Lingnan University’s Staff Communication Day and Staff Party 2026 honours outstanding contributions and long service

Lingnan University held its Staff Communication Day and Staff Party 2026 on 24 April. This event aims to strengthen connections between staff in different departments and units, explain the University’s latest development vision, and foster a supportive work environment with a strong sense of belonging. The University also presented the Dr and Mrs James Tak Wu Awards for Outstanding Service 2025-26, recognising 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, and Ms Margaret Cheung, Registrar, for their outstanding dedication to the University and community service. More than forty long-serving staff members were also specially commended for their long service with  the University.

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, said in his welcome address “Lingnan University achieved a total of 22 ‘Hong Kong SAR First’ and ‘Hong Kong SAR Only’ distinctions in 2025. What is most encouraging for our community is being ranked first globally for UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Quality Education in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025. This is international recognition of the University’s overall teaching and research strengths and whole-person education, affirming the contributions of all staff to consolidating Lingnan’s position as a leading research-oriented liberal arts university, comprehensive in arts and sciences, in the digital era.”

President Qin encouraged the Lingnan community to actively pursue academic excellence by embracing four key areas of integration: uniting the arts and sciences, blending traditional and digital approaches, combining Lingnan’s rich history with a forward-looking education framework, and setting up links with the Chinese Mainland and the global community. By upgrading campus facilities and resources, the University will further strengthen its capabilities in teaching and learning, research, and innovation, nurturing more outstanding research-oriented liberal arts talents while upholding Lingnan University’s motto “Education for Service”.

This year’s Dr and Mrs James Tak Wu Awards for Outstanding Service were also presented, and Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu received the Academic Staff Award. Since joining Lingnan in 2023, Prof Kwong has demonstrated excellence in AI research and academic leadership, secured several competitive research grants, and strongly promoted postgraduate education and overall university development. In 2025, among other honours he was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and received the Natural Science Award (First Prize) at the Shandong Computer Federation Science and Technology Awards.

Ms Margaret Cheung received the Administrative and General Grade Staff Award. She joined Lingnan in 2020 and has successfully led the restructuring of the Registry and advanced the automation of administrative operations. Under her strategic leadership, the University has seen a steady rise in JUPAS applications and Band A choices, placing it first among the eight UGC-funded universities for the past three consecutive years. Ms Cheung also pioneered the use of metaverse and AI technologies to optimise student recruitment, for which she has earned several prestigious regional and international awards.

President Qin presented Long Service Awards to staff members, commending and thanking these Lingnanians for their many years of service and contribution to the University. The awardees were recognised for service milestones of 30, 25, 20 and 15 years, representing various departments and units across the University, including teaching, research and administrative functions.