PhD/MPhil in Government and International Affairs

Prof. CHAN Hin Yeung, Rami (2014 PhD Graduate)

Rami is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Science, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK). His research interests cover the politics of crisis management with special focus on the state-society interactions and the crisis-induced policymaking. He received funding from public and private sectors for projects on policy capacity, migration politics and urban development, such as expatiates’ and overseas returnees’ migration plans in Hong Kong and historical research on transportation and infrastructures. He served as the Vice-President of the Hong Kong Political Science Association (2018-20) and is currently the President of the Australian Football League Hong Kong, China and the Vice-President of the Tea Education Association of Hong Kong. For more information, please refer to: https://www.hsu.edu.hk/en/teaching-learning/academic-staff/?staffId=231. 

“I am deeply grateful to Lingnan University for the invaluable support I received during my PhD journey. The full studentship and hostel tutorship provided me with the necessary resources to focus on my studies and thrive on campus. I would especially like to thank my thesis chief supervisor, Prof. Y. C. Wong, former Head of the Department and Associate Vice-President (Academic Affairs), for his exceptional guidance and assistance. He granted me the freedom and autonomy to explore my research topics, and his extensive network among political actors in Hong Kong was instrumental in my study.

The training I received at Lingnan, particularly in teaching tutorial sessions and participating in various departmental and faculty-level committees, enriched my understanding of higher education administration and has greatly benefited my academic career. Additionally, the conference scholarship enabled me to present my paper overseas, leading to an SSCI journal publication before graduation.

I am also thankful for the approachable and supportive professors within the Faculty of Social Sciences, who contributed significantly to my development. These experiences culminated in receiving a full-time faculty position at a local university before completing my studies, for which I am immensely grateful.”

Prof. XIA Shouzhi (2022 PhD Graduate)

Shouzhi is currently a Lecturer (equivalent to an Assistant Professor) at the School of Political Science and Public Administration, Wuhan University, China. His research interests cover media & politics, public opinion, Chinese politics and computational social science. His work has appeared in prestigious journals, such as Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, Political Behavior, Political Research Quarterly, and The China Quarterly. For more information, please refer to: https://www.pspa.whu.edu.cn/info/1161/9092.htm.

“Since the departments at Lingnan are relatively small in scale, research-based postgraduate programs are able to provide students with an interdisciplinary learning environment. Thanks to this environment, I was able to delve deeply into methodological courses, such as applied econometrics, and continuously explore interdisciplinary topics in my research.

My advisors, Prof. Shalendra Sharma and Prof. Dong Zhang (now at HKUST), provided tremendous support throughout my PhD studies. Their guidance was not confined to specific research topics; rather, they encouraged me to explore research questions freely. However, when it comes to building a solid foundation in research methodology and theoretical knowledge, they offered concrete and insightful guidance, which has been greatly beneficial to my academic career in the long run.”

CHEN Lisha, Lisa 

PhD student in Government and International Affairs (since September 2021)

Lisha is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Government and International Affairs, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, where she also obtained her MA degree. Lisha’s research articles have appeared in prestigious journals, such as The Pacific Review, The Chinese Journal of International Politics, and Journal of Contemporary China.

“I am grateful for the caring and encouraging atmosphere I have experienced during my MA and Ph.D. studies at the Department of Government and International Affairs (GOV). I owe a profound debt of gratitude to my chief supervisor, Zhang Baohui, whose delicate guidance, and encouragement have been pivotal in my academic journey. His insightful comments, constructive criticism, and constant support have pushed me to strive for excellence and have been instrumental in the most pertinent research topic in international relations. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to my co-supervisor, SHARMA Shalendra, for his invaluable suggestions and guidance to my research. 

Additionally, I want to thank the GOV for awarding me the Graduate Associateship to enable another year of Ph.D. study. This financial support allowed me to dedicate myself fully to my studies and make meaningful progress in my dissertation. I appreciate the GOV for providing the findings that made it possible for me to participate in prestigious international conferences, such as the ISA’s 66th Annual Convention (Mar 2025) in Chicago, USA, and the ISA Asia-Pacific Regional Conference 2023 in Tokyo. It has been incredibly beneficial to present my research and network with academics from around the globe. 

For the incredible support and opportunities that have shaped my academic growth at the GOV, I am extremely thankful.”