as CityU.

Data Science

We all know how digitalized we’ve become. From social media and businesses to even government processes, technology has paved the way for new solutions to the growing world. There’s been more clamor for programmers and software developers alike. But, the key ingredient behind it all: Data.

Data science is all about analyzing data through testing, structuring, and processing to derive meaning. This meaning transforms the way we communicate and interact with the world around us, and at the same time, it shows us everyday solutions to our problems.

Acting as Hong Kong’s first independent school for data science, CityU’s School of Data Science aims for strategic development, advocating pathways for data science, and meeting the demand for data scientists and engineers for the data-driven economy of the future. Their programs include:

Bachelor of Science in Data Science

A program that focuses on the theoretical and methodological knowledge of data science along with in-depth analysis and evaluation for real-life application. This major includes three focus points in their study: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Social Media Analytics, and Statistical Learning.

Bachelor of Science in Data and Systems Engineering

A program that provides a full spectrum of knowledge and techniques in applying data science as well as rich on-hand experience in data science projects. This major includes four focus points

Financial Technology (FinTech)

With digital wallets, mobile banking, and investment apps on the way, there is no doubt that the financial technology industry is only going up for years to come. Consumers today are going cashless; businesses are adopting digital payments. By fusing technology with finance, both parties have been experiencing an unprecedented levels of convenience. In fact, statistics say that the global FinTech market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.58% from 2021 to 2025. That’s a big jump from where it was!

This leads us to CityU’s College of Business, which is just as innovative in its vision for the future. As one of the premier business schools in the world, this school is all about delivering a pioneering and diverse undergraduate learning experience at the heart of the Asian financial hub. And in the face of an increasingly digitalized and globalized economy, they saw the need for these flagship programs:

BSc Computational Finance and Financial Technology

A program that prepares students for exciting career options in quantitative finance, investment banking, asset management, and also trading. Students can choose from two streams: Computational Finance Stream or Financial Technology Stream, or they can opt for an integrated curriculum covering both streams.

BBA Global Business

A program with a curriculum and opportunities to develop a global mindset, think strategically, and contribute to companies doing business internationally. Students get to work on a Global Business Company Project with a multinational corporation to solve real business problems.

They also have a heavy roster of BBA majors wherein the curriculum covers state-of-the-art knowledge and skills helpful in the business world. Students can even take specialized courses in one or more disciplines to prepare for career paths of their own interests. The 9 BBA majors are the following:

1. BBA Accountancy
2. BBA Management
3. BBA Marketing
4. BBA Business Economics
5. BBA Finance
6. BBA Global Business Systems Management
7. BBA Information Management
8. BBA Business Analysis
9. BBA Business Operations Management

Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences

The pandemic has shown us the importance of public health. Apart from humans, animals and plants share the same eco-systems we live in, and such close interactions pose potential public health risks. A well-coordinated approach to humans and in animals is essential in keeping us all mentally and physically healthy.

Commonly referred to as the “One Health” approach, there’s a fundamental connection between animal, human and environmental health, and these multiple sectors should join forces and work closely to achieve better public health outcomes.

With a special research focus on “One Health”, CityU offers the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences—the first of its kind in Hong Kong! As the Dean puts it: “There are no dividing lines between human and veterinary medicine – nor should there be.” This means there’s an interconnection between everything around us regarding public health and safety. Their goal is to improve the lives of individuals and the well-being of communities across the region and beyond.

Please check out:

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

A program that emphasizes both clinical practice and the science that underlies veterinary care for multiple animal species. It is tailored to the Asian veterinary environment through its four themes: Emerging Infectious Diseases, Food Safety, Animal Welfare, and Aquatic Animal Health.

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science

A program that exposes students to medical laboratory technology and modern biotechnology, applied research, and clinical/industrial training opportunities in the field of biomedical sciences. It enables students to understand the causes, diagnoses, and treatments of human disorders and diseases.

Bachelor of Science in Biological Science

A program that provides a rigorous, broad-spectrum curriculum combined with specialization in major fields of biology such as cancer biology, nanobiotechnology, neurobiology, and ecology.

Energy and Environmental Sciences

We’ve seen how our planet has been plagued with many environmental issues in recent years. If you’ve been tuning in to the news, you might’ve seen Greta Thunberg giving an impassioned speech on climate change to world leaders or even BTS bringing light on environmental issues at the United Nations General Assembly. You might be a little surprised by these recent talks, but this has been a long time coming in our world because of improper management of waste disposal, energy emissions, forestry, plastic production, and so on… Many of these issues have had adverse effects on the way we live and our health!

This gets us saying: Enough is enough! If we’re going to keep living on this planet, we need to prioritize how we treat our environment and make it a global agenda. At CityU, they saw the need to rally along with this crucial issue. The School of Energy and Environment leads the charge in teaching and research on two of the most pressing issues of our time—environmental quality and sustainable development. Their goal is to nurture a new generation of energy professionals who take an interdisciplinary and holistic view of climate change mitigation and emissions reduction in finding innovative solutions to produce clean energy and sustainable development.

There are currently two majors in the school:

Bachelor of Engineering in Energy Science and Engineering

A program that aims to provide innovative solutions to issues of energy crisis, renewable energy, global warming, climate change, and pollution.

Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Science and Engineering

A program that trains students to be knowledgeable in environmental science and engineering so that they can work as environmental professionals contributing to improved environmental performance and sustainability.

Creative Media

Media plays a big role in the way we disseminate information. Whether to inform, entertain, or persuade, it’s all about spreading a message, creating awareness, or even giving a call of action. And decades past, we’ve moved from sticking to only traditional media through print, radio, and television to the new era of media—The internet age! This has allowed all the combining media types to innovate, and it has birthed a new way to engage with audiences outside one-way communication.

This futuristic mindset goes hand-in-hand with CityU’s School of Creative Media. A first for the region, the School provides a central role in nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurial, interdisciplinary, and creative talents through this new era of media education and digital media. It acts as a hub of innovation for creative industries in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and abroad. Their programs include:

Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media

A program that fuses art, culture, and media technology, covering a wide range of subjects such as cinema, animation, photography, sound, installation, interactive media, video games, and new media art.

Bachelor of Arts and Science in New Media

A program with a curriculum that encourages creative and critical thinking in the domain of digital content, together with the successful expression of a socially engaged personal vision through various digital media formats.

Bachelor of Science in Creative Media

A program that combines core courses from the School of Creative Media and the Department of Computer Science to produce graduates who are able to bridge the gap between the technical and artistic sides of the media field.

Get Well-Prepared at CityU

Don’t know where to start to break into one of these blooming industries? Luckily, CityU offers a promising way in! This innovative hub has grown to respond to and empower global societal and technological change through professional education and problem-driven research. With various exciting programs available at CityU of your choosing, the possibilities are endless!

What are you waiting for? Get the opportunity to grow in a thriving industry and make your mark in the world. Submit your online application here at City University of Hong Kong and begin your journey.