Lingnan University and the Civil Service Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government jointly organised the first Government Career Fair on the Lingnan campus today (29 September), with 20 exhibition booths, bringing together over 15 government bureaux and departments — including the Digital Policy Office, the Education Bureau, disciplined services and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, totalling over 30 civil service grades. Recruitment activities were held alongside career talks, on-site interviews, and written examinations, helping students gain a deeper understanding of the career development opportunities available across different government grades.
Mrs Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan, Secretary for the Civil Service, visited the Lingnan campus and the Fair, accompanied by Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, and Mr Bernard Wu Tak-lung, Chairman of the Career Development Committee. She spoke with representatives from the government bureaux and departments, as well as University staff and students, to learn more about the expectations and career aspirations of the younger generation regarding government careers.
Mrs Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan, Secretary for the Civil Service, tours the Lingnan campus and Career Fair, accompanied by Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, Mr Bernard Wu Tak-lung, Chairman of the Career Development Committee, and Ms Irene Ng Wai-ming, Director of Student Affairs. Mrs Yeung also speaks with representatives of government bureaux and departments, as well as University staff and students, to learn more about the expectations and career aspirations of the younger generation regarding government careers. Photo source: Lingnan University
Mrs Yeung said, “The Government encourages young people with aspirations for public service to join the civil service. Through direct exchanges with students at Lingnan University, government departments help students gain a deeper understanding of the wide range of career opportunities available in the Government and facilitate their early career planning. The Government will continue to offer graduates from diverse academic backgrounds broad career development opportunities, enabling them to apply their professional knowledge and expertise in serving the public.”
President Qin said, “Since the 2024/25 academic year, Lingnan University has made generative artificial intelligence (AI) a compulsory common core course for all first-year students, enabling them to develop AI and digital capabilities while cultivating their critical thinking abilities. These students have now entered their third year of study, at a time when the HKSAR Government is actively promoting ‘AI+’ development, offering opportunities for young people equipped with digital capabilities and a wish to serve the community through public service. Gaining exposure to the civil service before graduation allows students to apply what they have learned in real-world settings and encourages them to think at an earlier stage about how technology can be used to respond to the needs of society.”
Students participating in the event welcomed the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the work scope of different government bureaux and departments and their talent needs, as well as how their academic backgrounds and skills can be applied in public administration and community services. Through direct exchanges with representatives from various government bureaux and departments, students were able to learn more about career development prospects, recruitment arrangements, and job vacancies in the civil service, and gained deeper insight into the important responsibilities that the civil service team shoulders in serving the community and supporting the HKSAR’s long-term development.
The Office of Student Affairs at Lingnan University said that the University will continue to strengthen collaboration with government departments, businesses, and all sectors of the community to actively expand opportunities for students, and provide more diversified employment support and talent development initiatives to help them make a smooth transition from university to the workplace. Lingnan will continue to fulfil the important role of higher education in nurturing talent, and cultivating graduates with an international outlook, an innovative spirit, and a strong sense of social responsibility, thereby injecting new impetus into the future development of the HKSAR.
Lingnan University and the Civil Service Bureau of the HKSAR Government jointly organise the first Government Career Fair. Photo source: Lingnan University
To promote campus internationalisation and broaden students’ global perspective, Lingnan University held “International Day 2026 – Gateways to the World” on campus today, 3 November, co-organised by the Office of Global Education and the Office of Student Affairs. It attracted more than 800 students and members of the faculty and the public. Students from 17 countries and regions served as cultural ambassadors, wearing traditional attire and showing the customs and everyday life of their home countries through folk performances as well as cultural exhibits. The event was also open to the public, strengthening the University’s ties with the community and enabling visitors to discover the special appeal of different cultures through cross-cultural exchange.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing at Lingnan University; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence; Prof Bradley R. Barnes, Special Advisor to President on Internationalisation and Director of Global Education; and Ms Irene Ng Wai-ming, Director of Student Affairs.
In his welcome address, Prof Barnes explained that internationalisation is not simply about providing students with opportunities to participate in overseas exchange programmes. More importantly, the University is committed to building an international campus where students and staff from diverse cultural backgrounds can learn from one another, collaborate, and develop friendships through their everyday learning and campus life, highlighting the appeal of studying in the Hong Kong SAR. He said, “The Hong Kong SAR has the unique advantage of bringing Chinese and Western cultures together. Through immersive activities like this, the University equips students with the cross-cultural collaboration and communication skills they need to develop a broader global perspective while studying on campus, and better prepares them for careers in an increasingly international workplace.”
At “International Day 2026 – Gateways to the World”, students from Bhutan, the Chinese Mainland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, and the UK played an active role in planning and running the exhibition booths. Through music, traditional dance performances, handicraft displays, interactive booths, and in-depth discussions, they broke down linguistic and geographical barriers by introducing visitors to the history, traditions, and everyday cultures of their home countries. The campus was transformed into a vibrant global village, giving faculty, students and members of the public an opportunity to experience the cultural diversity and distinctive traditions of different parts of the world.
Dawit Kidu Hailezgi, from Ethiopia, is Lingnan University's first student admitted from the country this academic year. A first-year non-local student studying Health and Social Services Management in the Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class, he assumed the role of Global Ambassador shortly after enrolment and participated in the event. He said, “International Day has given me the opportunity to engage with students from various countries and experience different cultures firsthand. As a first-year student new to Lingnan, this experience has not only allowed me to make many new friends and broaden my global horizons, but has also enabled me to deeply feel Lingnan's diverse, inclusive, and vibrant campus atmosphere.”
It also provided a platform for face-to-face cross-cultural dialogue between the University community and the public, giving students of different nationalities a better understanding of one another and some cross-cultural experience, while broadening their global perspective. It further enabled them to build international connections in a diverse yet inclusive environment, reinforcing the University’s commitment to whole-person education.
In recent years, Lingnan has actively promoted campus internationalisation in support of the Hong Kong SAR’s vision of becoming an international hub for post-secondary education. Through student exchange programmes, an international network of partner institutions, and an inclusive campus environment, the University integrates global elements into academic and campus life, creating more opportunities for students to engage with the world, and showcasing the highly internationalised learning environment of the Hong Kong SAR.
Students from 17 countries and regions play an active role in planning and running exhibition booths at “International Day 2026 – Gateways to the World”, transforming the campus into a vibrant global village and attracting more than 800 students and members of the faculty and public.
Exchange students from Mexico in traditional attire energise the audience with a folk dance showing the distinctive culture of Latin America, and draw crowds of students and staff.
Students from Bhutan in traditional attire perform a folk dance, revealing their country’s rich cultural heritage to faculty and students.
Students serve as cultural ambassadors, introducing visitors to local customs, traditions, and everyday life in their home countries.
Prof Bradley R. Barnes, Special Advisor to President on Internationalisation and Director of Global Education at Lingnan University, says that the University is committed to building an international campus where faculty and students from diverse cultural backgrounds can learn from one another, collaborate, and develop friendships through their everyday academic and campus life, highlighting the appeal of studying in the Hong Kong SAR.
Dawit Kidu Hailezgi, a Lingnan University Global Ambassador and first-year non-local student from Ethiopia studying Health and Social Services Management in the Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class (CCT Class), marking the university's first admission from the country this academic year, takes part in the event.
