What I learned from working on real client projects during my master’s

One of the most valuable parts of going to business school is having a safe environment to apply theoretical learnings in practice, build connections, and test ideas—which is why practical learning opportunities are so important.

With emerging technologies and the rise of AI, being able to apply key skills—such as problem-solving and adaptability—is more important than ever. According to our research, two-thirds of business school applicants want AI to be integrated into their program’s curriculum for hands-on experience, through business simulations and practical applications.

At HKU Business School, the capstone project included in 11 master’s programs gives students the opportunity to work with top companies, working as part of a team to create practical solutions to real-world business problems. Nearly 100 projects are currently underway, with past partners including HSBC, Tencent, and Microsoft.

We spoke to Farhana Punnilath Roshan and Shujun Liao, Master of Science in Business Analytics (MScBA) students from HKU Business School, about what they learned during their respective capstone projects with HSBC and Microsoft.

What skills can you develop through real-world projects?

Practical learning opportunities such as capstone projects allow students to apply the business knowledge they have learned in the classroom, alongside expanding their specialist skillsets.

Farhana’s project was in partnership with HSBC Commercial Banking in Hong Kong where she worked as part of a team to develop an AI-enabled competitor intelligence framework. The objective was to help automate market monitoring and strategic insight generation by leveraging advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.

Farhana (pictured right) says: “The experience was incredibly rewarding because it allowed me to apply classroom concepts to a real business challenge. Working directly with HSBC stakeholders gave me valuable exposure to how data-driven decisions are made in a highly regulated industry and showed me the practical impact that AI can have on business strategy.

“From a technical perspective, I developed expertise in AI applications, data engineering, competitive intelligence, and large-scale data analysis,” she continues. “I also gained hands-on experience designing AI workflows that could support audit-ready decision-making.”

Being able to practice these technical skills in a hands-on environment helps to prepare students to solve problems and navigate challenges throughout their careers.

Alongside developing specialized technical skills, real-world projects can help build your professional skillset—which is essential for working alongside others and navigating the workplace.

“Collaborating with teammates and stakeholders enhanced my communication and management abilities,” says Farhana. “I learned to translate complex analytical findings into business recommendations, ask the right questions, and present insights in a way business leaders could easily understand and act upon.”

In Shujun’s (pictured left) capstone project, in partnership with Microsoft and AS Watson (a health and beauty retail company), her team worked on digital and AI-driven transformation, through optimizing workflows, identifying pain points such as repetitive work and high error risks, and designing a questionnaire creation platform.

“I learned to dig into real business scenarios, sort out complex workflows, and pinpoint operational pain points instead of just focusing on technical features,” she explains. “I also gained hands-on experience in AI product prototype optimization, which is an especially important and useful skill in the age of AI.”

What are the benefits of working with diverse teams?

The capstone project combines eight students from different master’s programs at HKU, who work together as a team to solve business problems, deliver insights, and provide solutions for the companies they are working with. Each project is led by an academic advisor, to help ensure students receive guidance and quality control throughout the experience.

“One of the biggest highlights of the capstone project was the opportunity to work in a truly multidisciplinary team,” Farhana says.

Alongside working with other MScBA students, Farhana collaborated with students from finance, marketing, and global management backgrounds while partnering with HSBC.

“Each team member brought a unique perspective, which allowed us to approach the problem from both technical and business angles. This diversity made our solution stronger and more realistic, as we were constantly challenged to think beyond our own areas of expertise,” she explains.

Working with students from different programs, backgrounds, and cultures can help you develop skills such as communication and leadership, broaden your perspectives, and challenge your ideas and ways of thinking.

“We learned to collaborate and communicate with people from different backgrounds, including clients, technical staff at Microsoft, and teammates,” says Shujun. “Listening to different perspectives helps you think more comprehensively, which is essential to understand the workplace beyond what you learn in a classroom environment.”

How can real-world projects prepare you for your career?

Through working with established companies, students not only gain insight into how an organization runs, but can actively contribute—sharing their ideas, working with new people, and solving problems.

“The capstone project bridged the gap between academic learning and industry practice,” explains Farhana. “The project helped me understand the importance of balancing technical innovation with practical considerations such as scalability, governance, and stakeholder buy-in. These are critical factors for anyone looking to build a career in analytics, consulting, or AI strategy.”

Alongside gaining valuable skills and applying these in practice, the capstone project also provides students with valuable experience to include on their resume.

“This project let me experience real enterprise work,” says Shujun. “I learned to design solutions under real constraints, which is very different from classroom projects. These practical experiences have helped to prepare me for future workplace challenges.”

Through understanding the challenges facing real businesses, working on real-world projects as you study can help you develop technically and professionally—expanding your skillset and preparing you for the workplace.