Officiating guests and awardees take group photo at the Ceremony.
Awardees of Research Output Excellence Award and Young Researcher Award.
Lingnan University in Hong Kong (LU) honoured 33 scholars, students and graduates in a Research and Knowledge Transfer Excellence Awards Presentation Ceremony held yesterday (19 April) for their importantachievements in original research, knowledge transfer projects of real social relevance and impact, and success in obtaining competitive research grants.
Among the awards recipients, four scholars were presented with the Research Output Excellence Award, four scholars obtained the Young Researcher Award, 21 scholars received the Research & Knowledge Transfer Fund Award and four projects were awarded the new Booster Prize -- Social Enterprising.
In his opening address, Mr Augustine Wong Ho-ming, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Lingnan University, pointed out that LU has again been commended for its high level of internationalisation, quality research, and teaching and learning in the latest QS Asia University Rankings 2021. “Among over 650 Asia universities, LU ranks 1st in ‘International Faculty’, ‘Inbound Exchange Students’ and ‘Outbound Exchange Students’. Early in 2020, LU was also named by QS as a Five Star Institution, and came 2nd in the world for ‘Quality Education’ in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2020.”
In his welcoming remarks, Prof Leonard K Cheng, President of Lingnan University thanked the University community for their contributions to research and knowledge transfer excellence, saying: “Their outstanding achievements are evidence of their years of dedication to the creation of knowledge in the liberal arts tradition that enhances students’ learning experience through research for the betterment of society.”
He noted that in the 2020/21 exercise LU realised a 40-per-cent increase in funding for projects supported by UGC’s General Research Fund (GRF), Early Career Scheme (ECS) and Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS). The cumulative income growth in ongoing social projects and contract research was 209 per cent and 54 per cent last year, with record-breaking amounts of $43.8 million and $25.4 million. A total contract value of $17.6 million for 30 new projects was also supported by the industry, charities, NGOs and government departments.
Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Vice-President of Lingnan University, said with international research collaborations with prestigious institutions such as the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and University College London, “together with our new research centres jointly set up with universities in the Greater Bay Area on Social Policy, e-Business, Decision Sciences, Insurance and Risk Management, Ageing in Place, and International Studies, we look forward to taking our knowledge transfer work to fruition in raising people’s quality of life and the competitiveness of businesses in the region and beyond.”
A new Booster Prize has been introduced this year to fuel LU’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship with an impact on humanity. The prize is for students’ and graduates’ entrepreneurial projects and start-ups supported by LU’s Innovation and Impact Fund or the Support Fund for 2020 Graduates to further encourage their passion and efforts. Four significant projects were recognised this year: “Asaqua”, which aims to solve water crises in underdeveloped countries by affordable rainwater harvesting; “Gatherly”, a skill-exchange online platform for the elderly, to enhance their self-esteem and enrich their lives in retirement by encouraging them to pass their skills onto the younger generation; “Rehome”, a social enterprise offering household renovations, repairs and pest control services to grassroots households and the elderly; and “Senmily”, which builds a mutual support community for families and children with Special Education Needs.
