Lingnan University hosts Lingnan University Forum 2026 - over 170,000 views on the first day

From 24 to 25 March 2026, Lingnan University hosted the Lingnan University Forum 2026 themed “AI for Education – Discover World-Class Quality Education”. Livestreamed across multiple platforms, the Forum attracted over 170,000 views on the first day. More than 30 principals, education administrators, and academic experts from 15 cities across 10 provinces, including Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Jilin, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan, and Zhejiang came to Lingnan University to exchange views on educational innovation in this age of artificial intelligence, and future talent development.

President Qin describes AI as an “Intellectual Revolution”

On the first day of the Forum, Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, delivered a speech outlining Lingnan’s educational vision in the AI era. He said that from ChatGPT and DeepSeek to Gemini and OpenClaw, artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly from conversation-based systems to intelligent agents, reshaping higher education worldwide. Lingnan sees this transformation as a profound “intellectual revolution”.

Prof Qin observed “AI is increasingly shifting people from routine knowledge transfer toward higher-level knowledge creation. As repetitive cognitive work is increasingly taken over by machines, scholars and students must shift from being ‘carriers’ of knowledge to becoming ‘builders’ of knowledge. Education’s mission must also move away from static knowledge transmission toward inspiring thinking and cultivating judgement.”

Four strategic directions for liberal arts education in the AI era

The President added that Lingnan is advancing the digital transformation of higher education, and becoming a liberal arts research university comprehensive in arts and sciences in the digital era. He outlined the University’s development strategy in four key areas:

First, Lingnan is driving innovation in AI-enabled teaching. Since 2023, the University has provided free access to AI tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, established high-performance computing facilities to help with teaching and research, and developed generative AI assessment systems to promote effective human-AI collaboration. Through the IDEAL-Gen.AI platform, teachers are also supported by an AI lesson-planning assistant that helps them respond to the evolving demands of teaching in the digital era.

Second, Lingnan is strengthening the human capabilities that AI cannot replace. Prof Qin said that as AI becomes increasingly capable of handling tasks such as data processing and basic programming, education must return to the core human qualities that AI cannot replace. The University is therefore increasing courses related to critical reasoning and discernment, helping students examine the logic and biases of AI while stressing more advanced critical thinking. By residential education and service-learning, students are also encouraged to engage with communities, tackle real-world issues through interdisciplinary approaches, and develop resilience, insight, and social responsibility.

Third, Lingnan is building a future-orientated academic ecosystem. By phasing out outdated courses, establishing new schools, and introducing cutting-edge programmes, the University is reorganising its academic structure to improve students’ digital literacy and competitiveness in the digital economy. Establishing the School of Data Science is just one way in which Lingnan is integrating the liberal arts and science to give interdisciplinary talent both technical expertise and a broad humanistic outlook.

Fourth, Lingnan continues to uphold a strong value-based approach by grounding innovation in ethics and culture. Building on the strengths of its liberal arts tradition, the University is exploring how AI can empower the humanities. The Department of Philosophy, for example, offers courses such as AI Ethics and Social Policy, which examine issues such as machine consciousness and algorithmic fairness.

Education leaders share views on AI and future learning

Representatives from leading secondary schools also made observations on educational change in the AI era:

Mr Peng Yazhong from Hubei Wuchang Experimental High School noted that educators need to be able to show students how to use AI effectively, and understand the logic behind AI-generated answers.

Ms Liu Lijun, the Party Secretary of the High School attached to Northeast Normal University, said that students today need both practical skills and to be able to adapt to change. She added that Lingnan’s integration of the arts and sciences, together with its liberal arts education, demonstrate both the spirit and insight of education.

Mr Hu Qingsheng, Vice-Principal of Shimen Senior High School, said that although AI is strong in repetition and execution, human qualities such as creativity and empathy are becoming ever more valuable, and he is impressed by Lingnan’s efforts to integrate AI with education while remaining firmly committed to a liberal arts education.

The Forum showcased Lingnan’s latest educational thinking in the AI era. On the first day, representatives from five faculties discussed AI and humanities education, digital business talent development, innovation in social science research methods, and interdisciplinary education, and students took part in an interactive sharing session. There were also interactive workshops on AI-integrated teaching observations, allowing guests to experience Lingnan’s digital campus first-hand.

The second day focused on student support and development. Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, and Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning, gave keynote presentations, and the Offices of Global Education, Student Affairs, and Service-Learning explained Lingnan’s fresh new initiatives in internationalisation, student support, social engagement, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as student growth and career development.

At the end of the Forum, guests visited Lingnan@West Kowloon, the University’s off-campus learning centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Located in the M+ Tower, it integrates the arts, humanities, and urban cultural resources, offering students an exclusive space for learning and creative exchanges.

Lingnan records a series of achievements

In 2025, the University achieved a number of notable “Firsts” and “Onlys” in Hong Kong. In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, Lingnan ranked No. 1 worldwide for SDG 4: Quality Education. Lingnan also established the UNU Hub on Humanitarian Innovation and Technology at Lingnan University (UNU Hub at Lingnan University), making it the first higher education institution in Asia to set up a UNU Hub. And in the first round of JUPAS 2026 applications, Lingnan recorded a 20.2 per cent increase in Band A applications, the highest growth among Hong Kong’s eight UGC-funded universities for the third consecutive year.

Applications for Lingnan University’s 2026/27 undergraduate admissions for Mainland students are now open. Final-year Gaokao candidates and students with international qualifications are welcome to apply through the University’s official website.