54 Lingnan scholars in Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists Six scholars are first in China or the Hong Kong SAR in their respective disciplines, 21 in the world's top 100

Lingnan University has achieved remarkable results in the 2026 edition of the World’s Top 2% Scientists list published by Stanford University. The 54 Lingnan scholars named represent an increase of about 26 per cent over last year’s 43. Among them, 21 are ranked in the world's top 100, and six are ranked first either in China or the Hong Kong SAR in their respective disciplines, underscoring international recognition of Lingnan’s academic influence as it transforms into a research-oriented liberal arts university comprehensive in arts and sciences in the digital era.

Congratulating Lingnan’s distinguished scholars, Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, said, “This year's recognised scholars span a wide range of disciplines, including the arts, sciences, business, and social sciences, fully reflecting Lingnan's drive for interdisciplinary research and the characteristics of 'Liberal Arts + Technology' development. In the 2026/27 academic year, Lingnan has continued to recruit top global talent, and welcomed 59 scholars from 11 countries and regions from global top 100 institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, University College London, and the University of Tokyo. Their arrival further strengthens our research capacity across disciplines, accelerating the practical adoption of impactful research outcomes that contribute to the benefit of society.”

Stanford’s World’s Top 2% Scientists list evaluates the academic publication performance of leading scholars worldwide in multiple disciplines, ranking them separately by career-long research impact and 2025 single-year citation metrics.

Prof S. Joe Qin is once again ranked first in Industrial Engineering and Automation in China and the Hong Kong SAR for career-long research impact.

Prof Richard M. Walker, Lee Shau Kee Foundation Chair Professor of Public Administration, Head of the Department of Government and International Affairs and Director of the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS), comes first again in China and the Hong Kong SAR in Political Science and Public Administration for career-long research impact.

Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning, is ranked fourth in China and first in the Hong Kong SAR in AI and Image Processing for career-long research impact.

Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, comes first in the Hong Kong SAR in Numerical and Computational Mathematics for career-long research impact.

Prof Pun Ngai, Chair Professor of Cultural Studies and Director of the Centre for Cultural Research and Development, is ranked third in China and second in the Hong Kong SAR in Cultural Studies for career-long research impact, and second in China and first in the Hong Kong SAR in the 2025 single-year citation category.

Prof Song Yongduan, Dean of the School of Data Science and Henry Y. W. Fong Chair Professor of Industrial Data Science, comes sixth in the Hong Kong SAR in Industrial Engineering and Automation for career-long research impact, and second in the Hong Kong SAR in the 2025 single-year citation category.

Prof Edward Kwabena Ameyaw, Assistant Professor of the School of Graduate Studies, comes third in China and first in the Hong Kong SAR in Public Health for the 2025 single-year citation category.

Prof Siu Oi-ling, Chair Professor of the Department of Psychology and Director of the Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre, is ranked sixth in the Hong Kong SAR in Business and Management for the career-long category.

Prof Chen Xi, Chair Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, is ranked seventh in the Hong Kong SAR in Materials, and ninth in the Hong Kong SAR in the 2025 single-year citation category.

In addition to this, a total of 21 Lingnan distinguished scholars are in the global top 100 in the career-long and/or 2025 single-year citation categories.

Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists list assesses researchers' academic impact based on Scopus bibliometric indicators, such as authorship roles, total citations, individual research h-index, and co-authorship. Since 2015, the list has been widely recognised as one of the world’s most authoritative and comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluations of academic excellence.