May 2002
The Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation conducted an institutional review of the OUHK from 16 to 18 May. The Council concluded in its report that the University 'has succeeded in maintaining a sound and effective system of quality assurance for the delivery of its programmes'. It also suggested that the system could be further enhanced with streamlined procedures. 		 
  President Prof. Tam Sheung-wai presenting a souvenir to Ms Wong Wai-sum, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation, after the review visit.
 
 
 

June 2002
The Second Conference on Research in Distance and Adult Learning in Asia hosted by the OUHK on the Ho Man Tin campus from 5 to 7 June attracted 140 participants from 19 countries, among whom 90 were Mainland or overseas delegates. Organized by the Centre for Research in Distance and Adult Learning, the Conference explored issues related to online research and delivery of open and distance education. Apart from meeting face-to-face, participants also held a number of pre- and post-conference electronic discussions.

After consultation with students, graduates and staff, the OUHK submitted a response to the University Grants Committee regarding the Higher Education Review Report published in March. In the submission the OUHK expressed concern about the Report's lack of attention to open and distance education and its reference to the OUHK as a 'private university'.

The Open University in the UK (UKOU) awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University to President Prof. Tam Sheung-wai in recognition of his contribution to higher education on 8 June in London.

About 100 local and overseas academics and educational administrators attended the 8th Hong Kong Web Symposium and discussed issues related to lifelong e-learning at the OUHK's Island Learning Centre on 8 June. With the theme of 'Lifelong e-learning: what works and why?', the event was part of an annual series of activities organized by the Hong Kong Web Symposium Consortium, which was formed by educators working in schools, tertiary institutions and government departments.

  
 
Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, Director of the Centre for Research in Distance and Adult Learning, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Second Conference on Research in Distance and Adult Learning in Asia.
 
 
(From left) UKOU's Prof. Ann Floyd and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Allan Cochrane with Prof. Tam Sheung-wai at the honorary degree award ceremony.
 
  Prof. Yang Fujia, Chancellor of Nottingham University, UK and former President of Fudan University in Mainland China, was one of the keynote speakers at the Hong Kong Web Symposium.
 
 
  Experts from various sectors exchange views on environmental and sustainable development education at the community, school, university and governmental levels during the workshop.
 
 
Forty-five local and overseas experts attended the 'Workshop on Education for Environment and Sustainable Development' hosted by the School of Science and Technology on the campus on 24 and 25 June. About 100 local school teachers also took part in a training session.
 
 
 

July 2002
More than 160 participants, including around 60 senior officers from the Hong Kong Police and other disciplined forces, joined the 'Asian Policing in the 21st Century' Conference hosted by the School of Arts and Social Sciences on the campus on 29 July. The Conference was the first international academic police studies conference held in Hong Kong. It was sponsored by Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation and over 20 papers were presented by overseas and local experts and scholars. The co-organizers were the Asian Association of Police Studies, the Centre for Criminology of the University of Hong Kong, and the School of Continuing Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

  
 
Mr Timothy Tong (right), Acting Permanent Secretary for Security, and Mr Lee Ming-kwai, Deputy Commissioner of Police, were keynote speakers at the Conference.
 
 
 

October 2002
The OUHK's website won a Web Care Award from the Internet Professionals Association and its Information Centre a Certificate of Merit in the Third Annual Call Centre Awards Competition jointly organized by the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Hong Kong Call Centre Association.

An environmental forum on emission trading hosted by the School of Science and Technology on 5 October was attended by over 250 participants from a number of educational and environmental organizations. Three experts in the field talked about emission theories and trading experiences in Mainland China and North America in their keynote speeches.

  
 
The forum began with opening remarks by Dr Sarah Liao (third from right), Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works.
 
 
Vice President (Technology and Development) Prof. Leung Chun-ming receiving the awards on behalf of the University.
 
 
 

November 2002
The Asian Association of Open Universities presented the Meritorious Service Award in 2002 to President Prof. Tam Sheung-wai at the opening ceremony of its 16th Annual Conference held in Seoul on 5 November. The Award was made in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the development of open and distance education over the last decade.

In addition, School of Education and Languages Associate Professors Dr Thomas Tang and Dr Yvonne Fung won the Best Paper Award at the Conference. Their paper was titled 'A comparison of two learning communities in the digital era – how contexts and functions affect online participation in distance learning courses for teachers'.

Four ardent supporters of the OUHK and adult education were awarded the Honorary University Fellowship on 6 November. They were businessmen Mr Michael Fung (right) and Mr Bankee Kwan (left), educator Prof. Tam Man-kwan and Madam Li Zi, Chief Director of Fuguang Foundation in Mainland China.

  
 
Prof. Tam(left) receiving the Meritorious Service Award from Prof. Cho Kyoo Hyang, President of the AAOU and the Korean National Open University.  
 
 
 
 

December 2002
The OUHK presented 4,664 academic awards at its 11th Congregation held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 10 and 11 December. More than half of the graduates were awarded Bachelor's degrees, while 40 per cent received Master's degrees or postgraduate diplomas and certificates.

Honorary doctorates were conferred on four outstanding individuals. They were (from left) Professor Emeritus of the FernUniversität in Germany Prof. Otto Peters (Doctor of Letters, honoris causa); entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr Fong Yun-wah (Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa); actress Ms Josephine Siao (Doctor of Letters, honoris causa); and Chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong Dr Victor Fung (Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa).

  
 
 
 
 
 

February 2003
The OUHK Council approved the appointment of Prof. John Leong as the fourth President of the University. Prof. Leong, aged 60, is an eminent orthopaedic surgeon and currently Professor and Head of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University of Hong Kong. He is also the Chairman of the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation. Prof. Leong will take office in December 2003 after the retirement of Prof. Tam Sheung-wai.

  
 
 
 
2002-2003 OUHK Annual report