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