Employment - HKUST Clear Water Bay Campus

Equal Opportunities and Anti-discrimination / Pay Scale Equity

The University is committed to create and promote a working environment which provides equality of opportunity, and which is free of discrimination and harassment. The University aims at ensuring that there is no discrimination at work on the ground of sex, marital status, pregnancy, disability, family status or race. For this purpose, use of consistent criteria for all personnel matters including recruitment, promotion, transfer, training and dismissal is recommended. These include but not limited to the adoption of a unified assessment and a common pay and reward structure adopted for staff under same job function/category to ensure fairness and equality in recruitment and all employment processes.

Reference can be made to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Anti-discrimination Policy.

Caring Organization

The University has been recognized by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service of its commitment in Caring for the Community, Caring for the Employees and Caring for the Environment over the past years since 2016.

Caring Company - About Us - Introduction

As a Caring Organization for our employees and for the Community, the University offers leave polices* including paid annual, sick leave and parental leaves going beyond the local statutory requirements, as well as full-paid special leave to support our appointees to participate in volunteering service and in Wellness / Diversity & Equal Opportunities initiatives organised by the University.

*last update in June 2023

General Information on Employments

The information below aims at providing a general overview of some common employment terms and benefits which might be offered to appointees and that the same are subject to periodic review by the University. The specific terms of employment and benefits for which an appointee is eligible will depend on the role he/she is to assume, as well as such other factors as, for instance, whether the appointment is on full-time/part-time status, the duration of appointment and funding availability. For further enquiries, please contact the Human Resources Office.

Terms and Conditions of Service

For Faculty Positions

For Substantiation-Track Faculty Positions

HKUST adopts a three-tier substantiation-track faculty rank structure at Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor levels.

Assistant Professor

For Assistant Professor, initial appointment will be made on fixed-term gratuity-bearing contract for a period normally of 3 years, which will be renewable subject to academic review and mutual agreement.

Appointment with substantiation, coupled with promotion to Associate Professor, may be offered following a review of performance, usually after at least 3 years and up to a maximum of 6 years of service on fixed-term contract.

Associate Professor

For Associate Professor, initial appointment will be made on either fixed-term gratuity-bearing contract for a period normally of 3 years, or on substantive terms if substantiation of appointment is attained on initial appointment.

For Associate Professors with initial appointment on fixed-term contract, appointment with substantiation may be offered following a review of performance, usually after a maximum of 3 years of service on fixed-term contract.

Professor

For Professor, appointment will normally be made directly on substantive terms.

On substantiation of appointment, the appointee will be given the option to be enrolled as a Member of the HKUST Staff Superannuation Scheme. For faculty members on substantive terms, the appointment will be until the University’s normal retirement age of 65, subject to the termination provisions as provided for in the terms of employment.

Special Note: Extension of Substantiation Clock for Full-Time Faculty Staff

Under special circumstances where there are extenuating personal or family reasons such as a childbirth, a faculty member may apply for exceptional approval for extension of the normal probationary period. For female faculty, the substantiation clock can be extended by one year for each childbirth. In general, the maximum extension of the probationary period for substantiation is two years to cover two childbirths.

Remuneration Package for Substantiation-Track Faculty Appointments (applicable for contract duration of 2 years or above)

Salary

Commencing salary is highly competitive and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Annual Merit Salary Review will be conducted for the faculty members and in accordance with the University’s prevailing policies and regulations.

Mandatory Provident Fund / Gratuity

If the appointment is made on fixed-term contract, the appointee will be enrolled in the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Scheme as required by the MPF Schemes Ordinance in Hong Kong unless otherwise exempted under the Ordinance. Both the appointee and the University will make a monthly contribution to the scheme, currently at the rate of 5% of the appointee’s monthly relevant income up to a maximum of HK$1,500 per month.

On completion of contract, a gratuity will be payable. The gratuity will be for a sum which, when added to the University’s total contributions made for the appointee as the employer to the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Scheme during the contract period, is equal to 15% of the appointee’s aggregate basic salary earned during the contract period.

HKUST Staff Superannuation Scheme

If the appointment is on substantive terms, the appointee will be given the option to be enrolled under the University’s Staff Superannuation Scheme. As a member of the Staff Superannuation Scheme, both the University and the appointee will be required to contribute to the Scheme at the rate of 15% and 5% respectively of the appointee’s basic monthly salary. The vesting of benefits will be determined in accordance with the appointee’s years of continuous full-time service at the University.

Housing Benefits

On-campus accommodation, subject to availability, will be provided to eligible appointees at a monthly rental charge currently at the rate of 7.5% / 10% of the appointee’s basic monthly salary depending on the category of the allocated accommodation. Alternatively, the appointee may opt for a non-accountable cash allowance.

First Appointment Passage and Baggage Allowance

Appointees (and their spouse and eligible dependent children if applicable) who have been residing outside Hong Kong for a continuous period of 2 years or above at the time of appointment will be eligible for first appointment passage and baggage allowance at prevailing rates as determined by the University from time to time.

Leave

Appointees will be entitled to an annual leave of 22 working days per year. For continuous full-time service of 10 years or above at the University, appointees will be entitled to an annual leave of 26 working days per year.

In addition, for substantiation-track faculty, sabbatical leave and consulting leave may be granted in accordance with the University’s prevailing policies and regulations.

Sick leave and maternity leave will be provided in compliance with the Employment Ordinance in Hong Kong and in accordance with the University's prevailing policies and regulations. Eligible female appointees are entitled to full-pay maternity leave of 14 weeks.

As a family-friendly policy, paternity leave of up to 7 working days on each occasion of child birth (regardless of the actual number of children delivered on each single occasion) and bereavement leave will be provided to eligible appointees in accordance with the University's prevailing policies and regulations.

Medical and Dental Benefits

Appointees and eligible dependants can enjoy the medical and dental benefits provided by the University under the Staff Medical Insurance Scheme (hospital and surgical benefits; out-patient benefits and maternity benefits) and the Staff Dental Scheme.

Group Life Insurance

If the appointment is on fixed-term contract of 2 years or above, a Group Life Insurance Scheme with an insured sum of 36 months of the appointee’s final basic monthly salary will be provided to cover death or permanent incapacity in the course of the period of contract.

If the appointment is on superannuation terms of service, coverage of death and permanent incapacity benefits will be provided under the University’s Staff Superannuation Scheme.

Group Personal Accident Insurance

A group personal accident insurance scheme, covering death or permanent disablement caused by accidents in the course of the period of appointment with an insured sum of 24 months of the appointee’s basic monthly salary, will be provided to appointees on fixed-term contract of 2 years or above.

For Management/ Senior Professional Positions in Salary Bands 7-9 under the Grading & Salary Structure

Appointment

Appointments are made on fixed-term contract for a period normally of 2 to 3 years. Reappointment is subject to performance review, funding availability and mutual agreement.

Appointees may be required to undergo a probationary period as determined by the University.

Remuneration Package for Management / Senior Professional Appointees on Regular Terms in Salary Bands 7-9 under the Grading and Salary Structure for Non-Academic Staff (applicable for contract duration of 2 years or above)

Salary

Commencing salary is competitive and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Performance-based salary review will be conducted in accordance with the University’s prevailing policies and regulations.

Mandatory Provident Fund / Gratuity

Appointees will be enrolled in the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Scheme as required by the MPF Schemes Ordinance in Hong Kong unless otherwise exempted under the Ordinance. Both the appointee and the University will make a monthly contribution to the Scheme, currently at the rate of 5% of the appointee’s monthly relevant income up to a maximum of HK$1,500 per month.

Housing Benefits

Eligible appointees upon reaching the eligibility salary level will normally be entitled to housing benefits in the form of a non-accountable cash allowance. Where applicable and subject to availability, eligible appointees at Band 9 may also opt for University accommodation at a monthly rental currently at 10% of the appointee’s basic monthly salary.

Leave

Appointees will be entitled to an annual leave of 22 working days per year. After continuous full-time service at the University for at least 10 years, appointees will be entitled to an annual leave of 26 working days per year.

Medical and Dental Benefits

Group Life Insurance

A Group Life Insurance Scheme with an insured sum of 36 months of the appointee’s final basic monthly salary to cover death or permanent incapacity in the course of the period of contract may be provided.

Group Personal Accident Insurance

For Executive/ Professional/ Technical/ General Support Positions in Salary Bands 1-6 under the Grading & Salary Structure

Appointment

For executive / professional / technical / general support positions under the Grading and Salary Structure for Non-Academic Staff, appointment will be made on fixed-term contract for a period up to a maximum of 2 years. Reappointment is subject to performance review, funding availability and operational needs.

Appointees may be required to undergo a probationary period as determined by the University.

Salary

Commencing salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Performance-based salary review will be conducted in accordance with the University’s prevailing policies and regulations.

Mandatory Provident Fund / Gratuity

On completion of a 2-year contract, a gratuity will be payable. The gratuity will be for a sum which, when added to the University’s total contributions made for the appointee as the employer to the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Scheme during the contract period, is equal to 10% of the appointee’s aggregate basic salary earned during the contract period.

Leave

Appointees in the Salary Bands 2 - 6 on contract for a period of 2 years will be entitled to an annual leave of 18 working days per year. After continuous full-time service at the University for at least 10 years, appointees will be entitled to an annual leave of 22 working days per year.

Appointees in the Salary Band 1 on contract for a period of 2 years will be entitled to an annual leave of 14 working days per year. After continuous full-time service at the University for at least 10 years, appointees will be entitled to an annual leave of 18 working days per year.

Appointees on contract for a period of 1 year will be entitled to annual leave of 12 working days per year subject to meeting the minimum statutory requirement under the Employment Ordinance in Hong Kong.

Medical and Dental Benefits

Where applicable, appointees and eligible dependants can enjoy the medical and dental benefits provided by the University under the Staff Medical Insurance Scheme (hospital and surgical benefits; out-patient benefits and maternity benefits) and the Staff Dental Scheme (e.g. appointees on contract for a period of 1 year or above).

Group Life Insurance

For eligible appointees on contract for a period of 2 years or above, a Group Life Insurance Scheme with an insured sum of 36 months of the appointee’s final basic monthly salary may be provided to cover death or permanent incapacity in the course of the period of contract.

For eligible appointees on contract for a period of at least 1 year to less than 24 months, a Group Life Insurance Scheme with an insured sum of 12 months of the appointee’s final basic monthly salary may be provided to cover death or permanent incapacity in the course of the period of contract.