The School of Decision Sciences (SDSC) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), and Shantou University Medical College (SUMC) recently signed a collaboration agreement to establish a “4+1” articulated pathway.

SUMC will recommend outstanding graduating students, and those who meet the agreed admission criteria will be eligible for direct entry to the Master of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MSc-DSAI) programme. This interview-fee direct admission arrangement creates a new pathway for nurturing interdisciplinary talent with expertise in healthcare and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

By bridging healthcare, data science and AI, the collaboration aligns closely with the strategic development goals of both HSUHK and SDSC. It strengthens regional academic partnerships, advances postgraduate education and promotes interdisciplinary learning. The partnership will nurture professionals with diverse competencies and versatile development capabilities, enhance the School’s reputation in interdisciplinary AI applications and support the University’s aspiration to expand its regional impact and academic networks.

The “4+1” pathway is expected to attract high-calibre students with interdisciplinary backgrounds from the medical field, enrich the academic quality and student diversity of the MSc-DSAI programme, and further strengthen the School’s competitiveness and reputation in health-tech AI education. Through this collaboration, both institutions seek to establish a sustainable and long-term talent development pipeline, foster meaningful institutional exchanges, and advance the integration of healthcare and AI.

With a long history, Shantou University Medical College is co-sponsored by the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Li Ka Shing Foundation. It is one of Guangdong Province’s leading medical institutions and enjoys a strong academic reputation.

In recent years, the College has actively developed interdisciplinary fields such as healthcare Big Data and intelligent medicine, with a focus on nurturing graduates with knowledge of medicine and a solid foundation in data science. This aligns closely with MSc-DSAI’s commitment to cultivating interdisciplinary talent in data science and AI.

Looking ahead, both institutions will continue to deepen their exchanges and collaboration, promote the integration of healthcare and AI and provide students with broader opportunity for interdisciplinary learning and development. Together, we aspire to nurture a new generation of professionals equipped with both medical expertise and data science capabilities, contributing to innovation and societal advancement.