To fulfill its self-financing mandate particularly under the recent adverse economic conditions, the OUHK always strives to maintain a lean and effective staffing structure.

During the year, the number of established posts was maintained at around 540, including 138 academic posts. The number of part-time tutors and instructors remained at around 1,200. To ensure cost-effectiveness, seasonal staffing needs continued to be met by appointments on a temporary or part-time basis.

The year saw an encouraging improvement in the academic profile of the University's staff. The percentage of academic staff possessing a doctorate increased from around 50 to 60 per cent.
 
 
The OUHK staff e-learning website.

 

  

Enhancing staff quality
The OUHK believes that human resources are its most valuable assets. During the year, it continued its efforts to enhance staff quality by making available to staff training and development opportunities.

In addition to orientation and training for new tutors, professional development seminars are arranged twice a year to develop and update tutors on relevant topics. To cope with an increasing demand for online courses at the University, a new online training course to help familiarize tutors with online tutoring has been offered since March 2003.

For full-time staff, the University has been providing in-house training in various areas including information technology, languages, management skills and customer service. Over 1,100 attendances were recorded for a total of 37 courses and seminars in the year. An e-learning website was being developed to provide a more timely and flexible learning environment for staff.

The University also sponsored 227 attendances at local and overseas conferences/seminars/short courses and supported 25 staff to pursue formal qualifications, including 12 academic staff for doctoral degrees.
 
 
Dr Yuen Kin-sun, Head of Educational Technology and Publishing, with colleague Connie Tsang, receiving the trophy for the first prize in the talent contest at the Christmas Party on behalf of their Unit.

 
 
 
Other initiatives
A survey was conducted on the level of satisfaction of staff with the services provided under the OUHK's retirement schemes. Measures were being taken to follow up the results of the survey.
 
The OUHK has raised nearly $150,000 for the 'We Care Education Fund' to help the children whose parents have died of SARS.
 
 

In consultation with the Equal Opportunities Commission, the OUHK's policy on equal opportunities was revised to ensure full compliance with the relevant legislation and codes of practice, in particular the Code of Practice on Education.

A computerized system acquired earlier to enhance the efficiency of human resources management was put into operation. The first phase, which focused on the integration of human resources management and payroll administration, was completed. Other self-service functions of the system such as online application for annual leave and updating of personal particulars by staff will be implemented in the second phase.

An Occupational Safety and Health Week to promote workplace safety awareness among staff was organized by the Occupational Safety and Health Committee. A number of activities including talks, video shows and demonstrations were held. A group of colleagues were appointed as safety representatives of their respective administrative and academic units at the opening ceremony.
 
 

(Left) Display boards giving tips on occupational safety and health were set up on campus.

(Right) Dr Gordon Maxwell, Assistant Professor of the School of Science and Technology, demonstrates how to use a fire extinguisher.
 
 

President's Award for Distinguished Achievement
The President's Award for Distinguished Achievement was established in 1997 to honour staff members with outstanding achievements. The Awards for 2002 were presented to three academic members of staff – School of Education and Languages Associate Professors Dr Yvonne Fung and Dr Thomas Tang, and Centre for Research in Distance and Adult Learning Research Fellow Dr Zhang Weiyuan – in recognition of their award-winning papers at the Asian Association of Open Universities Annual Conferences.

  
(From left) Dr Tang, Dr Fung, President Prof. Tam Sheung-wai and Dr Zhang.
 
 

More partners-in-learning
Apart from the hard work of a conscientious team of staff, the success of the OUHK depends on the support it gains from the community. Various charities and many enlightened members of the community have for years contributed to the cause of the OUHK, with donations in support of its campus facilities, student assistance, course development, and research and scholarship. The OUHK's Partners-in-Learning Campaign was introduced in 1993 when the University became self-financing. Over the years, the Scheme has raised over $260 million from various charitable organizations and philanthropists.
 
 
OUHK students, staff and their families joined the Walk for Millions from Shatin Racecourse to Shatin Park. Some of the participants gathered together before the walkathon began.
 
 

The Alumni Scholarship and Bursary Fund received about $136,000 from graduates. Use of the OUHK-Wing Hang Bank affinity card by the University's students, staff and alumni led to a donation of over $900,000 by the Bank.

The year also saw a further increase in the number of companies joining the University's Employer Support Study Scheme (ESSS) to provide support for their staff's education here. Among the 104 member companies at the year end, 18 were new members. Employees of ESSS companies studying the University's courses can apply for a 10 per cent discount in tuition fees. During the year 280 students from over 30 companies were granted fee benefits of $315,000.
 
 

Community support and involvement
The University's Library continued to donate used learning materials to prisons to provide better study support for inmates students. A total of 190 boxes of such materials were donated during the year.

Students, graduates and staff responded enthusiastically to appeals for charitable causes such as Walk for Millions, Dress Casual Day, Blood Donation Day of the Hong Kong Red Cross, and the University's Chinese New Year Charity Sale for the Bursary Fund.

They also showed their concern for the environment by participating in tree planting and weeding activities at the University's 'Open Garden' in the Sai Kung Country Park. Since the Garden was set up in 1998, over 1,000 people have joined the outings.
 
 

More than $22,800 was raised from the charity sale for the Year of the Goat in support of the Student Assistance Fund. The donations will be used to help students with financial difficulties to continue with their studies.
 
 
Table 3 : Number of staff in each unit, centre and school
Unit, Centre and School Establishment Strength Vacancy
President’s Office 26 20 6
School of Arts and Social Sciences 30 27 3
School of Business and Administration 55 52 3
School of Education and Languages 20 19 1
School of Science and Technology 43 43 0
Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education 38 37 1
Centre for Research in Distance and Adult Learning 7 6 1
Administration and Accommodation Unit 37 37 0
Educational Technology and Publishing Unit 63 63 0
Finance Unit 40 40 0
Human Resources Unit 20 19 1
Information Technology Unit 48 48 0
Library 35 33 2
Public Affairs Unit 18 18 0
Registry 64 63 1
Total 544 525 19
Note : Exclusive of temporary and part-time staff. 31.3.2003
 
 
 
Table 4 : Organization Structure
 
 

# Vice President (Academic) also oversees academic matters of the Centre for Research in Distance and Adult Learning.

* Vice President (Technology and Development) also supervises major physical resources projects of the Administration and Accommodation Unit.

 
 
 
 
2002-2003 OUHK Annual report