Lingnan University 2024/2025 SDG 1 No Poverty Report
Achievements
41st
in the World in THE Impact Rankings 2025
31
Undergraduate Courses
1st
in HK in THE Impact Rankings 2025
139
Research Outputs
As a research-intensive university with a strong liberal arts heritage in the digital era, and a deep commitment to education for service and social responsibility, Lingnan University plays a vital role in advancing poverty reduction, social protection, and equal access to opportunity through research, policy dialogue, and community engagement. Guided by its mission to transform lives and society through impactful scholarship and experiential learning, Lingnan integrates teaching, research, and practice to address the challenges of inequality, unemployment, and social exclusion across Hong Kong and beyond.
Scholarly research addressing poverty related issues
Academic staff are actively engaged in a broad range of research addressing poverty and social inequality [link]. Research studies cover issues on platform workers and welfare protection, work-family reconciliation on gender inequality, family care, older workers and retirement protection, inadequate housing and well-being among disadvantaged social groups in local, regional and some African countries [link].
Research collaborations are not limited to local and regional universities but also extended to international universities. Research outputs (2024-2025) are related to social protection, employment support and older workers, youth poverty and precarious employment, in-work benefits, pension systems, and health inequalities in East Asian (e.g., Hong Kong and Taiwan), Southeast Asian (e.g., Myanmar), African countries (e.g., Ghana) and China [link].
Funding support for student learning opportunities
Lingnan University provides a variety of funding and scholarship schemes based on academic merit and financial need to ensure equitable access to higher education for students around the world, including those from low- and middle-income countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. These sponsorships and scholarships — including Fellowships and Studentships, Research Postgraduate Student Conference/Field Trip Sponsorships, and Research Postgraduate Scholarships for Overseas Research Visits — offer transformative learning opportunities and help nurture the next generation of scholars [please refer to Funding and Scholarships for postgraduate students].
Taught postgraduate programmes also provide various forms of financial assistance, such as entrance scholarships, exchange sponsorships, and monthly studentships, to attract capable and diverse candidates. In 2025, for example, 24 nominated Lingnan students received scholarships to attend the Postgraduate Summer School at Oxford (24 June – 12 July 2025), broadening their academic horizons and deepening intercultural understanding [link].
Experiential Learning Raising Awareness about the SDGs
Through the Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative (LEI), the University offers students experiential learning projects that connect innovation and social responsibility to poverty alleviation and sustainable development. One major initiative encourages students to explore entrepreneurship as a sustainable career pathway, equipping them with the skills to create meaningful social and economic impact. [link].
The University has established various forms of funding support, such as the Startup Trial Fund, the Student Entrepreneurial Exploration Development Fund, and Lingnan University Entrepreneurship Fund (LUEF). These initiatives empower students to develop innovative solutions to address poverty and promote economic inclusion through social entrepreneurship.
Addressing Unemployment and Supporting Reemployment during Economic Downturns
In November 2024, the Hong Kong government announced plans to replace the Employment Support Services (EmSS)—previously provided to unemployed recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) scheme—with a compulsory community work programme. Drawing on his research on public employment services and social security, Professor Tat Chor Au-Yeung raised concerns that the cancellation of existing services might undermine support for low-income unemployed individuals and hinder their long-term employability.
Professor Au-Yeung proactively engaged policymakers and practitioners by initiating meetings with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, relevant NGOs, and Legislative Council members to discuss the potential policy impact and represent the often under-voiced concerns of disadvantaged groups. In June 2025, he further shared his research insights and policy recommendations on the future direction of employment services with the social welfare sector.
These scholarly and advocacy efforts contributed to raising public awareness, informing policy debate, and mitigating the social and economic effects of rising unemployment and poverty during the economic downturn, reinforcing Lingnan University’s commitment to advancing SDG 1 (No Poverty) through evidence-based research and community impact.
Proposing Measures to Alleviate the Impact of Austerity on Low-Income Families
During the government’s Budget in Feb 2025, Professor Tat Chor Au-Yeung engaged in public discussions in the mass media to propose measures to minimise the negative impact of cutbacks from the Productivity Enhancement Programme and the Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme. Considering the continual social needs of older people and low-income families, Professor Au-Yeung advocated for setting up a maximum number of subsidies per month for citizens aged 60–65 instead of entirely disentitling them from the benefits.
Drawing on his research on retirement protection and pension policy, Professor Au-Yeung also called for a critical review of Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) system, which often fails to safeguard the incomes of low-wage workers in later life. He further promoted the idea of establishing a public pension scheme with broader coverage and stronger financial sustainability to enhance the economic security of older people and reduce poverty risks.
In recognition of his expertise, Professor Au-Yeung was appointed by Oxfam Hong Kong, an intermediary of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund, as a vetting panel judge for selecting social innovation projects and social enterprises aimed at poverty alleviation. His research-informed advocacy and professional contributions have helped shape inclusive welfare policies and improve the living standards of low-income families in Hong Kong, supporting the goals of SDG 1 (No Poverty).