Hong Kong

To celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year of the Snake, Prof Cai Zongqi, Director of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies of Lingnan University, and Mr Jerry Wang Junzhe, Research Officer of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies, searched the rich anecdotes related to the snake zodiac sign. They explained that while contemporary literature and religious stories often fuel fear of snakes, the symbolism in ancient Chinese mythology paints a different picture. Snakes were not only revered as tribal totems and royal symbols, but also regarded as emblems of health and good fortune.

Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning of Lingnan University in Hong Kong has been elected Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE) for the year 2024. The Induction Ceremony of the 11 new Fellows of the HKAE was held on 20 January 2025. Prof Yao has the distinction of being the third Lingnan scholar to receive this honour, following Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science, and Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), Acting Dean of the School of Data Science, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence.

Lingnan University’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS) and the Center of International Innovation for Technology and Science (CIITS), signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement at the InnoBay · Future Industry Forum——Shenzhen-Hong Kong Exchange Session (CIITS) in the Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone yesterday (16 January). Prof Chen Xi, Dean of SIS, and Mr Liu Renchen, Director of the CIITS, signed on behalf of both parties, injecting new momentum into promoting scientific and technological innovation cooperation.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong recently launched its inaugural seminar series “A Personal Perspective on Doing Good Research”. The series commenced with a seminar delivered by Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, entitled “Doing Research to the Best of and Bigger Than Yourself”. Organised by the School of Graduate Studies (GS), this monthly event will feature presentations from senior university management and leading scholars, offering a platform for academics to share valuable insights and experiences from their personal research. The series aims to encourage productive discussions on best research practices, and offers participants opportunities to engage with leading scholars within the university.

To promote Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education and enhance the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, Lingnan University in Hong Kong has organised a comprehensive four-day orientation programme for the first time ever specifically for the 147 inbound exchange students. These students, who come from 26 countries including China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, the UK, and the US, represent over 70 partner institutions from all over the world who will attend the spring term of the 2024/25 academic year. The number of inbound exchange students has increased by 122% compared to the previous spring term.

The mini air purifier PureAura, designed and developed by Lingnan University's Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative (LEI), has received the 2024 Good Design Award Best 100, regarded as the Oscars of Design in the East, and one the most influential design awards in the world alongside the iF Design Award, Red Dot Design Award, and IDEA Design Award. With its breakthrough design concept and practicality, PureAura has achieved a Grand Slam of prestigious design awards, and become the only innovative entry to win the highest honour from all four design awards at the same time.

To discover Hong Kong citizens' awareness and acceptance of gerontechnology, the Lingnan University Institute for Policy Studies’ Jockey Club Gerontechnology and Smart Ageing in Place (GTSA) Project recently held a public opinion survey. The results show that overall awareness of gerontechnology is on an upward trend, but 40% of respondents believe that current government subsidies for the purchase of gerontech products are insufficient, and 90% of respondents would like the government to expand the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme to cover the purchase of gerontech products.

On 12 December, Lingnan University hosted its biennial fundraising event, Kingrich Charitable Foundation presents: Lingnan University Gala Dinner 2024 for around 300 welcome guests. This year the theme was Lingnan’s Transformation into the Digital Era.

Lingnan University participated for the first time in the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong (AEII) held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5 to 6 December. Lingnan University won a total of three awards, including 1 Gold Medal and 2 Silver Medals, among more than 140 innovative projects from all over Asia.

At the Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony 2024 today (5 December), Lingnan University conferred two honorary degrees in recognition of outstanding professional achievements and valuable contributions to society. Renowned mathematician Prof Yau Shing-tung received a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, and distinguished structural biologist Prof Nieng Yan received a Doctor of Science, honoris causa.

Lingnan University held its 55th Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees today (28 November), presided over by Council Chairman Mr Andrew Yao Cho-fai and Deputy Council Chairman Mr Augustine Wong Ho-ming. This year the University conferred degrees on 3,068 graduates, of whom 770 were undergraduates, 2,242 masters, 52 doctors, and 124 postgraduate diploma holders. A hundred and twenty graduates were awarded both a Master of Accountancy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy.

Lingnan University will confer honorary doctoral degrees on two leading professors in recognition of their outstanding achievements and valuable contributions to humanity. They are renowned mathematician Prof Yau Shing-tung and distinguished structural biologist Prof Nieng Yan.

With the rapid development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), safety issues arising from the related technologies are gradually surfacing and have attracted widespread attention. The School of Data Science of Lingnan University organised the 2024 International Workshop on Risk and Governance of Generative Artificial Intelligence from 25 to 26 November at the Cordis, Hong Kong hotel, where AI experts and scholars from around the world met to explore through case studies in-depth, original solutions to the possible risks of GenAI.

Trusted, independent data analytics organisation Clarivate has included Lingnan University's Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning, and Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), Acting Dean of the School of Data Science, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence, on their latest list of Highly Cited Researchers 2024. The two scholars’ multiple frequently referenced papers ranking in the top 1 per cent by citations for their fields and publication year over the past decade have made a significant and wide-ranging impact.

A team of eight postgraduates led by Prof Dong Chengzu, Assistant Professor of Teaching of the Division of Artificial Intelligence, School of Data Science at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, won second prize in the zkWASM Hackathon held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8 to 10 November 2024.

With the global rise in electric vehicles’ popularity, the demand for lithium-ion batteries has surged, leading to a considerable increase in discarded batteries. The issue of how to efficiently use “retired” batteries has become urgent, and to address this Prof Tang Xiaopeng, Assistant Professor of the Science Unit at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, recently published a groundbreaking research paper titled "Lifespan-based Battery Classification towards Second-life Utilisation", which won the Best Paper Award at the prestigious 2024 IEEE 25th China Conference on System Simulation Technology and its Application (CCSSTA). It was one of only four papers out of 278 submissions to receive recognition.

Lingnan University hosted the QS Higher Education Post-Summit: Asia Pacific 2024 today (8 November) on its campus under the theme "Navigating Futures – Empowering Higher Education for Social and Sustainable Impact". This international education conference brought together about 400 leading academics and key stakeholders from universities in Hong Kong SAR, Mainland China, Australia, and Japan to consider the most pressing challenges and transformative opportunities facing higher education in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lingnan University welcomed Ms Wang Yuyan, Deputy Party Secretary, Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and her delegation on their visit to the Lingnan University campus in Tuen Mun on 4 November. 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), Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration), Associate Vice-Presidents and the University management met with the guests, and held a seminar, chaired by Prof S. Joe Qin, to explore closer cooperation in research and innovation, and expanding talent cultivation.

Lingnan University co-hosted the QS Higher Education Summit Asia Pacific 2024 from 5 to 7 November at the Macau University of Science and Technology, with the theme “Shifting Landscapes, Collaborative Solutions: Pioneering Innovation in Asia Pacific Higher Education”. The summit marks its 20th anniversary in 2024, and aims to forge valuable partnerships within the higher education sector. Attended by about 1,500 educators, leading thinkers and academics, the three-day summit held dynamic panel discussions on a wide range of pertinent issues, covering key topics such as leveraging the power of AI, fostering lifelong learning ecosystems, and navigating the unfolding higher education landscape.

In light of the Government’s recent Policy Address promoting Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education, and to build the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, Lingnan University gave its annual International Day on 29 October a “Cultural Fusion, Global Vision” theme. The event attracted about 500 faculty members and students for a lively celebration of diversity and cultural exchange.

Themed 'Forging Connections, Cultivating Talents', the opening ceremony for the 2024-25 Lingnan University Mentorship Programmes was held at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel on 26 October 2024. The following five mentorship initiatives have been in place for long, and were kicked off for 2024-25 en bloc: • Lingnan University Postgraduate Mentorship Programme • Lingnanian Executive Mentoring Programme • Lingnan University Banking & Finance Mentorship Programme • Lingnan University Insurance Mentoring and Scholarship Scheme • Police Mentorship Programme.

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) researchers have made a remarkable scientific breakthrough in developing next-generation passive radiative cooling technology. Their pioneering work on cooling ceramics, pavements and textiles helps mitigate heat impacts without additional energy consumption. This innovation has promising application potential in buildings, roads and clothing, addressing issues such as urban heat islands and greenhouse gas emissions to combat the challenges of climate change.

An innovative project titled "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Navigation, Control, and Communication Integration Technology and Application" (the project) and led by Prof Yuan Weijie, Assistant Professor (Presidential Early Career Scholar) of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies of Lingnan University has recently received the prestigious Platinum Award for Satellite Navigation and Positioning Innovation Application in 2024 from the GNSS and LBS Association of China. This great accolade recognises Prof Yuan’s valuable contribution to advancing technological innovation in China's satellite navigation and positioning service industry. By integrating communication, navigation, and control systems, the project’s comprehensive solution augments the efficiency and precision of UAV technology in the agriculture sector, and addresses critical technical challenges faced by UAVs in smart agriculture.

Twenty-nine Lingnan University scholars are listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists published in 2024 by US Stanford University. The annual rankings highlight leading scientists across a wide range of fields, based on their career-long citation impact or single-year citation impact in 2023. The recognition underscores the research excellence and academic strengths of Lingnan scholars, and the significant contributions they have made to both academia and society.

Lingnan University held the Honorary Fellowship Presentation Ceremony 2024 today (3 October). Mr Andrew Yao Cho-fai, Council Chairman of Lingnan University, conferred honorary fellowships upon two distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding professional achievements and valuable contributions to the community and the education sector.

Lingnan University held a flag-raising ceremony today (1 October) to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The ceremony took place at 10:30 am at the University’s Wing On Plaza. It was attended by Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, senior management, faculty and students, who all gathered to honour the occasion.

Lingnan University will confer two honorary fellowships on 3 October 2024 to recognise outstanding professional achievements and valuable contributions to the community and the education sector. The recipients are Ms Chiang Lai-ping, Agnes and Mr Augustine Lui Ngok-che.

To encourage the development of innovative and creative design in Hong Kong, Lingnan University partnered with the renowned German iF Design Award ⸻ often referred to as the Oscar of Design ⸻ to co-host the Meet iF in Hong Kong seminar today (24 September) at Lingnan@WestKowloon in the M+ Building in the West Kowloon Cultural District. This sharing seminar, its inaugural collaboration with the local higher education sector, is the first event the iF has held in Hong Kong and was attended by dozens of representatives of leading Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas companies. Among the attendees were Hong Kong’s 2024 iF Design Award winners, including esteemed local interior designers Ms Virginia Lung and Mr Andrew Lam, who spoke about their own distinctive design concepts and styles.

Lingnan University today (20 September) honoured the achievements of 46 faculty members at the Research and Knowledge Transfer Excellence Awards Presentation Ceremony 2024, recognising exceptional performances in academic research and knowledge transfer while highlighting the contributions of Lingnan staff in enhancing community quality of life and societal advancement.

A dedicated team of researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is pioneering cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies on a collaborative innovation network platform, aimed at transforming science, technology and innovation (STI) services to empower research and innovation. This innovative project is set to revolutionise the related service delivery by creating a secure GenAI model and digitally transforming processes, thereby facilitating research development and technology innovation, while enhancing data security and service efficiency.