Accelerating
oices of society
oices for them
Revitalising
Message from the Vice-President
Welcome to Lingnan University’s second newsletter on Research and Knowledge Transfer. In this issue, you will find researchers analysing the happiness and well-being of our younger generation and giving them a voice in society; our academics reaching out to local primary and secondary school students on the history of their own community; and our achievements not only in collaboration with China and regions beyond, but also shedding new light on the lives of our ethnic minority neighbours.
We, at Lingnan, are fully aware of the impact of research that contributes to the shaping of our future society. We commit ourselves to delivering outcomes that are able to give people a better life and to uphold social values. We make it our mandate to carry out multi-disciplinary investigations to identify, synthesize and address problems of our society in considering their manifold aspects.
Professor Joshua MOK Ka Ho Vice-President
Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Comparative Policy Lingnan University, Hong Kong
Asia (Forbes, 2015)
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings: Asia 2016
University Strategic Plan supports Research Collaborations
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Lingnan’s Strategic Plan 2016-2022 sets out our determination to –strategize major research clusters to encourage inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research; proactively engage in interuniversity research collaborations; generate more research income from not only the competitive research grants but also other government and private funding sources; reach out to serve the society at large through community-based research; and create more opportunities to enrich postgraduate student learning.
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With the goal of becoming a leading liberal arts university in Asia, Lingnan will forge closer ties with regional and international institutions –for collaborative research excellence; to offer strategic regional and international masters and doctoral programmes; and to enhance the research culture and training, and advance academic achievement.
International Masters Programmes
New programmes on offer include:
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Master of Social Sciences in Comparative Social Policy (International), in collaboration with the University of York, UK Master of Science in International Banking and Finance with universities in Europe
QAC Audit Report affirms our Research Postgraduate Learning Environment
Lingnan welcomes the release of the Report of Quality Audit by the Quality Assurance Council (QAC) of the University Grants Committee (UGC) in October 2016. The QAC findings confirm that the University is committed to –
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providing whole-person education informed by the best of Chinese and Western liberal arts traditions; nurturing all-round excellence in students; encouraging faculty and students to contribute to society through original research and knowledge transfer; and enhancing the research postgraduate student learning environment through the development of a range of local, regional and international networks, opportunities and initiatives.
Division of Graduate Studies
In line with the QAC report, the University has recently established the Division of Graduate Studies (DGS) in its strong commitment to creating an environment conducive to research and postgraduate studies, positioning postgraduate studies in the local, regional and international contexts, and maximising synergy and collaboration.
DGS has organised a series of seminars to bring together renowned scholars, experts and postgraduate students from local and overseas institutions for academic exchange. In particular, the International Postgraduate Summer School cum International Conference on Comparative Development and Policy Studies in June 2016 attracted more than 10 partner institutions from the UK, the US, mainland China and Taiwan.
Two new courses specially designed for research postgraduate (RPg) students are offered by DGS: Academic Writing and Social Statistics Workshops
Postgraduate Studies Seminar Series on Research Methodological Issues
Research Postgraduate Scholarships and PhD Student Exchange
Recently launched to support PhD students in short-term outbound or inbound exchange Research visits up to 6 months normally under joint supervision of the home institution and host institution
Scholarship amounts from HK$25,000 to 50,000
A memorandum of understanding on student exchange programme for full-time PhD students has been signed between Lingnan and 10 leading higher education institutions in Asia, the UK and the US:
Student Research Enhancement Scheme
A strategic direction in the University’s Strategic Plan 2016-2022 is to further enhance the University’s research culture and training while showcasing its scholarly achievements. A new Student Research Enhancement Scheme has thus been set up to provide funding support for research training to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, including Taught Master Students and Research Postgraduate Students.
Students will be engaged in faculty research and be supervised in student-initiated research. There will be opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in experiments, conducting empirical work and data analysis.
University of York
South China University of Technology
Sun Yat-sen University
The University of Nottingham Ningbo China Fu Jen Catholic University
Zhejiang University
Rutgers University
South China Normal University
National Cheng Chi University
Peking University
Honours to the University
Prof WEI Xiangdong Director of the China Economic Research Programme
Mounting the China Economic Research Programme
HK$8 million from the Ho Iu Kwong Charity Foundation for this new establishment to conduct research and consultancy on China’s economic and financial development
Lam Man Tsan Chair Professorship of Comparative Policy, held by Professor Joshua MOK Ka Ho
Lam Wong Yiu Wah Chair Professorship of Visual Studies, held by Professor Emilie YEH Yueh Yu
Named Chair Professorships
HK$10 million from the Lam Kei On Memorial Trust to establish two named Chair Professorships in specific areas of excellence in research and scholarly achievements
Columbia University Press Editorship for Prestigious Fellow
Prof CAI Zong Qi, Lee Wing Tat Chair Professor of Chinese Literature at the Department of Chinese, has recently signed an agreement with Columbia University to be the general editor of a book series titled How to Read Chinese Literature. Columbia University Press is the oldest and arguably the most prestigious publisher of translations of Asia classics and literary anthologies. It is a rare honour to be invited to edit a book series for Columbia University.
Prof Cai was awarded the Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2015/16.
Prestigious Fellowship celebrated by President Leonard K CHENG and Prof CAI Zong Qi
Lingnan Academics in the International Lime Light
Source: South China Morning Post, 13 December 2016
By Ka Ho Mok
Source: Times Higher Education, 19 October 2016 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/ dangers-asias-quest-world-class-universities
Source: University World News, 4 November 2016 http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php? story=201611032106575&query=Joshua+Mok
On Politics
Since the time the world was watching the 2016 US Presidential Election in a mix of fascination and bafflement, Professor ZHANG Baohui of our Political Science Department has been a much sought after commentator on issues of public interest in the pre- and postUS election implications. With his research interests in Chinese politics, international relations, and specialty in China security, the impact of his expertise is well displayed in the media through his comments and appearance on various platforms such as –
On Higher Education
Expert opinion and research findings of Professor Joshua MOK Ka Ho, our VicePresident and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Comparative Policy are widely covered by local and international media and analyses on Higher Education, including –
In the year 2015/16, Lingnan academics together had made active contributions to 366 press interviews and new articles in the media and public arenas locally and internationally. Our academics are widely covered in -
Recently in the PIE News, Prof Mok cautioned that the quest for an undefined ‘worldclass’ university status, as well as the massification of Higher Education in Asia, have created growing concern for graduate under-employment. “We should not simply count universities as tools to meet economic demands and serve GDP growth”, argued Mok, “but also as places to cultivate students to become compassionate leaders with international and regional perspectives, broad-based education, and professional skills to handle increasingly complex problems and issues.”
Accelerating Social Outreach
At Lingnan, knowledge transfer (KT) is the transformation of knowledge from our faculty research and expertise for the direct socioeconomic benefits of target groups of our core disciplines in the Arts, Humanities, Business and Social Sciences, be they in the professions or wider community.
Our KT activities and achievements are increasingly being recognized in society. In 2015/16, cumulative income from 50 projects supported by external funds had risen by 38% from HK$17.7 million to HK$24.4 million. These comprised HK$4 million from 36 consultancy projects, HK$12.6 million from 5 contract research projects, and HK$7.8 million from 9 social and community projects, which represent increases of 16%, 26% and 112% respectively.
In particular, support from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has been very substantial:
$14.8 million for The Jockey Club Hong Kong History Learning Programme by Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme
$4.5 million for the Age-Friendly City Project Baseline Assessments, Training and Professional Support project, and another $7.12 million for Phase Two of the project (in 2016/17)
$8 million for the “We Care, We Serve and We Learn @ Tuen Mun” project by Office of ServiceLearning by Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies
$8.8 million for the Intergenerational Communication and Health Promotion Programme (in 2016/17)
In the current academic year, KT has been elevated to the institutional level in the University Strategic Plan 2016-2022 alongside Research and Teaching, and has its place acknowledged in the University Guidelines for academic staff performance review, promotion and substantiation.
Research and Knowledge Transfer Video
The Office of Research Support has produced the University’s first video on Research and Knowledge Transfer featuring achievements of our research and their societal impact. Highlighted in this episode are our researchers’ efforts to revitalize local heritage, build links with industry, address historical injustice, protect indigenous habitats, and work with internationally renowned institutions on global research platforms.
https://youtu.be/n2SpMzcCD3U
Revitalising Hong Kong Heritage
The Jockey Club Hong Kong History Learning Programme
Professor LAU Chi Pang
Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme
Focusing youngsters in depth on the history of their own community and own people is crucial to help them understand their identity, why they find themselves in a particular place or living in particular circumstances, and to understand their own stories and what it means.
This three-year project with a donation of HK$14.8 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust aims to develop a set of teaching and learning resources delving into the breadth of Hong Kong history with no less than 75 topics covering areas in geography, politics, economy, society, cultural, biography, buildings and other thematic records. The team has already connected with 60 secondary and primary schools, and will develop teaching kits and organise thematic seminars, study tours, oral history workshops and mobile exhibitions to support their curricula.
Conservation of Hong Kong Turtles
Professor Jonathan FONG, Science Unit
Human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of the ancient mariners. Nearly all species of sea turtle are classified as Endangered. Sea turtles in Hong Kong mainly suffer from slaughter, habitat destruction and accidental capture in fishing gear. Climate change also has an impact on turtle nesting sites.
Protecting the environment and conserving resources are vital to the survival of these beautiful creatures. Making sure that the turtle species still populate in various local waters is vital to the well-being of the eco-system around us. Prof Fong’s current work, which has received a grant of HK$827,773 from the Research Grants Council under the Early Career Scheme, is to investigate the presence of native turtle species with a new eDNA screening technique that is crucial for the study and conservation of this population.
Policy Impact
Inter-university Research Consortium for Higher Education
Professor Joshua MOK Ka Ho
Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Comparative Policy
To provide an international platform for research on higher education, policy and governance, with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region and AsiaEurope comparison, the Inter-university Research Consortium for Higher Education was launched in October 2016 in a ceremony held at Lingnan.
The Consortium was co-launched by Lingnan University together with the Centre for Global Higher Education of the University College London (UCL) Institute of Education in the UK and the Asia Pacific Higher Education Research Partnership (APHERP) in the US. It is supported by the University of Bath’s International Centre for Higher Education Management, King’s College London’s
Department of International Development, and Bath Spa University’s Global Academy of Liberal Arts in the UK.
The Consortium is Lingnan’s latest advancement in enhancing international learning and research collaboration, while a new Master Programme in International Higher Education and Management is launched in 2017 by Lingnan in collaboration with the University of Hawaii and The University of Nottingham Ningbo China with support of the Consortium’s research team.
“The Consortium will bring together great minds for higher education, policy and governance research, which findings will inform international debates and policy making,” said Lingnan’s President Leonard K Cheng who officiated at the ceremony.
Professional Experience Building
Expertise generated from research has always been a good source of knowledge that we are ready to share with practitioners in the field for impact through professional development. Recent examples were lectures and training sessions given by Prof Joshua Mok to two groups of leaders in higher education from different regions on various topics -
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Christ University of India on effective university governance in Hong Kong
Higher education institutions in Zhejiang Province of China on the governance and management of universities
Policy Impact
Successful Funding Bids for Policy-related Research
More than HK$2.8 million of funds have been secured by Lingnan researchers in recent bids for competitive grants to support policy-related research in areas of social, political and financial developments. It is testimony to not only our strength and track records, but also our diverse range of expertise.
General Research Fund, Research Grants Council
A study of contracting out social services and changing welfare governance in China
HK$776,200
Professor Joshua MOK Ka Ho Department of Sociology and Social Policy
Public Policy Research
Funding Scheme, Central Policy Unit
Hong Kong non-governmental welfare organisations in mainland China: services, challenges and opportunities
HK$930,460
Professor Joshua MOK Ka Ho Department of Sociology and Social Policy
One Belt One Road: China’s motives and Hong Kong’s roles
HK$468,050
Professor ZHANG Baohui Department of Political Science
Deriving public policy for Hong Kong as an infrastructure financing hub and super-connector in project finance: the Belt and Road Initiative
HK$691,783
Professor Winnie POON Pui Han Department of Finance and Insurance
Business and Beyond
The Belt and Road Initiative in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan strives to develop smart cities, spur innovation and economic development, and enhance core competitiveness along the routes. The rapidly advancing information technology is bound to play a role.
Smart City & Smart Identity under Belt and Road Initiative: Innovative Progress in PKI and Authentication International Symposium
Supported by Lingnan’s Knowledge Transfer Project Fund with resources from UGC’s Recurrent Funding for Knowledge Transfer Activities, a symposium on e-commerce and e-government was held to bring together experts from India, Korea, Japan, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR and other member economies of the Asia PKI Consortium (APKIC) to share insight and experience.
Among the officiating guests was Mr Nicholas Yang, Secretary for the Innovation and Technology Bureau, HKSAR Government, in this symposium co-organised by Lingnan University, APKIC, The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong and Smart City Consortium.
Academic Conference and International Forum on “China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Recent Policy Development and Responses from Other Countries”
The two-day conference and forum reviewed the responses from Belt and Road regions on the initiative, in particular responses from the academic sector, think tanks and related public organisations. It attracted the attendance of over 150 overseas experts, scholars and representatives from related organisations and bodies.
Officiating guests included Mr Lei Haiqiu, Deputy Director, Department of Economic Affairs, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR. The event was jointly organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Centre and China Economic Research Programme of Lingnan University, Bauhinia Magazine, Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies of Sun Yat-sen University, Hong Kong-Shanghai Economic Development Association and Association of Chinese Culture of Hong Kong.
Business and Beyond Opportunities from
Online Consumer Comments
Professor CUI Geng
Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies & Department of Marketing and International Business
The number of online consumers who read and trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations is unprecedented and astounding, considering most online reviews are posted by total strangers. Ignoring user reviews as a potential marketing opportunity is akin to alienating a vast majority of the
buying population, underestimating the impact that these information may bring on company reputation.
This conference on Opportunities from Online Consumer Comments is among a series of forums supported by Lingnan’s Knowledge Transfer Project Fund which promote experience sharing by experts in marketing of renowned local and international companies. Research findings from Lingnan academics are also presented to inform practitioners of the current trend in the use and impact of online consumer reviews.
oicesofChildren
ProfessorMaggieLAUKaWai
Asia-PacificInstituteofAgeingStudies
ProfessorStefanKÜHNER
DepartmentofSociologyandSocialPolicy
The situation of children in poverty requires our care and studying as the children’s level of satisfaction towards life is negatively affected by their being deprived of things which average kids take for granted, particularly in places like Hong Kong where there is a blaring gap between the rich and the poor.
To help inform the Government of various policy implications, Lingnan partnered with local and overseas institutions in a joint research project entitled Poverty, disadvantages and children’s well-being in Hong Kong to draw international and comparative insights from pertinent research data. The project forms part of the Strategic Public Policy Research - Trends and implications of poverty and social disadvantages in Hong Kong: a multidisciplinary and longitudinal study funded by the Government’s Central Policy Unit and Research Grants Council.
In a press conference releasing findings of the research in December 2016, inequality in child well-being was also highlighted as part of the studies in a new International Master of Social Science in Comparative Social Policy Programme offered by Lingnan University in collaboration with the University of York, UK.
Press conference with the project’s international collaborator Prof John Hudson of the University of York (second from right)
oicesof Minorities
ProfessorLisaLEUNGYukMing DepartmentofCulturalStudies
Media representations of South Asian ethnic minorities often shape Hong Kong’s public understanding of this ethnic group in important ways. These framed perceptions are some major causes of the many biased treatments that members of this group experience in their lives here.
In the project “Ethnic minorities and the news media – portrayal and public perception” supported by Lingnan’s Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (KPF), Prof Lisa Leung detect the patterns of media prejudice, and devise ways to improve community services currently available to members of this ethnic group.
Working also on another KPF project “Cultural history of South Asians in Tuen Mun – a tour of appreciation”, Prof Leung is passionate about expanding the horizon of people in appreciating the minorities in multiple perspectives, particularly the unique contributions they and their families have made since a long time over the history of Hong Kong. This project is partnered with Yan Oi Tong, a local charitable and welfare organization serving Hong Kong in poverty alleviation programmes and disaster relief operations since the 1930’s.
oicesof DomesticWorkers
ProfessorJamesRICE
DepartmentofPhilosophy
The case of the Indonesian domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih in 2013 threw an uncomfortable spotlight on cases of abuses and exploitation faced by some foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong. Although legal protections are better in Hong Kong than in other Asian countries where foreign domestic helpers populate, helpers are often vulnerable and having difficulties in defence under those circumstances.
To have the voices of domestic workers heard more effectively and for them to have means to seek help, Prof James Rice conducted seminars and sharing sessions for domestic helpers to raise their (and their employers’) awareness of rights and obligations, and knowledge in handling related issues, through the Knowledge Transfer Project Fund project “Building an inclusive society: disseminating rights awareness to foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong”
Dec
Hong Kong Korean Peninsula Forum 2016
2016 Academy of International Business Southeast Asia Regional Conference
China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Recent Policy Development and Responses from Other Countries
Nov
The Fourth International Conference on Social Policy and Governance Innovation: Innovation in Social Service Delivery
Co-hosted with The Education University of Hong Kong and South China University of Technology
Over 50 scholars from the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Finland, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, mainland China, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong
Oct
China-Australia Relations: Australia, China’s Rise, and Asia Pacific Security
2016 US Presidential Election: Implications for America and the World
Protecting the Weak – Concepts and East Asian Evidence
Gender and the Changing Face of Higher Education in Asia Pacific
Co-organised with the Centre for Greater China Studies and Department of Asian and Policy Studies of The Education University of Hong Kong
University leaders from the US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Philippines, mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong
Sep
Aug
Wider Adoption of e-Cheque and Digital Signature in Business Applications
& Forums
Co-organised with the Smart City Industrial Committee of The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Signed a Cooperation Memorandum on Digital Signature Applications Design
Gathered industrial leaders and experts across Hong Kong and mainland China including representatives from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Jul
Third South-South Forum on Sustainability
2016 Global Marketing Conference
Organised by the Global Alliance of Marketing and Management Associations
Co-hosted with international marketing associations
Theme: Bridging Asia and the World: Global Platform for Interface between Marketing and Management
Over 1,100 multidisciplinary scholars and business practitioners from 53 countries and regions
Jun
The Lingnan Expressivism Conference
International Postgraduate Summer School cum International Conference on Comparative Development and Policy Studies
Co-organised with 11 leading higher education institutions in Asia, the UK and the US
Renowned scholars, senior administrators of higher education institutions and postgraduate students from the UK, the US, Denmark, mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong
May
Art, Translation and Modern Literature in Chinese
Empires of Water: Water Management and Politics in the Arid Regions of China, Central Eurasia and the Middle East (16th-20th centuries)
Co-organised with The University of Hong Kong
Theme: Equity, Employment, and Mobility in Asian Higher Education
Postgraduate Seminars
Growing Pains, and Gains: Media Industry Research, and Teaching
Prof Emilie YEH, Lingnan University
Best Practices and Considerations When Conducting Survey Research
Prof LI Pang Kwong, Lingnan University
North Korea’s Threat to both Beijing and Washington & the Need for a New, Concerted Approach to Resolving the North Korean Nuclear Dilemma
Prof Gregory MOORE, University of Nottingham Ningbo, China
How Type of Social Health Insurance Impacts Health Services Utilization and Expenditures
Prof WU Xun, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Oct
Evaluating Developments in Social Services and Exploring Experimental Methods to promote Evidence-based Practice
Dr Louise BROWN, University of Bath
Researching Economic History: Methodological Reflections
Prof William LIU Guanglin, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Conducting Inter-Cultural Studies: Methodological Reflections
Prof Tejaswini NIRANJANA, Lingnan University
Research and Methodological Issues: Dialogue with Experienced Researcher
Prof Deane NEUBAUER, East-West Center, USA
Dr QIAN Jiwei, National University of Singapore
2016 US Presidential Election: Implications for America and the World
Emeritus Prof Herbert W. SIMONS, Temple University
Prof Glenn SHIVE, The Hong Kong-America Center
Prof ZHANG Baohui, Lingnan University
Conducting Well-being Research: A Dialogue between Europe and Asia
Prof Stefan KÜHNER, Lingnan University
Sep Jun
Dr Maggie LAU, City University of Hong Kong
In-depth Information Literacy Workshop
Ms Ivy KAN, Lingnan University
The Challenges of Comparing Child Well-Being across Countries: Reflecting on the UNICEF Report
Card 13 Research Experience
Prof John HUDSON and Dr Stefan KÜHNER, University of York
Conducting Studies on Sociocultural Change: Reflections on Qualitative Research in Contemporary China
Dr David PALMER, The University of Hong Kong
Best Practices and Considerations When Conducting Survey Research
Prof LI Pang Kwong, Lingnan University
Conducting Ethnographic Research: Ethics and Politics of Fieldwork
Dr Cheris CHAN, The University of Hong Kong
Conducting Interviews with Young Children: Methodological Reflections
Dr Maggie LAU, City University of Hong Kong
Research on Historiography of Literature: Methodological Notes
Prof Leonard CHAN, The Education University of Hong Kong
Office of Research Support
Lingnan University Tuen Mun Hong Kong SAR,China
Tel: (852) 2616 7689
Fax: (852) 2591 9618
Email: ors @ LN.edu.hk
Lingnan University: www.LN.edu.hk Office of Research Support: www.LN.edu.hk/ors
March 2017
