Building stronger ties for internationalisation

The Office of Global Education (OGE) supports the development of partnerships by building on current ties with our mainland and international academic partners, thus laying the foundations for deeper collaboration. In the 2023–24 academic year, representatives from the OGE attended various international events to explore opportunities for collaboration worldwide, including the Annual European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference and Exhibition 2023 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the Asia-Pacific Association of International Education (APAIE) 2024 in Perth, Australia, and the NAFSA 2024 Annual Conference and Expo in New Orleans in the US.

OGE representatives visited both current and new partners in the mainland China, India, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan. In addition to enhancing current relationships, we established student exchange agreements with new partners. One highlight was a visit to Shanghai in November and December 2023, led by Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science. During his visits to the Universities of Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong, and Tongji, Prof Qin spoke of Lingnan’s evolution into a renowned liberal arts research university and the potential areas for collaboration. Prof Qin also delivered a special lecture on “The New Era of Data Science and AI” at the High School affiliated to Fudan University, which was well received by over 200 students and teachers.

Prof Zheng Qinghua, President of Tongji University (right), discussing institutional changes with Prof S. Joe Qin, Lingnan’s President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science (left).

Mr Yang, Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Jiao Tong University Committee (left), receiving a commemorative gift from Prof S. Joe Qin, Lingnan’s President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science (right).

Prof Liu Chuntai, Vice President of Zhengzhou University (right), receiving a souvenir from Prof Shalendra Sharma, Associate Vice-President (Academic Quality Assurance and Internationalisation) and Lee Shau Kee Foundation Chair Professor of Political Science (left) after an agreement-signing ceremony.

We were also delighted to welcome visits from the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing, the Consulate General of Mongolia in Hong Kong, and the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong. During these visits, the ambassadors and their representatives were introduced to our close-knit campus environment and the liberal arts traditions that we are so proud of. We also hosted current and potential partners from Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US in Hong Kong, which in addition to exploring further opportunities for collaboration helped to enhance mutual understanding. On 1 March 2024, we were delighted to receive a delegation of over 20 academic and senior administrative staff from Mahidol University International College in Thailand, one of our exchange partners and a member of the Alliance of Asian Liberal Arts Universities. Through our fruitful exchanges, we learnt about each other’s best practices in various areas, such as student exchange, student service support, and service-learning projects.

 

 

Meeting with Norwegian Embassy staff in Beijing. Left to right:
-Mr Gavin Ngai, Executive Associate Director, Office of Global Education
-Ms Gry-Irene Skorstad, Political Counsellor
-Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science
-Ms Signe Brudeset, Norwegian Ambassador
-Prof Shalendra Sharma, Associate Vice-President (Academic Quality Assurance and Internationalisation) and Lee Shau Kee Foundation Chair Professor of Political Science

Meeting with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in the US. Left to right:
-Prof Chen Xi, Dean and Chair Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies
-Prof Sam Kwong Tak Wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence
-Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science
-Prof Grace Jinliu Wang, President, WPI
-Ms Thea Marcoux, Executive Director of Global Engagement and Philanthropy, WPI
-Ms Joanne Cho, Head of Office of the President
-Dr Simon Xu, Director, Office of Global Education

Prof S. Joe Qin, Lingnan’s President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science (6th left), meeting with the delegation from Douglas College in Canada, including Dr Kathy Denton, President & CEO of Douglas College (6th right).

Dr Tim Rahilly, President of Mount Royal University (left), receiving a souvenir from Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) (right).

The OGE has developed an extensive network through its international partnerships, which facilitate student mobility and engagement with the world beyond Hong Kong. Lingnan now enjoys exchange partnerships with over 270 leading institutions in more than 50 countries and regions worldwide.

     New partner institutions, 2023–24

      Mainland China
     Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Media and Communication
     South China Agricultural University (non-exchange)
     Zhengzhou University (non-exchange)

      Belgium
     Vrije Universiteit Brussel (non-exchange)

      India
     Ashoka University

      Hungary
     The University of Szeged (non-exchange)

      Japan
     Eikei University of Hiroshima

      The US
     Worcester Polytechnic Institute (non-exchange)

As part of its commitment to building a truly international campus, the OGE plays a vital role in promoting Lingnan to non-local high school students. This strong network of feeder schools encourages outstanding high school students to apply to Lingnan through the Principal’s Nomination Scheme. Throughout 2023 and 2024, our representatives will continue to reach potential applicants through virtual fairs and admission webinars organised by professional organisations and education platforms, along with high schools and colleges in Mongolia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, and in cities and provinces in the mainland China such as Fujian, Beijing, and Shandong. Individual online consultation sessions have also been conducted for potential applicants, counsellors, and parents. The OGE also organised in-person school visits and attended education fairs in Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and in the mainland China, including those in Beijing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Henan, Hunan, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan, and Zhejiang. We also invited high school representatives to our campus to attend programme talks, so they could find out more about our high-quality liberal arts education, research, and innovation, and our undergraduate, postgraduate, and associate degree programmes. Through these efforts, we have engaged students, parents, and high school counsellors from the targeted high schools, thus attracting more high-calibre students to study at Lingnan. We will continue to develop our internationalised campus, which promotes global perspectives through a network of international partnerships.

Visit to the LU Jockey Club Gerontech-X Lab during the campus tour for the delegates from Mahidol University International College.

OGE representatives, in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Social Sciences, and the School of Graduate Studies, participated in the 2024 China International Education Exhibition Tour in Beijing, providing the latest admission information and engaging in interactive discussions with prospective students and parents.

Rosedale Global High School representatives visiting our new off-campus learning hub in M+ Tower at West Kowloon Cultural District after attending programme talks on Lingnan campus.