The second Lingnan–Yuanpei STEM Summer Academy at Peking University

The second Lingnan–Yuanpei STEM Summer Academy (LYSSA), jointly organised by Lingnan University and the Yuanpei College (Yuanpei) of Peking University (PKU), began its intensive training and competition phase on 4 July 2025 at Yuanpei. More than 60 experts, mentors, and students from both institutions participated on- and offline in the opening ceremony, celebrating this interdisciplinary initiative championing technological innovation and youth development. LYSSA supports the two universities’ shared values of a liberal arts education and inclusiveness, and has built a collaborative innovation platform that encourages young people in Hong Kong and Beijing to turn creative ideas into practical solutions for social issues. The programme seeks to educate future leaders and equip them not only with technological expertise, but also a strong sense of social responsibility and humanistic care.

At the opening ceremony, leaders from both institutions welcomed the students, and Prof Li Meng, Dean of Yuanpei College of PKU, expressed his hope that the Summer Academy will strengthen the collaboration between the two universities and promote interdisciplinary exploration and new approaches to education. He encouraged students to form lasting friendships and build a future-oriented creative community of young people capable of tackling contemporary challenges, and ended by wishing the Academy every success.

Prof Li Donghui, Associate Vice-President (Experiential Learning Projects) of Lingnan University, pointed out in her address how today’s technological advancements - from AI to big data - are reshaping the world and opening up new opportunities for young people. She noted that the original intention of the collaboration was to create a bridge for exploration, innovation, and practical application, and urged students to go beyond the technical aspects and think about the social and human dimensions behind technology, with the aim of addressing social challenges and promoting sustainable development. Prof Li also thanked the dedicated administrative teams from both universities for their great efforts in organising the programme.

The delightful opening ceremony embodied LYSSA’s interdisciplinary and innovative spirit, and the organisers presenting the core features of this year’s programme, explained that in addition to STEM and entrepreneurship training, students will also study project management, business marketing, and interpersonal communication. There was also a recap of achievements from the inaugural LYSSA in 2024, when multiple student projects achieved major breakthroughs in both technological innovation and commercial application - a testament to the success of the Lingnan–Yuanpei collaboration.

Looking ahead, both Lingnan and Yuanpei plan to develop LYSSA into a permanent platform for digital-era talent. The programme is expected to alternate annually between Hong Kong and Beijing, further promoting cross-cultural and academic exchange between the students and faculties of both regions.

About the Lingnan–Yuanpei STEM Summer Academy

LYSSA has two main phases: the first, held from April to June 2025, consisted of the opening session, pre-camp workshops, and one-on-one mentoring. This opening ceremony marks the beginning of the second phase, comprising a seven-day Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Camp as well as a STEM competition in early July.

The programme has aroused intense interest, with 35 outstanding students from both institutions selected out of 160 applicants after a rigorous screening process. They come from diverse academic backgrounds, including artificial intelligence, data science, psychology, medicine, and philosophy.

During the first phase, leading professors and scholars from PKU, Lingnan University’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS), Faculty of Business, and the Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative (LEI) conducted lectures and seminars, giving the students a deeper understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhancing their project-specific skills. Students were able to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application, and transform creative ideas into actionable entrepreneurial projects, and potentially marketable products and services.

In the second phase, students from both universities will take part in immersive workshops and go out on field visits, and under the mentorship of experienced instructors, seasoned entrepreneurs, and leading scientists, they will prepare viable business plans. The programme concludes with a STEM competition, where the winning teams receive cash prizes and recommendations for seed funding and incubation opportunities to support their entrepreneurial goals.