The School of Graduate Studies (GS) at Lingnan University hosted the opening ceremony of the Postgraduate Summer School 2025 on campus today, 24 June. This highly regarded and prestigious annual flagship event has been organised with Hertford College of the University of Oxford and is a UK-based exchange programme that reflects Lingnan’s resolve to broaden students’ international exposure and global research commitment. More than 100 postgraduate students from both local and international universities are attending the Summer School this year, including 24 nominated Lingnan students who have received top scholarships. This is the first time that students have been selected through a nomination process, enabling all postgraduate students to participate in the University of Oxford summer programme.

The highlight of this year’s programme is the UK session at Hertford College, available only to Lingnan University students. Held from 30 June to 12 July, it offers a research-intensive academic experience together with foremost regional and global institutions, a platform for scholars and research postgraduates to present their key findings, exchange opinions, and review critical methodological issues.

Participants will attend workshops led by distinguished academics, including Dr Aurelia Annat from the History Faculty, University of Oxford, and Dr Judit Molnar from the Department of Continuing Education (Anthropology) of the University of Oxford. With expertise in research methodologies and supervising students at all academic levels, they will offer guidance and in-depth suggestions to participants to encourage their future research and enhance their learning experience in Oxford. The programme offers an introduction to research-oriented methodological skills, alongside sessions designed to improve public speaking and communication techniques. It also provides valuable opportunities for students to present, analyse, and deliberate on their individual research projects as they hold wide-ranging discussions with global experts on emerging trends in the latest research.

Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Lingnan University, delivered the welcome remarks, emphasising the programme’s academic and global value: “This collaboration with Oxford marks a milestone for Lingnan’s international engagement. The Summer School fosters academic excellence, critical thinking, and global awareness, allowing our students to become socially responsible scholars in the digital era,” and he added that Lingnan is committed to being a leading comprehensive university in arts and sciences. As of June 2025, Lingnan has partnered with over 270 institutions in more than 50 countries and regions worldwide, enabling students to take part in various exchange activities and to become digital talents with an international outlook.

Prior to the UK programme, the Hong Kong programme will run from 24 to 27 June in a hybrid format, featuring eight specialised workshops hosted by internationally known scholars. Topics will include interdisciplinary research methods and the use of large language models (LLMs), and plans for writing research papers and academic publishing, as well as techniques for effective presentations, and communication tailored to researchers.

One of the workshops will be led by Prof Paulina Wong Pui-yun, Head and Associate Professor (Presidential Early Career Scholar) of the Science Unit and Associate Director of the LEO Dr David P. Chan Institute of Data Science at Lingnan University. Titled "From Data to Decisions: Harnessing Geospatial Intelligence for Sustainable Futures", it will explore how Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) can support sustainable development initiatives and address complex urban challenges, providing students with real-world applications of GeoAI in decision-making processes.

Ms Li Chenyi, a student from Lingnan’s Doctor of Policy Studies programme, explained “I believe this programme will significantly contribute to my academic and research journey by providing exposure to cutting-edge research methods and current trends in social policy. Spending time with renowned scholars will deepen my understanding of diverse perspectives, and refine my research ideas.”

Participants in this ambitious programme are expected to mix with international scholars, investigate experimental research methodologies in specialised workshops, polish their academic writing and presentation skills, and build valuable research networks.

International scholars in the Hong Kong session include Prof Tinashe Dune from Charles Darwin University, Australia; Prof Alessio D'Angelo from the University of Derby, the UK; Prof Orkan Okan from the Technical University of Munich, Germany; Prof David Gordon from the University of Bristol, the UK; Dr Gleb Papyshev from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Mr Jeremiah Teo Han-shen, Lecturer of the Lingnan Institute of Further Education; and Ms Angel Fan Yim-hung, Lecturer of the Centre for English and Additional Languages at Lingnan University.

Please click here to learn more about the Postgraduate Summer School 2025.