Widnell has been directly appointed by The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology to provide cost consultancy services on its Fok Ying Tung Graduate School Campus at Nansha, Guangzhou, China. The 47,000m2 facilities will include research laboratories, teaching space and admin and student facilities.

HKUST admitted its first students in October 1991 to its campus on the Clear Water Bay peninsula, less than 30 minutes' driving time from central Hong Kong. The University now has a total of 9,000 students and 450 teaching staff.

The University has a clear vision to advance learning and knowledge through teaching and research, with particular focus in science, technology, engineering, management and business studies, and postgraduate education. HKUST is recognized as one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions. In 2006, HKUST was ranked top in Hong Kong, 5th in Asia, and 60th in the world by Newsweek International; while Times Higher Education Supplement rated it 17th in Technology.

In its first phase, the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School at Nansha will draw on the competencies of the HKUST Clear Water Bay (Hong Kong) campus to focus on 8 - 12 research areas in which HKUST has a leading edge and are deemed to have socio and economic benefits to Hong Kong and the region. Purpose-built labs will be set-up, each led by a Principal Investigator. They will be supported by central research facilities at Nansha and a team of admin staff, in Nansha and in Hong Kong. When fully staffed, some 300 researchers, technical staff, visiting scholars and post-doctorates will work in Nansha. They will spearhead research in new technologies, materials and applications, lead technology transfer and nurture scientific talent.