Lingnan University and the University of Science and Technology of China sign MoU to increase research collaboration and talent exchange

9 Jan 2026

Lingnan University sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Front row, first from left: Prof Wang Yuming, Vice President and Chair Professor of USTC; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning. Back row, first from left: Ms Xu Junmei, Director of the Comprehensive Affairs Office of the Office of International Cooperation of USTC; Prof Chen Huanhuan, Vice Dean of the School of Excellent Engineers; Prof Wang Chen, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Affairs Office; Prof Wu Xiaojun, Director of the Academic Affairs Office of USTC; Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University; 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 at Lingnan University; Prof Yan Aihua, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Business; Prof Liu Jialin, Associate Professor of the School of Data Science.

Lingnan University sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Front row, first from left: Prof Wang Yuming, Vice President and Chair Professor of USTC; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning. Back row, first from left: Ms Xu Junmei, Director of the Comprehensive Affairs Office of the Office of International Cooperation of USTC; Prof Chen Huanhuan, Vice Dean of the School of Excellent Engineers; Prof Wang Chen, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Affairs Office; Prof Wu Xiaojun, Director of the Academic Affairs Office of USTC; Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University; 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 at Lingnan University; Prof Yan Aihua, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Business; Prof Liu Jialin, Associate Professor of the School of Data Science.

USTC representatives visit Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative.

USTC representatives visit Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Lingnan University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), a leading institution in the Chinese Mainland, officially establishing a partnership between the two universities. Their wide-ranging collaboration includes talent cultivation, research innovation, and academic exchanges, and will inject a new momentum into higher education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The signing ceremony was held on 9 January on the Lingnan campus, when a delegation led by Prof Wang Yuming, Vice President and Chair Professor of USTC, came to Lingnan for in-depth discussions with Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; 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 at Lingnan University; and other members of the management.

 

Prof Xin Yao and Prof Wang Yuming signed the MoU on behalf of the two universities, witnessed by representatives from both institutions. Cooperation will be increased in six key spheres: student exchange programmes, faculty and staff exchanges, cultural activities, research coordination, shared training, and short-term training programmes. In future, the two universities will use their disciplinary strengths and institutional characteristics to encourage the integration of talent cultivation, scientific research, and cultural exchange, share resources and complementary advantages, and jointly drive innovation and development in pioneering sectors such as artificial intelligence and big data.

 

After the ceremony, the representatives discussed how to work together and to integrate resources, expressing high expectations and confidence in future cooperation. President Qin said “Lingnan University is committed to developing a leading liberal arts research university comprehensive in arts and sciences in the digital era. In recent years, the University has gained international recognition for its digital transformation and excellent teaching, and its influence is growing continuously. We are honoured to establish this partnership with USTC, and look forward to the opportunity to share resources and other advantages in student and faculty exchanges, research coordination, and talent cultivation, and together inject a new vitality into higher education and innovation in the Greater Bay Area and the whole country.”

 

Prof Wang Yuming, Vice President and Chair Professor of USTC, expressed his thanks to President Qin and Lingnan’s management for their warm hospitality, and said “USTC has always placed great emphasis on collaboration and exchange with universities in Hong Kong. An internationally renowned liberal arts institution, Lingnan University has a firm academic foundation in the humanities, social sciences, and business disciplines. In recent years, it has also made rapid and considerable progress in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and big data. This MoU will enable active association between the two universities within a very good framework, and open the door to complementary strengths and synergistic innovation. USTC looks forward to practical cooperation in talent cultivation, interdisciplinary development, research breakthroughs, and academic exchanges.”

 

The USTC delegation toured the Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative and the Office of Service-Learning, gaining a deeper understanding of Lingnan’s developments and achievements in Humanitarian Technology.

 

Also visiting were Prof Wu Xiaojun, Director of the Academic Affairs Office of USTC; Prof Chen Huanhuan, Vice Dean of the School of Excellent  Engineers; Prof Wang Chen, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Affairs Office; and Ms Xu Junmei, Director of the Comprehensive Affairs Office of the Office of International Cooperation. Lingnan representatives included Prof Liu Jialin, Associate Professor of the School of Data Science; Prof Yan Aihua, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Business; and Ms Shen Tingting, Head of the Office of National Engagement.