China

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 Beijing Forum and a thematic forum on digital intelligence education in Beijing from 6 to 7 November. During the visit, he took part in a series of exchanges and discussions on innovative developments in higher education in the era of digital intelligence, further expanding opportunities for collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong SAR in higher education.

The 21st-century epidemics of animal-human diseases, or zoonotic pathogens, such as MERS, SARS, and Covid-19, have demonstrated how pathogen spillover from animal to human can pose a global health threat. There is one factor linked with at least 70% of such emerging diseases: wildlife.

To celebrate their 30th anniversary, the Department of Economics at Lingnan University hosted the inter-school chess tournament, The Nash Chess Cup, on 7 November on the University campus. The competition was enthusiastically supported, and attracted over 300 talented young players from more than 70 primary and secondary schools across the Hong Kong SAR, who demonstrated a high standard of competition and great enthusiasm for board games.

A 3.5-metre-tall Lingnan Cat made its campus debut at Lingnan University, inviting visitors to take photos, while Asian Games Chinese chess bronze medallist Wong Hok-him sat at the chessboard with participants to explore how game theory can shape decisions about further education and life. Lingnan University held its Undergraduate Admissions Info Day, “Rediscover Lingnan” today, 7 November, featuring more than 80 interactive experiences, thematic talks, and campus explorations, as well as introducing the Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class (CCT Class), named after Nobel Laureate in Physics, Prof Samuel C.C. Ting.

Prof Jean-Michel Morel, Chair Professor of the Division of Industrial Data Science at Lingnan University, spoke at HLMA Talks, a public talk series organised by the Hang Lung Mathematics Awards (HLMA) later this afternoon (6 November). Under the theme “Mind vs. Machine: The Future of Mathematics”, he discussed the role and position of mathematics in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) with Prof Jennifer Chayes, Dean of the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society at the University of California, Berkeley.

The Faculty of Business of Lingnan University has received three major honours at the recently held 2026 Asia New Century Education Forum, themed “Digital Intelligence Empowerment and Industry-Academia Collaboration”, in recognition of its outstanding academic leadership, teaching innovation and high-quality programme design.

Lingnan University has achieved another remarkable success in the newly released Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2027, rising 36 places from 181st last year to 145th. Among the 1,722 institutions from 26 Asian countries and regions included in the rankings, Lingnan has advanced into the top 10 per cent in Asia. Across the 11 performance indicators evaluated, Lingnan received full marks of 100 in four internationalisation metrics, including international faculty, international students, inbound exchange students, and outbound exchange students. This impressive achievement highlights Lingnan’s pivotal role in attracting global faculty and students, and in advancing the Hong Kong SAR’s strategic goal of becoming an international hub for post-secondary education.

To promote campus internationalisation and broaden students’ global perspective, Lingnan University held “International Day 2026 – Gateways to the World” on campus today, 3 November, co-organised by the Office of Global Education and the Office of Student Affairs. It attracted more than 800 students and members of the faculty and the public. Students from 17 countries and regions served as cultural ambassadors, wearing traditional attire and showing the customs and everyday life of their home countries through folk performances as well as cultural exhibits. The event was also open to the public, strengthening the University’s ties with the community and enabling visitors to discover the special appeal of different cultures through cross-cultural exchange.

Organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, and co-organised by the Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme (HKSCHRP) of Lingnan University, the “2026/27 Territory-wide Junior Secondary Chinese History and Culture Quiz Competition: Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Red Army's Long March” Grand Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony was held at Cognitio College (Kowloon), today, 31 October. The four finalist teams emerged from more than 32,000 junior secondary students from over 200 secondary schools across the Hong Kong SAR.

Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, attended the Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 (GUPLS 2026) today, 28 October, and chaired Panel Session 6, officiated by Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. With higher education leaders from Australia, the Chinese Mainland, Germany, and Greece, they discussed how universities should adapt teaching in response to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, and how collaboration between academia, industry, and government should foster students’ critical thinking to meet the needs of the future workplace and society.

Lingnan University has ranked fourth among higher education institutions in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan region in the 2025 China University Translation Capacity Index, recently released by Beijing Foreign Studies University. Covering 511 universities across mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan region, the index assesses translation capacity at university level and provides an important reference for understanding the development of translation education and related capabilities across different regions.

A newly identified fossil amphibian discovered in China may have been fully adapted to life in the sea, according to study

Lingnan University is showing five innovative interdisciplinary projects powered by artificial intelligence (AI) at InnoCarnival 2026, the annual flagship innovation and technology event organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC). Among the exhibits is Face Fortress: Adaptive All-In-One AI for Digital ID Safety, the AI-powered facial verification system developed by Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence. The system is now being used by Lingnan as a way to screen for fake academic qualifications. Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong SAR Government, visited Lingnan’s exhibition booth today, 24 October, to learn firsthand how the system uses AI to screen facial images and detect deepfakes.

The rapid progress of artificial intelligence (AI) has given rise to challenges ranging from algorithmic bias and system security to energy consumption. Jointly hosted by Lingnan University and the Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, and co-organised by the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Fund Town, the 2026 Summit on AI Ethics and Governance was held today (23 October) in Qianhai, Shenzhen. Themed "Shaping Responsible AI", the Summit brought together over 200 key experts, including Chinese and international academicians, university presidents from China, and renowned AI scholars from APEC member economies, such as Australia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the US. Participants discussed how countries can advance AI innovation while balancing safety, social responsibility and sustainable development.

Lingnan University announces the renaming of its Department of Translation to the Department of Language Industry and Technology (LIT) starting in the 2027/28 academic year. Related undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes will adopt new names in the same academic year, reflecting the Department’s strategic development direction in the digital era.

Humanitarian innovation and invention projects developed by the United Nations University Hub on Humanitarian Innovation and Technology at Lingnan University (UNU Hub at Lingnan University) have won five awards at the 2026 edition of the European Product Design Award (EPDA). “Incuvia - Modular Foldable Baby Incubator” received three, including the “Design for Humanity” Special Award, which selects only 10 winners a year, and the “Top Design” Special Award in the Industrial / Healthcare: Medical Products Category, the highest honour in the category. “PureAura - Portable Mini Energy-saving Air Purifier” also received two awards. Lingnan University is the only one of the Hong Kong SAR’s eight UGC-funded universities selected as one of the 10 main winners of the year, bringing honour to the Hong Kong SAR.

A newly discovered Jurassic bird from China appears to have lived a land-based, flightless lifestyle, suggesting that the earliest birds had a greater diversity of lifestyles than previously recognized

Lingnan University has announced the admission of 14 outstanding students to its inaugural Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class (CCT Class). Selected from high-achieving undergraduates awarded University Entrance Scholarships, the students come from eight countries and regions, namely the Hong Kong SAR, the Chinese Mainland, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, and the UK. They will receive four-year full-tuition scholarships, a guaranteed hostel place with fees covered for four years, dedicated one-to-one mentorship, artificial intelligence (AI) training provided by leading multinationals, precedence in frontier research projects, opportunities to meet Nobel laureates and leading scholars, and priority for admission to postgraduate programmes.

The Hong Kong Council of Social Service estimates that the number of carers across the territory reaches as high as 1.12 million. Some employed people are forced to juggle the demands of work alongside caring for parents, spouses, or children, taking on the arduous role of “compound carers”. The Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies (APIAS) at Lingnan University conducted in-depth interviews with over 40 multiple carers who care for at least two family members, one of whom has a disability or a chronic illness. The study found that these working compound carers face heavy pressure in balancing professional and family duties. Nearly half of those interviewed keep their caregiving responsibilities hidden at work for fear of being branded “troublesome employees”. Consequently, several had to give up promotions or switch to part-time work due to caregiving demands. Researchers note that current support networks remain fragmented, leaving compound carers to search for, evaluate, and arrange various services entirely on their own — adding substantial friction to an already overwhelming load. The research team recommends introducing dedicated Case Managers who will integrate healthcare, rehabilitation, and social welfare services.

Lingnan University has officially opened applications for its undergraduate programmes for the 2027/28 academic year. Starting from today, both Chinese Mainland Gaokao candidates and students holding international qualifications may submit their applications through the University's online system.

The Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre at Lingnan University and the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Applied Psychology at Shandong Normal University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Lingnan on 8 October 2026. The two centres also co-organised a psychology seminar on impulsive decision-making and the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on moral decisions.

Lingnan University has achieved remarkable results in the 2026 edition of the World’s Top 2% Scientists list published by Stanford University. The 54 Lingnan scholars named represent an increase of about 25 per cent over last year’s 43. Among them, 21 are ranked in the world's top 100, and six are ranked first either in China or the Hong Kong SAR in their respective disciplines, underscoring international recognition of Lingnan’s academic influence as it transforms into a research-oriented liberal arts university comprehensive in arts and sciences in the digital era.

A study led by the Division of Science at Lingnan University has found that the Lantau Island population of the Short-legged Horned Toad shows clear genetic divergence from other local populations, along with several notable differences in the mating calls of males

Lingnan University held a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on the University campus on 1 October. Honoured guests included the Hon Andrew Yao Cho-fai, Council Chairman of Lingnan University; Dr Patrick Wong Chi-kwong, Chairman of the Court; Ms Carrie Leung Ka-lai, Treasurer of the Council; Mr Sammy Leung Chung-sing, Council Member; Prof William Shum Wai-lam, Council Member; Mr David Kwok Sek-chi, Member of the Court; Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science; Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; and Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration), and Lingnan senior management, staff, and students.

Lingnan University has achieved outstanding results in the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027. Among 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and regions, Lingnan made a remarkable leap from the 301–350 band to 257th, climbing nearly 100 places to show the highest improvement among the Hong Kong SAR’s eight UGC-funded universities. This demonstrates widespread international recognition of the University’s excellence in quality education, industry-academic-research collaboration, internationalisation, and the nurturing of research-oriented liberal arts talent in the digital era.

The University Grants Committee (UGC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region presented the 2026 UGC Teaching Award to Prof Helen Geng Hongyan, Assistant Professor of Teaching of the Division of Science at Lingnan University. She received the award in the General Faculty Members category. The award recognises her student-centred, innovative teaching approach, which breaks through traditional boundaries between the arts and sciences, incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) and Service-Learning in science education, stimulates students’ interest in interdisciplinary learning, and demonstrates excellence in teaching.

Lingnan University and the Civil Service Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government jointly organised the first Government Career Fair on the Lingnan campus today (29 September), with 20 exhibition booths, bringing together over 15 government bureaux and departments — including the Digital Policy Office, the Education Bureau, disciplined services and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, totalling over 30 civil service grades. Recruitment activities were held alongside career talks, on-site interviews, and written examinations, helping students gain a deeper understanding of the career development opportunities available across different government grades.

New research identifies coastal regions at heightened risk of non-native marine species, including the eastern United States, Gulf of Mexico, coastlines bordering the North Sea, southeastern China and northern Australia.

New research investigated self-stigma among university students. They found that, over time, students with higher levels of mindfulness had lower self-stigma and fewer depressive symptoms.

The Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) held a ceremony on campus yesterday, 23 September, to confer the title of Senior Lingnan Scholar on Prof Meng Bingchun, a renowned scholar in media and communications, and Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), in recognition of her important academic contributions in the fields of media studies, communication governance, and digital culture. Her distinguished lecture, titled “The politics and poetics of AI: From great power competition to imaginaries of good life”, offered an in-depth analysis of the divergent artificial intelligence (AI) policies and development models of China and the US, explaining that this competition is not only a rivalry over “hard power” in data and computing capabilities, but also a contest between the two sides’ visions of good life.