In the footsteps of the Nobel Laureate: Lingnan launches the inaugural Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class

When bright young minds meet the legacy of a Nobel Laureate, extraordinary possibilities emerged. Fourteen exceptional undergraduates from eight countries and regions — ranging from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Chinese Mainland to Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, and the UK — have come to Lingnan University as the inaugural members of the Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class (CCT Class) for the 2026/27 academic year. Selected from high-achieving recipients of University Entrance Scholarships, these emerging talents attended the “Kick-off Ceremony of the Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class cum High Table Dinner” on the evening of 15 October, launching the inaugural CCT Class.

Named in honour of Nobel Laureate Prof Samuel C.C. Ting, Honorary Director of the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS), the CCT Class is far more than a badge of academic distinction. In addition to four-year full 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 initiative also embodies Lingnan’s deepest aspirations for nurturing the next generation of global visionaries.

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science, officiated at the ceremony to welcome the first cohort, and said he was honoured to receive Prof Wang Yifang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a former student of Prof Samuel C.C. Ting, to witness the launch of the inaugural CCT Class.

Describing the spirit of the initiative, President Qin said, “Named after Prof Samuel C.C. Ting, the programme, also embodies our aspiration for students to become research-oriented individuals with creative and critical thinking. Students from different academic backgrounds will receive AI training and explore the application of AI to research and to real-world problem-solving from the perspective of their respective disciplines. I encourage the members of this inaugural cohort to carry forward Prof Ting’s commitment to scientific exploration, stay curious, have the courage to innovate, and translate their knowledge into practical solutions that address societal challenges.”

Spanning a wide range of academic disciplines, from Animation and Digital Arts, Accounting and Corporate Governance, Business Analytics and Innovation, Cultural Studies, Data Science, Economics, Finance, Global Development and Sustainability, Government and International Affairs, Health and Social Services Management, to Marketing and Social Media, these 14 students represent Lingnan’s drive for interdisciplinary leadership in the digital age.

Prof Samuel C.C. Ting deliveres his first lecture to the students

Nobel Laureate in Physics Prof Samuel C.C. Ting, who is currently overseas, thanked President Qin for the invitation in a video address, and delivered his first lecture to the students. Sharing his years of experience in ground-based and space research experiments, Prof Ting recalled his involvement in a major US particle accelerator project that was eventually terminated due to management problems, prompting him to reconsider his future research direction. He then decided to take on a field in which he had “zero experience”, one that many people at the time considered impossible, and ventured into space research.

Prof Ting noted that neither he nor any of his collaborators had ever done anything in space, and that they had no relevant experience at the time. Starting from zero, the team worked on how to send a large scientific detector into space, eventually succeeding in sending the detector to the International Space Station to collect and analyse cosmic rays over an extended period. The experiment, known as the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), subsequently became a long-term space research programme.

Prior to the ceremony, the CCT Class participated in several exclusive events. During the briefing session in September, they met their classmates and mentors, and Prof Emilie Yeh, Associate Vice-President (Academics), Lam Wong Yiu Wah Chair Professor of Visual Studies, Head of the Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries, and Director of the Centre for Film and Creative Industries, explained the resources and expectations for students.

Attend an exclusive dialogue session with a leading scholar

Shortly afterwards, they attended an exclusive dialogue session with Prof Meng Bingchun, a leading scholar in media and communications and Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science, who was appointed a Senior Lingnan Scholar of LUIAS on 23 September. During the session, she shared her most important academic contributions in media studies, communication governance, and digital culture.

The students then took part in a leadership training day camp, developing their team-building abilities and honing the collaboration skills vital for future leaders.

As these 14 students embark on their transformative journey at Lingnan, the CCT Class stands as a testament to the University’s efforts to empower global talent and to align with the Government of the Hong Kong SAR’s promotion of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand. Inspired by Prof Ting’s spirit in starting from zero and exploring the unknown, the students in this inaugural cohort are poised to become tomorrow’s visionary leaders.

Premier resources for CCT Class students

• Full financial support:
  – 100% tuition support*
  – Guaranteed hostel place: fees covered for four years

• Global vision:
  – Funded international experience: HK$20,000 subsidy on top of standard support for extra exchanges or internships
  – Academic privileges: exclusive seminars, and interactions with globally renowned scholars

• Advanced credentials:
  – Global AI credential grant: support for professional certifications

• Elite research:
  – Priority access to faculty-led projects and research collaborations
  – Dedicated access to Lingnan University High-Performance Computing (HPC) NexT

• Career development and networking:
  – Personalised mentorship and a priority pathway to PhD admission
  – Exclusive events: Leadership trainings and academic high-table dinners

*Annual renewal requirement:
Maintain minimum academic standards (cGPA 3.0+)