About 3,600 students at Lingnan University Postgraduate Orientation 2025 – a record high

The School of Graduate Studies (GS) of Lingnan University hosted the “Empower Your Future” Lingnan Postgraduate Orientation 2025 today, 28 August, welcoming about 3,600 new postgraduate students for the 2025/26 academic year, the highest number ever recorded. The cohort includes students from the Hong Kong SAR, Macau, Mainland China, Canada, France, Portugal, Switzerland, the US, Vanuatu, Ghana, and Cameroon enrolled in taught master’s, doctoral, and MPhil/PhD programmes.

Lingnan senior management officiating at the ceremony included Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science; Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration); 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; Prof Li Donghui, Associate Vice-President (Experiential Learning Projects); and Prof Bradley R. Barnes, Special Advisor to President on Internationalisation and Director of Global Education.

In his opening remarks, President Qin welcomed students to Lingnan, which is rapidly transforming into a liberal arts research university comprehensive in arts and sciences for the digital age. He highlighted some significant milestones that Lingnan has achieved recently:

(1). In the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, Lingnan ranks No. 1 in the world for Quality Education (SDG 4), making it the first university in Hong Kong to top any United Nations SDGs in this ranking. This global recognition highlights how we teach, support our students, and contribute to society through inclusive and sustainable education.

(2). Lingnan ranks No. 1 in Hong Kong for No Poverty (SDG 1) in the THE Impact Rankings 2025. This reflects our efforts to remove financial barriers, tackle youth poverty, and enhance job security, ensuring that education uplifts individuals and communities alike.

(3). In the latest triannual University Accountability Agreement reviewed by University Grants Committee (UGC), Lingnan secured No. 1 among Hong Kong’s public universities in two key performance indicators, undergraduate satisfaction with teaching and learning, and student involvement in startups and entrepreneurship.

(4). Lingnan has recently established the United Nation University Hub on Humanitarian Innovation and Technology at Lingnan University (UNU Hub at Lingnan University), making us the first higher education institution in Asia to set up a UNU Hub.

(5). Lingnan students and researchers have achieved numerous accomplishments on the global stage. At its debut at the 11th Silicon Valley International Inventions Festival (SVIIF), Lingnan earned the highest number of medals and gold medals among Hong Kong universities, as well as a special prize from the International Federation of Inventors Association (IFIA). At the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2025, we won five awards, including the Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury for our BLOOM Baby Incubator. Additionally, our Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative (LEI) office guided students in developing a mini air purifier PureAura specifically designed for subdivided homes, which has received 14 international design awards—including four grand slams—a first ever by universities in Hong Kong.

(6). In the 2025-26 funding exercise carried out by the Research Grants Council, covering General Research Fund (GRF)/ Early Career Scheme (ECS), Lingnan has the largest increase among all Hong Kong universities, a 26 per cent increase in funded projects and a 22 per cent boost in total research funding.

President Qin further remarked: “At Lingnan, you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds. In the 2024 rankings, 17 per cent of our professors are recognised among the World’s Top 2% Scholars by Stanford University. These scholars are the ones who inspire and guide you, opening doors to opportunities here and around the world. I encourage you to make the most of these resources, develop your strengths, and strive for excellence.”

Prof Xin Yao encouraged students to integrate research into their daily lives and emphasised the importance of pursuing topics aligned with their interests and passions to remain motivated and inspired. He noted that AI already permeates everyday life, from reading the news to ordering food online, where recommendation algorithms subtly influence user experiences. Recognising this, Lingnan has taken the lead in embedding AI across disciplines to improve students’ research experiences and stimulate innovative thinking. He also reminded students to uphold AI ethics in their work, and to reflect on the broader societal implications of technology.

Introducing the School of Graduate Studies (GS), Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu stressed the University’s commitment to nurturing responsible, innovative, and globally minded leaders. He highlighted the active support available to students, including academic advice, interdisciplinary research opportunities, and tailored career development services to enhance their overall learning experience. This year, GS is launching an updated Learning Enhancement and Aspiration Pathways (GS LEAP) programme, offering academic writing workshops, Cantonese language classes, volunteer services, and cultural excursions, and Prof Kwong encouraged students to participate in these activities, saying “Through GS LEAP, you will not only develop new skills and build networks, but also create memorable experiences that will enrich both your academic and personal journeys.”

After the Welcome Ceremony, Informative Sharing Sessions were held to give students essential information on how to maximise learning opportunities and navigate campus life.

To assist overseas students to adapt to Hong Kong and to extend a warm welcome to new postgraduate students, the GS organised a big inaugural Campus Carnival, which was divided into two parts - “Learning at Lingnan” and “Living in Hong Kong”, with stands from internal departments and external organisations, as well as interesting photo installations. A Campus Stamp Hunt allowed students to explore the campus and get to know their new surroundings, and this popular event gave them a comprehensive overview of Lingnan’s excellent support services, stimulating cultural integration, and creating great networking opportunities. It also showed students where to find valuable resources, and the local services that will enrich their experiences in the city.

During the Campus Carnival, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Hong Kong Police Force spoke to the students, and an anti-scam promotional truck was on site to explain scam prevention strategies. Recent collaborations with the Tuen Mun Police Community Relations Office have resulted in a drop of over 50 per cent in reported fraud compared with the same period last year. As the new academic year begins, Lingnan continues to expand anti-deception education on campus, adding anti-fraud learning kits and questionnaires to all new students’ registrations, showing police promotional videos, and hosting the anti-scam promotional truck on campus. This helps students to be on their guard against scams, and provides a safer learning environment.