Motto, Emblem and Campus Symbols — The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

# 1. Mission and Vision

HKUST has no traditional motto cast in classical Chinese or aphoristic form. Instead, it operates by official mission and vision statements:

Mission

"To advance learning and knowledge through teaching and research, particularly in science, technology, engineering, management and business studies; and at the postgraduate level; To assist in the economic and social development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region."^※

(In Chinese: to advance learning and knowledge through teaching and research, particularly in science, technology, engineering, management and business studies; and at the postgraduate level; to assist in the economic and social development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.)

Vision

"To be a leading university with significant international impact and strong local commitment."^※

Brand Purpose

"We provide a breeding ground for tomorrow's leaders to flourish."^※

Core Values

According to the official website, HKUST's core values span five items^※:

1. Excellence, integrity and academic freedom — sustaining a leadership position through quality teaching and research, and defending academic independence
2. Global vision and local commitment — maintaining substantial contributions to local and national development while holding a leading global research standing
3. Can-do spirit — nurturing an entrepreneurial culture of innovation, resilience and creative problem-solving
4. Inclusion, diversity and respect — embracing differences across race, gender, culture and background
5. One-HKUST — fostering a unified community that brings together students, staff and alumni

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# 2. School Colours

The official school colours of HKUST are blue and gold^※. Blue symbolises wisdom and depth; gold symbolises excellence and achievement. The pair is used consistently across the emblem, brand materials and sports uniforms.

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# 3. Reading the University Emblem

The HKUST emblem layers several images into one device. As the brand guidelines describe it:

• "A golden head of wisdom atop an open book of knowledge" — the head symbolising wisdom, the book symbolising knowledge^※
• The graphic beneath the head admits two readings: one, a scientific flask (representing science and life sciences); the other, a transmission antenna (representing engineering and communications technology)^※. Both readings coexist in the same linework, expressing the fusion of science and engineering
• The emblem embeds the Greek letters upsilon (υ), psi (ψ) and tau (τ), the phonic counterparts of UST^※
• The overall palette is gold linework on a deep blue field, consistent with the school colours

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# 4. The Red Bird Sundial Sculpture, Circle of Time

# Background and Commission

Circle of Time is HKUST's most recognisable landmark, installed at the centre of the entrance plaza^※. The sculpture was commissioned by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and created by Irish-Australian sculptors Charles Smith and Joan Walsh-Smith (based in Perth, Australia). It was installed on 8 October 1991^※ — only days before the University opened its doors.

# Dimensions and Structure

• The sundial itself stands roughly 8.5 metres tall^※
• The relief wall of the base measures about 7.0 metres wide and 1.5 metres high^※
• Set in a pool, surrounded by cascading water

# Function: Art and Science in One

The sculpture is a working sundial — "the sundial is one of humanity's earliest scientific inventions, telling time by the shadow cast by sunlight"^※. The shadow operates as an intrinsic design element, lending the work visual depth while changing its face through the day, striking a balance between artistry and scientific function.

# Symbolic Elements

• "Flowing water evokes the passage of time; the waterfall evokes the flow of history"^※
• The relief wall of the base depicts 39 Chinese scientific and technological achievements spanning from antiquity to the Middle Ages^※, covering astronomy, mathematics, agriculture, metallurgy and printing. It honours Chinese civilisation while echoing the University's mission in science and technology

# The "Red Bird" Image

The top of the sculpture is shaped like a red bird about to take flight. It has become the visual symbol of the HKUST spirit, commonly called the "Red Bird" (红鸟), and has been adopted as the University's mascot.

The red bird carries several layers of cultural meaning:

• The Chinese fenghuang (凤凰) — a mythical bird in Chinese tradition, symbolising fortune, virtue and nobility; the sculptors themselves associated it with the Vermilion Bird of the South (朱雀), the bird of the fire element and the south in the Daoist system of five elements^※
• The Western firebird/phoenix — a symbol of rebirth from ashes and ceaseless renewal, fitting a young university "built from zero and soaring upward"
• The red hue — complementing the gold of the school colours, and symbolising passion, vitality and pioneering spirit

The informal name "Red Bird" has grown into common usage over time and now appears in university branding programmes such as the Redbird Innovation Fund.

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# 5. Other Campus Symbols

# Armillary Sphere

Located along the Fung Sun Kwan Promenade, the armillary sphere is a half-scale model of a Ming-dynasty astronomical instrument, the original built some 570 years ago^※. The armillary sphere is a significant scientific legacy of ancient astronomy, joining the Red Bird sundial to form the campus's artistic theme of "where science meets history".

# One-World Fountain

A water-and-stone installation outside the LG7 canteen, designed by Austrian sculptor Prof. Hans Muhr^※. Five stones, each from a different continent, make up the piece, with the Asian stone at the centre — symbolising "the harmonious coexistence of nature and humanity, and the fusion of technology and global communication".

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# 6. University Anthem

HKUST officially released its university anthem in March 2023, composed by Professor Kelvin Yuen, Professor of Music^※. It is the first official anthem in the University's 32-year history, marking a significant step in building its institutional culture. The anthem is titled "Spurring us to a brave new start". Until then, HKUST had no official anthem.

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