Hong Kong

The launch ceremony for the Lingnan-Yuanpei STEM Summer Academy (LYSSA), jointly organised by Lingnan University and Yuanpei College (Yuanpei) of Peking University (PKU), was held recently on the Lingnan campus. Over 50 experts, project advisors and students from both universities attended in person or virtually. A hub cultivating Hong Kong’s and Beijing’s innovative and entrepreneurial talents, LYSSA encourages students from both universities to transform their creative ideas into grant-winning business plans. At the same time, they are expected to acquire liberal arts qualities and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Academic, clinical and industry partners signed several MoUs with City University of Hong Kong at a special ceremony on 24 April to mark the establishment of the CityUHK Institute of Digital Medicine (IDM).

Oxygen is vital for both human and marine life survival. A few years ago, Dr Ng Chi-on, a graduate of the Department of Chemistry at City University of Hong Kong (CityU), together with his team, developed a new type of photo-sensor that can effectively monitor oxygen concentration in seawater and reduce the monitoring cost. The team subsequently established a start-up company, called “NerOcean”. In collaboration with government departments such as the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, NerOcean tested the sensors in five to six marine zones, aiming to develop a marine surveillance network – “Nerve of the Ocean” – in the long run upon mass production of the sensors. This is expected to result in a breakthrough in sustainable marine environment monitoring and fisheries production management.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong has participated in the two-day QS China Summit 2024 from 17 to 18 April in Shanghai to explore how universities can contribute to China’s global leadership in higher education. The main theme of the summit is “Remaining Distinct in Global Higher Ed: China’s Place in the New World of Education”. As part of efforts to strengthen Lingnan’s international visibility, the University hosted a President Panel Discussion titled "Fostering Distinction in Chinese Higher Education Through Digital Innovation". The Panel provided an exceptional platform for discussions on Chinese higher education within the rapidly evolving field of digital innovation.

The Department of Psychology of Lingnan University and the Department of Psychology of Renmin University of China (RUC) signed a new five-year cooperation agreement on 11 April 2024, marking the start of a fresh chapter. The agreement covers teaching exchanges, research collaboration, and professional development, and includes a sub-agreement on the Master's Degree Student Exchange Programme. The agreement will promote academic exchanges between the two departments, and further strengthen their partnership.

Algae, a kind of organism commonly found on the water surface, is a highly efficient carbon absorbent, which can capture more carbon dioxide (CO2) than trees. Alcarbo Technologies Limited (Alcarbo) is a biotechnology company incubated by the Seed Fund and Angel Fund of City University of Hong Kong (CityU)’s HK Tech 300. It cultivates microalgae using genetic mutation technology and uses its self-developed “photobioreactor system” (PBRs) and nanobubble technology to enhance the carbon capture capacity of microalgae. This allows microalgae to capture about 68 times the amount of CO2 of an equivalent area of ​​forest, making them “Super Carbon Capture” species.

Lingnan University’s Teaching and Learning Centre held its annual “Inno-GBA: Empowering education with Generative Artificial Intelligence tools” from 16 to 19 April. The four-day event examined the latest Generative AI (GAI) tools for teaching and learning in higher education, and sophisticated state-of-the-art GAI tools to facilitate academic research and student learning, and assist jobseekers. The first day of the event, which was conducted in hybrid mode, over 200 people came to hear leading professors from the main universities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and industry experts from high-tech companies speak.

To encourage students to develop interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary skills, Lingnan University held its first-ever Business Case Competition (LUBCC) on 13 April. The competition received strong support from six leading organisations from the government, and the business and charity sectors: the Regional Crime Prevention Office, New Territories North, Hong Kong Police Force (RCPO), Alibaba Cloud, Silence Limited, the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), Vitasoy International Holdings Limited (Vitasoy), and the Wai Yuen Tong Medicine Company Limited. Seventy-one teams of 284 Lingnan students from different academic backgrounds entered the competition.

The delegation from the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR visited Lingnan University yesterday (8 April). Counsellor Wang Jian, Director-General of the International Department, delivered a lecture titled "Current International Situation and China’s Diplomacy". Attended by over 100 students and faculty members, the lecture provided a comprehensive analysis of the unprecedented global changes of our time and discussed the four key aspects of China's diplomacy, including its core objectives, basic principles, significant focal points, and cooperative platforms.

Lingnan University's Department of Psychology was honoured to host delegations from Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai (BNU Zhuhai) and East China Normal University (ECNU) for a series of enriching visits and academic exchanges. These visits were a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing between the institutions.

"LU Jockey Club Health and Financial Education Programme for Elderly", organised by Institute of Policy Studies of Lingnan University and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was awarded the IFEA (Teaching – School Division) Silver Award by Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), making it the only university in Hong Kong to be selected as one of the top three winners. The respective Assessment Committees are comprised of government representatives, IFEC Board members, and industry experts, recognising Lingnan University’s efforts to advance investor and financial education by improving the elderly’s health and financial literacy, and sharing best practices in investor and financial education projects. The Honourable Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, GBM, GBS, MH, JP, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, presented an award to Lingnan University representative, Vice-President Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho yesterday (13 March).

Lingnan University, the Tuen Mun District Office of Home Affairs Department, and the Tuen Mun District Youth Development and Civic Education Committee hosted an experiential event called "A Day at University" on Lingnan campus on 9 March 2024. There were STEAM education workshops for over 110 students from 15 primary schools in Tuen Mun. The event has been held for 10 years, but incorporated STEAM elements for the first time this year, aligning with the Government's promotion of STEAM education and raising awareness among students of sustainable development concepts, particularly in light of the upcoming Municipal Solid Waste Charging in August.

The Council of Lingnan University, in consultation with the Court, approved the appointment of Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu as the Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost of Lingnan University for a term of five years, effective from 1 June 2024. As one of the world-renowned scholars recruited by the University’s recent “Lingnan-60 Global Talent Recruitment”, Prof Chan is appointed concurrently as Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, and will take the lead on the University’s strategic development on academic education and oversee the academic operations of the University, including the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Business and the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. He will also oversee faculty affairs including recruiting, developing, and retention, and a number of academic support units, including the Office of Service-Learning (OSL), Lingnan Institute of Further Education (LIFE), the Library and the Information Technology Services Centre (ITSC) as well as the Office of Global Education (OGE) and the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) via the Associate Vice-President (Academic Quality Assurance and Internationalisation).

Lingnan University held a Chinese New Year media reception today (27 February) at its Tuen Mun campus, where Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, together with Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation), who joined Lingnan in January; Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategy Research); Prof Lau Chi-pang, Associate Vice-President (Academic Affairs and External Relations); and Ms Margaret Cheung Wai-fong, Registrar, shared the latest developments of the University with the media.

To strengthen collaborative ties with prestigious institutions on the mainland, Lingnan University recently welcomed a delegation from Zhejiang University. The delegation, consisting of 31 outstanding students participating in the Morningside Cultural China Scholars Programme, along with three accompanying teachers, engaged with Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, who also delivered a keynote address titled "The Emerging Era of Data Science and AI".

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) shone once again in the 2023 rankings of the top 100 universities granted US utility patents, according to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). CityU was ranked 43rd in the world and for the 8th consecutive year, was ranked first among local institutions.

Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Vice-President and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies of Lingnan University, presented at the Centre for Global Higher Education's (CGHE) Annual Conference 2024 at the Institute of Education, University College London, United Kingdom. The conference, which was titled "The Future of Higher Education", brought together scholars and researchers from around the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing higher education in the 21st century.

Lingnan University held its Staff Communication Day and Staff Party 2024 yesterday (15 February), where around 700 faculty members and staff gathered to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. This was the first university-wide event of its kind since Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University took office last year, connecting with all faculty members and staff and sharing the latest developments at the University.

In collaboration with other universities and incubators in the region, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) launched the "HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia Start-up Competition" (HK Tech 300 SEA Competition) in Kuala Lumpur in May 2023. Since then, it has attracted over 100 participating start-ups from seven countries and cities in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies recently hosted an Alumni Gathering & Networking event in Shenzhen, attended by over 80 professors, faculty members, alumni, and students from the Doctor of Policy Studies Programme, the MSocSc in Organisational Psychology and Education Management Programme, and the MA in International Higher Education and Management Programme. The event was held in Shenzhen so as to create a closer connection between alumni from different fields in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and to strengthen their bond with Lingnan University.

To further expand Lingnan University's international network and consolidate its leading position in academic research, Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, embarked on a two-week visit to the US. During this visit, he engaged in discussions with various prestigious institutions to explore international academic collaboration, aiming to provide students with additional global learning prospects. As the Year of the Dragon is around the corner, President Qin also gathered with Lingnan alumni in the US, fostering connections and leveraging the collective strength of shared experiences to enhance global alumni relationships.

Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies’ Master of Arts in China and Regional Studies Programme and Kyung Hee University in Korea recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote inter-university cooperation.

Lingnan University is honoured to receive a generous donation of HK$3.88 million from the Lingnan Education Organization (LEO) to support the commencement of the two-year LingArt Programme on the Promotion & Inheritance of Chinese Culture (LingArt Programme). It aims to promote Chinese culture and show its grandeur and uniqueness through a series of cultural and artistic activities, so as to foster a deeper understanding of the rich and diverse heritage of China in both local and international students, as well as to nurture a sense of national belonging in local students.

Lingnan University’s Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies (AIGCS) will launch a new series of How to Read Chinese Poetry, on 1 March 2024. This knowledge transfer project promotes Chinese literature and culture globally, narrating Chinese stories through poetry. The new programme is presented in three series: “Chinese Videos: Sounds of Tang Poetry”, “English Videos: From the Book of Poetry to Qing Dynasty Poetry”, and “Chinese Videos: From the Book of Poetry to Qing Dynasty Poetry”. The first two series were released in 2023, and have been viewed two million times.

To strengthen connections with alumni and showcase the university's rich history and accomplishments, Lingnan University in Hong Kong has initiated a series of alumni interview activities. The first session, led by Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, featured a conversation with distinguished alumnus and renowned economist Prof Gregory Chow Chi-chong in the US.

Lingnan University held the kick-off ceremony for the 2nd Postgraduate Mentorship Programme on campus today (20 January). About 200 postgraduate students and mentors attended the event, which helps graduating students navigate employment challenges in Hong Kong's rapidly evolving and competitive environment. The programme shows mainland Chinese and overseas non-local students how to adapt strategically to Hong Kong's culture, make smart career choices, and unleash their full potential in the job market.

Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies recently invited Dr Miguel Antonio Lim, Senior Lecturer in Education and Research Excellence Framework (REF) coordinator at the Manchester Institute of Education, to deliver a thought-provoking presentation on “Ethical Internationalisation in Higher Education and the Need for Understanding ‘South-to-South’ Student Mobility” at a seminar. Dr Lim is well-known for his extensive research in international and transnational higher education.

The Council of Lingnan University approved the Search Committee’s recommendation to appoint Prof Yao Xin as Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and concurrently Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning, effective from 22 January 2024, for a term of five years. Prof Yao is also appointed as Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning and will oversee and steer the development of research, innovation and knowledge transfer at the University, and provide leadership for the research institutes and centres with the Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research). He will oversee the School of Graduate Studies and the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer directly.

Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence of Lingnan University, co-authored the research paper that has received the Best Paper, Chester W. Sall Memorial Awards 2024 from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world's largest technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. This honour was published in their monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal “IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics”. Only three Best Paper Awards are given each year, and the competition is extremely fierce.

The topping-out ceremony for Lingnan Hub, Lingnan University’s first comprehensive building offering shared living space for teachers and students, took place today (5 January). The ceremony was officiated by Mr Andrew Yao Cho-fai, Council Chairman of Lingnan University; Mr Augustine Wong Ho-ming, Deputy Chairman of the Council; Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay, Council Treasurer; Dr Patrick Wong Chi-kwong, Chairman of the Court of Lingnan University; and Prof. S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University. The event was also attended by distinguished guests, faculty, staff and students. The construction of Lingnan Hub began in February 2022 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, after approximately three years of construction. Interior work has already commenced, and Lingnan Hub is anticipated to officially open in the academic year 2024/25.