43 Lingnan scholars shine in Stanford's top scientists list

Lingnan University has achieved another remarkable milestone in the 2025 edition of the World's Top 2% Scientists list, published by Stanford University. This year, a total of 43 Lingnan scholars were named in the list, representing an increase of about 50 per cent compared with last year's 29. Among them, 19 scholars were ranked among the global top 100 in their respective disciplines, underscoring the international recognition of Lingnan's research excellence and its rising global impact.

The Stanford World's Top 2% Scientists list evaluates the academic performance of scholars worldwide based on the significance of authorship and the number of citations in the Scopus database. Rankings are presented for career-long research impact and citations, as well as those in the single year of 2024, covering nearly all academic disciplines. This ranking has been among the most comprehensive for researchers worldwide and across disciplines since 2015.

43 distinguished Lingnan scholars named Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists.

Lingnan scholars recognised in this year's list represent diverse fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and humanities and social sciences.

Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning, ranks No. 4 in overall China and No. 1 in Hong Kong SAR in AI and Image Processing for career-long research impact.

President S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science, once again ranks No. 1 in overall China and Hong Kong SAR in his field of Industrial Engineering and Automation for career-long research impact.

Prof Richard M. Walker, Lee Shau Kee Foundation Chair Professor of Public Administration and Head of the Department of Government and International Affairs and Director of the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS), ranks No. 1 in overall China and Hong Kong SAR in Political Science and Public Administration for both career-long and 2024 single-year citation categories.

Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, ranks No. 11 in overall China and No. 1 in Hong Kong SAR in Numerical and Computational Mathematics for career-long research impact.

In addition, Prof Ngai Pun, Chair Professor of Department of Cultural Studies and Director of the Centre for Cultural Research and Development, ranks No. 2 in overall China and Hong Kong SAR in Cultural Studies for both career-long and 2024 single-year citation categories.

Prof Edward Kwabena Ameyaw, Research Assistant Professor of the School of Graduate Studies (GS), ranks No. 6 in overall China and No. 3 in Hong Kong SAR in Public Health for the 2024 single-year citation category.

Prof Siu Oi-ling, Head of Department of Psychology, Lam Woo & Co Ltd Chair Professor of Applied Psychology and Director of the Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre, ranks No. 14 in China and No. 6 in Hong Kong SAR in her field of Business and Management for the career-long category; ranks No. 9 in Hong Kong SAR in the 2024 single-year citation category.

Furthermore, a total of 19 Lingnan scholars were ranked among the global top 100 in their respective disciplines for career-long and/or 2024 single-year citation categories.

President Qin congratulates Lingnan’s distinguished scholars and looks forward to seeing more Lingnan scholars translating their research outcomes into knowledge and technologies that benefit society and address the needs of the digital age.

President Qin congratulated Lingnan's distinguished scholars and remarked, “This ranking is recognised as one of the most influential and prestigious annual benchmarks for individual researchers globally. The number of Lingnan scholars included on the list has steadily increased at a significant rate. This year, several Lingnan scholars have topped the rankings in their respective fields in the China and Hong Kong SAR, which is truly encouraging. I look forward to seeing more of our scholars translating their research outcomes into knowledge and technologies that benefit society and address the needs of the digital age.”

The World's Top 2% Scientists list by Stanford University is based on a composite indicator of standardised citation metrics, which include the number of citations, the h-index (measuring scientific research output), and the significance of authorship.

Hong Kong’s universities have once again demonstrated academic strength on the international stage. The latest 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects shows that at least 90 subjects across Hong Kong’s universities have entered the global top 50, with 21 subjects ranking among the world’s top 10. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) claimed the top spot globally in two subjects: Transportation Science & Technology and Hospitality & Tourism Management. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) all made it into the global top 10 for Education, underscoring the city’s overall strength in the field.

The University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image

HKU’s Education subject ranked second globally in this year’s ranking, its highest-ever position, while retaining its place as the top in Asia. Professor Yang Rui, Dean of the Faculty of Education at HKU, expressed his delight at the achievement. He noted that it fully reflects the collective efforts of faculty members in conducting high-level research and publishing in leading international academic journals, as well as the Faculty’s close partnerships with research collaborators worldwide, which continue to expand the reach and impact of its work. “I am deeply grateful to our Faculty members for their commitment to advancing educational knowledge and promoting the exchange and application of these outcomes worldwide,” he said.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Photo source: reference image

PolyU delivered the most outstanding performance in this ranking, with 23 subjects entering the global top 50, the highest number among all Hong Kong institutions. Six of its subjects ranked in the global top 10. In addition to the two subjects that topped the world, these include Management (global 2nd), Civil Engineering (global 3rd), Energy Science & Engineering (global 4th), and Mechanical Engineering (global 10th), spanning multiple traditional strengths in engineering and management.

The City University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) had 44 subjects ranked this year, two more than last year. Twenty-two subjects entered the global top 50, with four subjects- Library & Information Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Energy Science & Engineering, and Public Administration- making it into the global top 10. Furthermore, CityU ranked first in Hong Kong in 10 subjects, including Library & Information Science, Business Administration, and Veterinary Sciences, leading other local institutions in multiple areas.

The Lingnan University, Photo source: reference image

Lingnan University had eight subjects ranked this year, a nearly twofold increase from three last year. Five subjects, including Computer Science & Engineering and Electrical & Electronic Engineering, appeared on the list for the first time. Its Artificial Intelligence subject, newly listed last year, jumped dramatically in the rankings and entered the global top 100 for the first time, placing in the 76–100 band. Professor Qin Si Zhao, President of Lingnan University, said the results reflect growing international recognition of the University’s academic and research work. “Lingnan will review the ranking results and their assessment indicators, using them as a reference to further consolidate our ‘Liberal Arts + Technology’ development direction,” he said.

Photo source: shanghairanking.com

The ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects is released by ShanghaiRanking, a higher education evaluation agency. It covers 57 subjects across five major fields: Natural Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences. The ranking uses international academic indicators to assess the performance of higher education institutions worldwide in each subject, evaluating five categories: World-Class Faculty, World-Class Research Output, High-Quality Research, Research Impact, and International Collaboration. This year’s ranking assessed over 3,000 universities globally, with more than 2,000 institutions from about 96 countries and regions appearing on the lists.