I graduated from the MSc in EIE programme at PolyU in 2022. In my first year of study, I acquired knowledge from my chosen courses, including digital image processing, wireless communication and pattern recognition. I appreciated the university facilities, including the library, which provided me with a comfortable place in which to focus on my study. During my second year, I undertook my dissertation with the patient and helpful guidance of my supervisor. My research experience strengthened my abilities in self-motivated study and problem-solving, qualities that will assist me in my future study and work. I was fortunate to be awarded the full MSc Studentship for my dissertation research after evaluation of my results, and I worked as a part-time Research Assistant while completing my dissertation. I am thankful that the EIE Department provided me with these opportunities, and I am continuing my study with EIE at PolyU as a PhD student.

Dong Rongkang

I am honoured to share my study and research experience in EIE over the past two years. In my first year, I undertook 7 subjects, including communication networks, the Internet of Things and machine learning, which enhanced my theoretical knowledge. The EIE has an innovative approach to teaching, as the subjects were provided as a combination of lectures, experiments and group/individual projects, which not only improved my ability to understand the subjects but also improved my teamwork and independent research skills. I also appreciated the rich extracurricular activities and opportunities provided by the school, including the courts and gyms for exercise, as well as the music room and swimming pool.

After completing my first year of study, I was awarded the MSc Studentship, and undertook the dissertation during my second year, with a focus on vehicular networks and intelligent transportation systems. The dissertation research required more self-discipline and self-motivated study than the scheduled classes of my first year but I was provided with sufficient structure through weekly group meetings, which encouraged me to progress in a timely manner and provided me with feedback that enabled me to improve my research. In the coming year, I will continue to advance my research project and work as a Research Assistant.

Fan Tingting

I graduated from the MSc in EIE programme at PolyU in 2022. My two years of study at EIE have been one of the most fulfilling periods of my life. I took seven courses on artificial intelligence and the internet of things and one 9-credit dissertation to complete my degree. The MSc courses in EIE provide a variety of learning formats including class teaching, tutorials, group projects, laboratory exercises and oral presentations.

The coursework study in my first year laid a solid knowledge foundation for my subsequent research work. Due to my academic results, I was awarded the MSc Studentship and undertook my dissertation on the artificial intelligence of things, which was an area I found of strong interest. The research project is quite different to course study, and it requires strong problem-solving and self-learning abilities. Initially, I found the research difficult, but with the guidance of my supervisor and friends in the programme, my academic research abilities have greatly improved. I am glad that I chose the dissertation project because it fostered these abilities, and I suggest that every student who has a strong research interest should undertake the dissertation project. As a result of the MSc in EIE programme, I have obtained not only knowledge of the subject matter but also the ability to think critically and independently.

Guo Jingtao

I graduated from PolyU’s MSc in EIE programme in 2020 and I now work as a full-time Research Assistant in the EIE Department. In the future, I intend to advance my research career by enrolling in a PhD programme. During my MSc studies, I chose 7 courses and the 9-credit dissertation to complete my degree. During my two years in the EIE Department, I accumulated advanced knowledge of vehicular networks, the internet of things, wireless communications and information security.

I chose to undertake my dissertation in vehicular networks and autonomous driving systems. Compared with the other courses, the dissertation requires a great deal of independent study and problem-solving skills. My weekly meetings with my supervisor provided guidance and allowed me to seek timely assistance when I encountered difficulties. While working on my dissertation, I learned to balance multiple tasks in various areas, such as innovation, system structure, programming, presentation and paper organisation.

I am grateful for the support of EIE and PolyU throughout my studies. Based on my personal experience, I recommend the MSc in EIE programme to all students who have a passion for research in this field.

Ding Cao

Studying in PolyU’s EIE Department was an incredible experience. The MSc programme offers extensive knowledge of 5G technology, machine learning, AI, the IoT and robotics. I was fortunate to study alongside many friendly classmates and to receive the help of many kind and generous teachers.

My classmates and I studied polar code and planned to apply our knowledge to 5G and even 6G development. We built a distributed multi-agent face recognition system for kindergartens to help parents protect their children, and we trained a quadruped robot via deep reinforcement learning for legged robotic control problems. I was delighted to receive an MSc Studentship from EIE to support my studies and life at PolyU. I will never forget these amazing opportunities during my studies. Now, I am a Research Assistant in the Department, focusing on reinforcement learning and robotics thanks to my teachers, my classmates, EIE staff and PolyU.

XU Huafeng

I graduated from PolyU’s MSc in EIE programme in 2021. At the beginning of my studies, I set myself the goal of enhancing my professional knowledge and chose to do the dissertation project to achieve this goal. I shaped my research direction and plan with my supervisor, who was kind and supportive, and the help of the friendly senior PhD students. My grades won me a scholarship in the next semester, which further supported my research.

During my studies, I encountered many problems, especially as I had never previously conducted experiments in the field of optics, my chosen dissertation field. I discussed my problems with lab-mates and my supervisor, and consulted academic papers for guidance. During weekly group meetings, I reported on my research progress or shared papers in the field with the group. In this process, I learned more about optical fibre sensing and improved my English.

After successfully completing my dissertation project, I presented some of its content at the OptoElectronics and Communications Conference. With the support of my professor, I led my team to enter competitions, and we received first prize in the 6th IoT Technology and Application 3S Competition for University Students in China (第六屆大學生物聯網技術與應用「三創」大賽) in 2020 and second prize in the 7th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in 2021. In the future, I plan to work as a Research Assistant in the EIE Department, and to deepen and advance the research I conducted during my dissertation project.

Yu Jianxun

I am a graduate of the MSc in EIE programme. Looking back, my two years at PolyU were among the most fulfilling periods of my life. In my first year, the wide range of subjects provided me with a solid foundation for my research. The EIE teaching staff are both academically outstanding and extremely supportive.

In my second year, I embarked on my research career. This year was full of challenges, but I eventually overcame them with the help of my warm-hearted and academically rigorous instructor. With his patient guidance, I greatly improved my research skills, and I was reminded that learning is a lifelong process, and that we should always keep working hard. During my studies, I learned how enjoyable and fulfilling research can be. I was very grateful and honoured to receive an MSc Studentship, which recognised my efforts over the preceding two years, and encouraged me to pursue an academic career with full confidence. Now, as a research staff member in CAiRS, I remain very grateful for the opportunities that EIE gave me.

Duan Jiawei

I am a 2019 graduate of the MSc in EIE programme at PolyU, where I took seven taught courses on artificial intelligence and information security, combined with a dissertation. During my two years in the EIE Department, I not only gained the knowledge taught in classes but also the ability to think independently to solve problems. The EIE Department offers subjects in different learning formats, including class teaching, programming, group projects, oral presentations and laboratory courses. In addition, the Department often hosts competitions in which the students can participate in. Creative thinking is encouraged for every student at EIE.

After my first semester, my high grades meant that I had the opportunity to engage in the MSc Studentship Project Scheme while undertaking my MSc dissertation. For the subsequent 1.5 years, conducting my research and writing my dissertation were my main tasks. Compared with course-based study, academic research requires stronger self-learning and problem-solving skills. I spent a great deal of time reading the literature and understanding the principles and algorithms relevant to my topic. When I faced any issues, I separated them into several aspects and resolved them step by step with guidance from my supervisor at EIE. This learning process and the dissertation were a valuable academic experience, and I am proud that I decided to undertake the research project.

As well as the support of my supervisor, I obtained language assistance from the English Language Centre and careers and interview guidance from the Office of Careers and Placement Services at PolyU, both of which assisted me in my study and career. I am very grateful for the generous dedication and consistent support of PolyU and EIE during my study.

Wang Peifeng

I graduated from the MSc in EIE programme in 2019. Thanks to the programme, I have recently found a job relevant to my MSc study in Zhejiang. At the beginning of my study, I set myself the goal of attaining sufficient knowledge to undertake academic research through the dissertation. I participated in seven courses in the areas of communications and artificial intelligence. In these courses, in addition to learning different theories, students engaged in experiments and tests, and we were encouraged to ask questions in class, and to discuss issues with the subject lecturers after class. As a result, I gained a much better understanding of the theories than I had before.

After studying hard in my first semester, I had the opportunity to do my dissertation with the support of an MSc Studentship. My supervisor helped me a great deal with the problems I encountered during my dissertation, and offered me much constructive advice. In addition, the group meeting held every week helped me to keep up with the latest research, and gave me the opportunity to practice public speaking by presenting my paper. During my dissertation, I learned to work through problems and develop the valuable habits of reading and independent thinking. The strong academic environment at EIE has enriched my knowledge and skills. I greatly appreciate the learning experience it provided, which taught me to be positive and overcome challenges.

Wang Yixin

I am a 2018 graduate of the MSc in EIE programme at PolyU. The subjects I took covered a broad range of engineering fields, including communication system design, multimedia technologies and artificial intelligence. At PolyU, students are encouraged to interact with professors both during and after class. There are great opportunities available to students who are interested in addressing real-world engineering-related problems through well-designed mini projects.

I was offered a studentship to undertake my dissertation in the EIE programme. Research is quite different to course work, and requires both strong initiative and learning capabilities. In the process of completing my dissertation, I encountered many issues, but these challenges taught me how to think about the problems from different perspectives and to persist in solving them. I strongly recommend that new students choose to work on a dissertation if they are genuinely interested in research. My valuable research experience made me realised how important it is to keep learning and keep pace with rapid advances in new technologies.

Yao Qi, Michael

I obtained my MSc degree in EIE in 2017. Since graduating, I have worked as an engineer in the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, where I am responsible for the system design of 5G cellular networks. Throughout my two years of study at PolyU, I fulfilled my goals of developing a broad and detailed knowledge of signal processing and communication technology, and also of gaining valuable research experience through writing a dissertation.

During my studies I enrolled in seven courses, most of which were on telecommunications and artificial intelligence. What impressed me most was that each course essentially involved a mini project. By accomplishing the projects, students can better understand the meaning of complex formulas and theories and, even more importantly, learn how to use their knowledge to solve practical problems.

After my first semester spent gaining fundamental knowledge, I was able to undertake a dissertation in the field of autonomous driving. My supervisor helped me a great deal and gave me much valuable advice during my research. Weekly group meetings with other students provided me with inspiration and ideas, and offered a format in which students could learn from each other. Although completing my dissertation was challenging, it was one of the best decisions that I have made, and it helped me to make significant progress in developing my research abilities. Overall, my study experience at PolyU has been, and will continue to be, a great asset in my future career.

Jia Kanghao

I joined the part-time MSc in EIE programme at PolyU after earning my undergraduate degree. I studied part-time and simultaneously worked as an engineer. While it was challenging working and studying at the same time, I was determined to live outside my comfort zone, which prepared me for the challenges ahead.

I enjoyed my two years as an MSc student at PolyU, and found the programme to be meaningful and worthwhile. I gained experience of state-of-the-art technology in different fields and subjects. I also met foreign classmates with different cultural backgrounds, and some experienced industry locals. As a result, my social network expanded. In addition, I worked on a research project, which enhanced my research experience and skills. Although I faced numerous challenges, I enjoyed working on the project, and I know that it will greatly benefit my future PhD studies.

Chu Kai Fung

My time in the MSc in EIE programme was both busy and fruitful. Apart from the language of instruction, the main differences between EIE at PolyU and my mainland education were that the EIE programme offered more group projects, greater collaboration among students and more continuous assessments, all of which helped to consolidate my learning.

I chose to undertake the dissertation as well as coursework, and the Department very generously granted me a studentship. Learning about a subject by writing a dissertation is quite different from course-based learning. Rather than simply attending lectures and finishing assignments, a dissertation involves more interaction with a supervisor and it requires clear articulation of ideas, both orally and in written form. Thanks to the patient guidance and encouragement of my supervisor, I was able to produce some good results and present an international conference paper at the end of my MSc study. I also received an invitation from the conference organiser to submit an extended version of my conference paper to a special issue of an international journal.

During my time working on my dissertation, I greatly enjoyed doing research work, and the academic environment in the EIE programme was congenial and vibrant. Therefore, after graduating from the MSc Programme, I decided to continue my EIE research as a Research Assistant and began studying for my PhD in August 2016.

LIN Weiwei

During my two years of study in the Department of EIE, I have gained a great deal of knowledge from the classes and my research work. I made huge efforts to earn high grades during my first semester and was granted a full studentship to complete my dissertation during the remainder of my MSc.

Study here is very different from my experience in mainland China, as it emphasises understanding rather than simply remembering equations. The courses at PolyU trained me to think logically and critically, and to solve problems, and the research tested my creativity and perseverance. I believe that students who choose to study at PolyU are more mature, confident and intelligent when they complete their studies, and that they will be proud of what they achieve, as I am.

Chen Jieshi, Jessie

After graduating from the MSc in EIE programme, I joined a start-up company in Beijing, where I am responsible for research and development in the field of computer vision algorithms.

In my first semester at PolyU, I took five subjects in the field of digital signal processing and pattern recognition. The lectures were theoretical and helped me to establish a sound basic knowledge, and the lab sessions helped me to keep pace with state-of-the-art techniques and products. I found them very useful when I tried to understand and implement complicated algorithms later on in my study and work.

In the second and third semesters, I was devoted to my research and writing my dissertation. My supervisor guided me well and was always ready to help me solve research problems. Students held a meeting every week and took turns giving presentations. As a result, I could show the other students my research and ask for suggestions, and I frequently gained inspiration from other group members. This environment of mutual learning helped me progress rapidly. Thus, I not only gained professional knowledge from studying at PolyU, but also developed good communication skills and gained research experience, which have helped me in my subsequent career.

Liu Xinmin, Simon

The MSc in EIE programme provides a good opportunity for students with a background in engineering to undertake further postgraduate studies. The programme offers a wide choice of subjects in electronics, telecommunications and multimedia technologies. The dissertation is a good option for students who want to gain more research experience.

During this programme, I had the opportunity to attend lectures delivered by extremely capable and knowledgeable academics. I acquired a strong foundation in advanced engineering technologies and practical problem-solving skills through coursework, laboratory exercises and mini projects. The dissertation equipped me with research experience, critical thinking and independent learning abilities. I was delighted to receive a studentship from EIE for taking the dissertation and was honoured to receive the EIE Alumni Scholarship and Type I Scholarship from the Faculty of Engineering.

I am satisfied with my life and studies at PolyU, which were full years of gaining knowledge and overcoming challenges. I feel honoured to be an MSc in EIE graduate, and I very much treasure this intensive and diverse learning experience.

Pang Xiaomin