MU Connect issue 3 (page 16 to 17)

Mr Michael Wong joined the University Council in 2008 and had been the Chairman since 2016 until his departure this June. He jokingly describes himself as having been a volunteer for 14 years, during which he didn't even have his own office on the campus: 'But for me, this is a very meaningful job.'

The most precious memory

Taking a stroll down memory lane, he finds the moment when the University was officially renamed the most cherished reminiscence in his long journey with the Council. 'Going with the current trend of educational development, we take on a new University title, adopt a new logo and a new motto, and embrace a new identity to nurture students. This is indeed an epochal change, and is a significant milestone in the sustainable development of the University in the higher education sector,' he says.

Mr Wong recalls meeting with a group of student representatives when he became the Council Chairman. 'A female student said that when she told her friend she was admitted to the then OUHK, her friend asked: “Is that a night school?” The student immediately burst into tears when she heard this,' he says. 'I got mixed emotions about her story, which drove me to consider repositioning the University. People in the community often misunderstand that we are still a purely distance learning institution, and some graduates are even looked down on by their employers under such misapprehension. These stereotypes are neither appropriate nor fair to our full-time students.'

While gazing up at the University logo on the outer wall of the campus building, Mr Wong eulogises over the brand new design for its ingeniousness. 'The logo has a modern design and an exceptional charm. The two colours, which are also the main colours used in the logo of the then OUHK, connote a sense of “outshining” and inheritance,' he speaks with excitement. He also commends the promotional video released after the retitling for its infectivity which has increased public awareness of the University.

The proudest achievements

The spanking new image of the institution has fulfilled Mr Wong's strategic goal of boosting the University's reputation and brand image, one of the four key priorities he set out when taking office as Chairman. He is thankful to the Council, faculty and staff for their concerted efforts which have bolstered the University's developments in leaps and bounds. He is also grateful to students for their unwavering support. Nevertheless, he still has a vivid memory of the various challenges he encountered at the time. He particularly takes pride in the University for achieving gratifying enrolment and maintaining financial robustness amid the declining number of secondary school graduates. 'One of the reasons is that the programmes we offer respond to the needs of the society and cater to the students' interest,' he explains. 'Over the years, we have been providing education in a pragmatic way. Even though we need to be responsible for our own profits and losses, so far we do not need any taxpayer funding, which I'm really proud of.'

Moreover, he takes pride in witnessing the opening of the Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare last year, which marked a big leap forward in the development of our nursing and healthcare disciplines. 'Universities are where we nurture talents to serve the society. For instance, about one-third of the nursing staff in Hong Kong have been trained by us,' he says proudly. Earlier Mr Wong received a letter from a member of the public expressing his gratitude for the painstaking care he received from the intern students of our Nursing School during his stay in the hospital. 'The patient was moved, and I am moved too. We see that our students have embodied the nursing spirit of soothing patients in distress and helping those in need. As a member of the MU community, it is certainly something to be proud of.'

Keep learning and shoulder responsibilities

The outgoing Chairman is also deeply impressed by the perseverance and unremitting efforts of our students. He affirms with appreciation, 'Perhaps their performance in DSE examinations was not up to scratch, but their personal quality is by no means inferior to that of students from other institutions. Over the years, our students have been receiving accolades or even championships in public competitions and earning employers' recognition on their work performance.' Although times have changed and the challenges faced by the young people of this generation are different from those of the past, he believes opportunities are still everywhere. 'Competition is indeed fiercer than before but there are plenty of chances. Mainland cities, for instance, give them access to a wide variety of opportunities that the previous generations did not have.'

He laments that the social turmoil we went through a few years ago was a great challenge, but he appreciates the rationality and restraint demonstrated by our students, which did not harm the University as a result. He believes that the University's newly established distinctive brand and its growing reputation, coupled with the programmes that keep pace with the needs of society and continuously improving teaching and learning, will surely give HKMU a promising future. 'I am contented to receive letters from the public applauding our students for their attainments, and to hear employers recognising our graduates for their outstanding performance at work. I will be really happy and gratified if I have the opportunity to meet our alumni in the future and see them serving their jobs with heart.'

Mr Wong is full of affection for the University and deeply attached to it, as his wife is also a member of this big family. 'She has obtained a Bachelor's and a Master's degrees from here. Sharing that “my wife is an alumna” makes me feel good,' he explains with a beaming smile. At his invitation, Mrs Wong writes for him his parting advice — Knowledge creates power, learning enriches life. He concurs that while studying can help lay a solid foundation for future career development, it also teaches us the philosophy of life. Riding on the far-sighted parting words, he encourages every one of the MU community: 'Maintain a broad vision and shoulder responsibilities for society and for the country.'