Postgraduate Conference on Interdisciplinary Learning

Intersections of Research, Society and Postgraduate Education

Concept note

One of the core missions of higher education institutions is knowledge production through research and training of future researchers. Universities around the world are actively pursuing this mandate. It is not surprising that the number of research publications across different academic fields has recently seen a significant increase while the number of university graduates, particularly postgraduate students, has risen over the years. For example, the number of PhD graduates in the United States in 2000 was slightly above 40000 compared to over 55,000 in 2020. In Hong Kong, the number of research postgraduate student graduates increased from 2309 in the 2014/2015 academic year to 2811 in the 2020/2021 academic year. These changes demonstrate the premium that universities have placed on research development.

Research in universities has also received new forms of backing from governments. In some places, governments have revitalised their existing policies to offer more research support to universities beyond financial aid. For instance, the provision of conducive environments for international and cross-cultural collaborations through flexible immigration arrangements have invaluable to the research development of universities (e.g., the new Hong Kong Immigration arrangements for visitors to participate in short-term activities such as research activities and events without the need for employment visa/entry permit).

Despite these efforts and achievements, an important issue that has not received adequate attention concerns how research impact—i.e., translating research knowledge into practice and policy for the benefit of society — can be institutionalised in postgraduate education, particularly in fields of humanities, business, and social sciences (broadly defined). After all, research should not be for its own sake but social benefit. With this understanding, universities must actively incorporate research impact generation into the training of postgraduate students. This means that more opportunities must be created within and outside of universities for students to conceptualise their research with contemporary societal issues and needs in mind while helping them with the skills to translate their research findings to potential beneficiaries (i.e., individuals, communities, or institutions).

The 2023 Postgraduate Conference on Interdisciplinary Learning will deliberate on the intersections between research and social advancement and the implications for postgraduate research and training. Consistent with previous Postgraduate Conferences hosted by the School of Graduate Studies, this conference shall offer a platform for research and taught postgraduate students across the globe to interact with each other and share their current and prospective research and learning experiences with established scholars. Invited speakers and students are encouraged to connect or draw implications of their papers for research impact creation and training.

The conference shall provide these opportunities for students:

• Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to postgraduate studies
• Global perspectives on intersections between research and society
• Comparative research perspectives
• Comparative and international research perspectives
• Networking among students across disciplines and institutions both within and outside of Hong Kong
• Innovative approaches to doing postgraduate studies across disciplines

Keynote speakers

Programme with ZOOM Links

Full Programme Book

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For enquiries, please feel free to contact us at pgconference@ln.edu.hk.

* Scholarship may be provided to research postgraduate students from developing countries who are currently studying outside of Hong Kong. Eligible students who are interested in applying for the scholarship are required to upload (i) a CV and (ii) a letter of recommendation/support from their supervisor to the registration system form by 10 February 2023. Applications without the required supporting documents will not be considered by the Panel.

# A Best Paper Award will be presented to Lingnan students from research postgraduate programmes and professional doctorate programme students (e.g. Doctor of Policy Studies) for three outstanding papers. Eligible students who would like to be considered by the Panel for the Award are required to upload a draft of the paper to the registration form. The draft should include an abstract, background, methodology, key findings and discussion (max. 2,000 words).

The conference is supported by the University Grants Committee through the Teaching Development and Language Enhancement Grant (TDLEG).