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.
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The University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Photo source: reference image
The City University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image
The Lingnan University, Photo source: reference image
Photo source: shanghairanking.com
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.
As Hong Kong’s population ages at one of the fastest rates in the world, the demand for family eldercare increases daily. To understand the responsibilities and roles assumed by grandchildren in caring for their grandparents, the Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies (APIAS) at Lingnan University conducted an in-depth interview study, which shows that having been looked after by grandparents in childhood is a major reason why grandchildren are willing to take on these same responsibilities for their own grandparents; another key motivation is the desire to alleviate their parents’ burden. However, the study highlights a common dilemma faced by grandchildren acting as carers: a lack of nursing knowledge and skills. Also, as more families employ foreign domestic helpers for childcare, this shift in caregiving models may weaken the traditional role of grandparents, which could in turn affect the long-term intergenerational eldercare support network.
As Hong Kong’s population ages at one of the fastest rates in the world, the demand for family eldercare increases daily. Photo by Bastille Post
These findings have been published in the leading international academic journal International Journal of Social Welfare.
Led by Lingnan University, the research team recruited 40 grandchildren aged between 15 and 63, who had previously cared for or were currently caring for ailing or disabled grandparents, for in-depth interviews conducted between April and December 2023 through social welfare organisations and school referrals. Those they cared for suffered from conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia, limited mobility, or hearing impairment, and over half were aged 85 or above.
From detailed interviews, the research team identified four main motivations for grandchildren to care for their grandparents: first, shaped by traditional Chinese values, their grandparents had looked after them as children, inspiring a desire to reciprocate; second, respondents viewed their grandparents as an integral part of family care and support, considering the care of elderly relatives to be a "family responsibility"; third, respondents wished to alleviate their parents' caregiving burden as a form of "indirect filial piety" and to share their worries; and fourth, because the respondents' parents and adult relatives needed to work, and the younger generation in education had relatively flexible schedules, enabling them to become a vital part of the family care network.
From detailed interviews, the research team identified four main motivations for grandchildren to care for their grandparents. Photo source: AP News
For example, a 21-year-old university student has to care for both her grandfather, who suffers from cancer and dementia, and her grandmother, who has a disability. She said that her grandparents had looked after her while her parents were at work, and as a university student, she could flexibly arrange her time to look after them. Another respondent, a 16-year-old secondary school student, helps care for her maternal grandmother, who suffers from degenerative leg conditions, mobility issues, and dizziness, and she pointed out that as both her parents work full-time, and her younger sister is still in primary school and cannot take on caregiving responsibilities, she is the only one with time to help.
However, the study specifically notes that over 300,000 households in Hong Kong employ foreign domestic helpers for housework and childcare. This shift in family care models may reduce the traditional participation of grandparents in caring for grandchildren. The study raises concerns about how this shift in caregiving dynamics may impact grandparent-grandchild relationships and future intergenerational eldercare.
Prof Dickson Chan Chak-kwan, who led the study, explains that the findings show close relationships established with grandparents during childhood significantly influenced respondents' willingness to shoulder the responsibility of caring for their grandparents later in life. Photo source: LU
Prof Dickson Chan Chak-kwan, Research Professor and Director of APIAS at Lingnan University, said, "The government promotes an 'ageing in place' policy, which relies on 'informal caregivers' such as family members to support the elderly. Historically, society has paid little attention to the role of grandchildren as carers, yet this study found that being cared for by grandparents during childhood, upon reaching adulthood grandchildren are eager to reciprocate the care received from their ailing grandparents, remaining steadfast in their willingness to provide support despite the arduous nature of caregiving. Nowadays, due to a reliance on domestic helpers for childcare, fewer opportunities for grandparents to participate in their grandchildren’s upbringing may affect the chances of both generations building reciprocal relationships. Therefore, government and social welfare organisations should encourage more inclusive activities, introduce parents to the benefits of grandparental involvement in childcare, provide appropriate assistance to grandparents caring for their grandchildren, and increase opportunities for grandparent-grandchild interaction and bonding. Fostering emotional connections between the younger generation and their grandparents from early childhood is crucial to sustaining a long-term intergenerational eldercare support network."
Prof Chan emphasised that society must not overlook the real-world dilemmas faced by these "invisible carers" who are grandchildren, as many young respondents mentioned their lack of nursing knowledge and caregiving skills. One respondent reported suffering from lower back pain and muscle strain from caring for her grandmother, requiring physiotherapy, and also sustained wrist and arm strains.
Prof Chan suggested that social welfare organisations could collaborate with secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and youth centres to provide young carers with basic knowledge and skills for looking after family members with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Furthermore, schools and universities might consider offering appropriate support and flexible arrangements to help students with caregiving responsibilities balance their studies and personal lives.
Lingnan University
For the full research paper, please visit: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijsw.70080
