Lingnan University successfully hosted the 2022 Postgraduate Conference on Interdisciplinary Learning on 1-2 April under the theme “Rethinking Postgraduate Studies in Post-pandemic Societies”. With the support of the University Grants Committee, Hong Kong, the Conference organised by the School of Graduate Studies was well-attended, with over 200 participants joined from around eight countries and regions, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Ghana, Russia, the UK, Morocco, and Romania.
Prof. Ka Ho Mok (Vice President and Dean of School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University) inaugurated the conference. Following that, Prof. Shalendra Sharma (Associate Vice-President of Academic Quality Assurance and Internationalisation, Lee Shau Kee Foundation Chair Professor of Political Science, Lingnan University, Hong Kong) gave a Keynote Speech titled “The Post-COVID-19 World: Autocracies, Democracies, and the New World Order,” in which he critically assessed the ongoing debates on the merits of democratic, illiberal and authoritarian rule as regards which political system is better equipped to address deadly threats collective human security such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first day of the Conference concluded with two keynote speeches by our distinguished guests. Prof. Hugh Lauder from the University of Bath, UK, who spoke on the theme of Capitalism and the Pillars of Education. Prof. David Gordon from the University of Bristol, UK, assessed the connections between poverty, inequality and Covid-19 and its implications for societies. On Day 2, Prof. Heather Hughes from the University of Lincoln, UK, concluded the conference with a keynote speech titled, Reimagining Cultural Heritage Studies in the ‘New Normal’.
In this two-day event, postgraduate students from all over the world shared their research relating to the fields of Social Sciences, Business, and Arts and Humanities. Student presentations cut across the theoretical discourse, methodological, and empirical research. The Conference had several stimulating discussions with fluid interactions between participants online and in person. Students received feedback on their presentations from the numerous faculty members that participated in the conference.
In the closing remarks, Prof. Mok expressed his appreciation to all participants for their contribution and encouraged all to collaborate and corporate with each other to achieve the common goals of promoting sustainable societies and quality education. Dr Padmore Adusei Amoah also thanked participants and various supporting teams for their role in the successful conference. He indicated plans to host the conference again next year.
