To increase academic exchanges and collaboration between the two psychology institutions,a delegation from the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University visited the School of Psychology at Shenzhen University on 4 June, and was warmly received by Prof Chen Qi, Dean of the School of Psychology of Shenzhen University, and members of the faculty. They discussed new directions for disciplinary development,and decided to begin preparatory work officially for a joint master’s double-degree programme in applied psychology.

The delegation was led by Prof Siu Oi-ling, Head of Department of Psychology at Lingnan University, and comprised Prof Jay Xu Jie, Associate Professor; Prof Huang Yi, Assistant Professor; Prof Jocelyn Lin Li, Assistant Professor; Prof Wang Huatian, Research Assistant Professor; and Prof Ray Cheung Yu-hin, Assistant Professor of Teaching. The Shenzhen University representatives were led by Prof Chen Qi, and included Prof Wu Jianhui; Prof Zhao Shuo; Prof Guo Tianyou; Prof Chi Xinli; and Prof Zhang Jieting.

The in-depth discussions on the feasibility of a joint master’s double-degree programme in applied psychology led to their reaching a consensus to commence preparatory work, and this official collaboration is expected to leverage the complementary strengths of both institutions. Lingnan will focus on cultivating applied psychology talents, and Shenzhen University emphasise cognitive psychology, nurturing well-rounded psychology professionals with solid theoretical foundations and outstanding practical skills for the Greater Bay Area. Additionally, the two parties talked about academic exchanges within their faculties, research teamwork and sharing, and potential avenues to advance the development of psychology at both universities.

The delegation also toured Shenzhen University’s advanced research facilities, including the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Center and the Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Laboratory. The MEG Laboratory, the first of its kind in South China, is equipped with the latest research instruments and, through their on-site discussions, the delegation gained deeper insights into Shenzhen University’s research directions in complex new fields such as cognitive neuroscience, paving the way for future collaboration.

The visit laid a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation in student development, academic exchanges, and research collaboration. Moving forward, the two institutions will continue to strengthen their partnership across various domains, and jointly promote important advances in psychological research and education. In the latest Research.com rankings of psychology schools nationally, Shenzhen University’s School of Psychology and Lingnan University’s Department of Psychology came 7th and 10th respectively, demonstrating their outstanding research capabilities.