Lingnan student body rises to nearly 8,000

Staff reporter

Enrollment at Lingnan University has surged to nearly 8,000 students, fueling plans to set up a second campus in Hung Shui Kiu, said president Joe Qin Sizhao.

The increase includes a significant proportion of mainlanders.

However, Qin said in an interview with Sing Tao Daily, a sister publication of The Standard, there will be a cap on student numbers due to space limitations.

Since taking office last September, he said, the university has been committed to enhancing its international rankings by focusing on data science and artificial intelligence.

It currently has 4,000 undergraduates and 3,700 master's and PhD candidates.

The recent relaxation of the non-local student enrollment limit to 40 percent has contributed to an increase of 1,500 students compared to the previous year.

Its quota for non-locals for this academic year is fully subscribed.

When asked about the demographics of the non-local student body, Qin said mainlanders represent a significant portion.

"This is a practical issue, as many mainland undergraduates come from families that can afford the tuition fees," he said.

In contrast, many of Lingnan's international students rely on scholarships.

Qin said Lingnan has no plans to further increase its student population unless the government provides additional space.

The Tuen Mun campus, built around 30 years ago, has become overcrowded and some facilities have become outdated.

To address this, Lingnan has removed filing cabinets, reduced the number of meeting rooms, and renovated the floor housing the president's office.

While the satellite campus in the West Kowloon Cultural District, which opened last year, has alleviated some pressure, Qin indicated that the university will apply for approval to build a new dormitory.

In the long term, the hope is to develop a "second campus" in the Northern Metropolis university town in Hung Shui Kiu, an area designated for self-financed institutions.

He said discussions with the government will continue.

Despite Lingnan's heritage as a liberal arts university, Qin, whose background is in data science, stressed the importance of developing STEM education.

He noted that the university has recruited over 15 top academics globally and established a faculty of data science and an institute for advanced study.

"Liberal arts education is not at odds with our program foundations.

Some people misunderstand Lingnan as solely a liberal arts institution, which is not a comprehensive view of our mission," he added, underscoring the necessity of incorporating artificial intelligence education.

Qin also said that construction of Lingnan's research institute in Shenzhen has entered its final stage, with plans to relocate some newly recruited researchers to that facility.