Topping the list of achievements in the OUHK’s fund-raising efforts was the $160 million it obtained as a result of the Government’s Matching Grant Scheme, which was extended to the University for the first time during the year.

As expected, the change in the Government’s policy has given a strong boost to the University’s fund-raising efforts, with $92.1 million being collected in donations by January 2008. According to the funding guidelines, $45 million of these donations was matched 1:1 and the remainder 2:1 on a competitive, first-come-first-served basis together with nine other tertiary institutions in Hong Kong.

Among the most recent gifts were $10 million from Honorary Doctor Serena Yang Hsueh-chi, $3 million from Amway (China) Co Ltd and $1 million from Honorary University Fellow Mr Vincent Woo, while the University’s alumni, students and staff contributed $1.2 million in total.

Campus Phase II to open in 2008 autumn

Part of the money gained from the Matching Grant exercise will be used for the construction of the University’s Campus Phase II. The University has secured a $120 million interest-free loan from the Government and raised $138 million for the project. The building structure was topped out in January 2008 and the interior decoration work began immediately afterwards, with the entire extension scheduled to open in the autumn of 2008.

Linked to the present main campus building in Ho Man Tin, Campus Phase II will house two lecture theatres, more than 30 classrooms, several computer and language laboratories, more student amenities and a multi-purpose hall for holding sports and large-scale extra-curricular activities. With the completion of the new Phase, the area dedicated to student facilities will see a four-fold increase. The self-study room will be three times the size of the existing one, and the area for student activities will increase seven-fold.

Cheng Yu Tung Building inaugurated

The OUHK’s campus construction proceeded smoothly with substantial support from philanthropists and various sectors of the community. Following a resolution by the University Council, the high block of the main campus building was named after the renowned entrepreneur Dato’ Dr Cheng Yu-tung at a ceremony on 22 January 2008 in recognition of his donation of $35 million towards the development of the University’s Campus Phase II.

Largest donation from Dr Lee Shau-kee

The Council also unanimously resolved to name the OUHK’s School of Business and Administration after the eminent entrepreneur Dr Lee Shau-kee to acknowledge his $50 million gift in support of the University’s general development. The inauguration ceremony to commemorate this largest single donation the University has ever received from a benefactor was held on 19 September 2007.

More funds for student assistance

In giving the OUHK their support, the two entrepreneurs have joined with numerous philanthropists, businesses and charitable organizations who have contributed to the University’s Partners-in-Learning Scheme. The Scheme was established in 1993 after the University became self-financing as a result of the ending of Government subsidization of its recurrent expenditure. It has since amassed over $509 million to finance the University’s undertakings in areas such as course development, and research and academic exchange, in addition to campus construction.

A major beneficiary of the Partners-in-Learning Scheme has been the University’s Student Assistance Fund, which has over the years disbursed more than $48 million to students. In 2006–07 alone, financial awards of $3.8 million were presented to 472 students – 27% more than the previous year in money terms and 30% more in the number of recipients. At the award presentation ceremony on 24 September 2007, 311 of the recipients were given bursaries while the rest received scholarships or prizes. Mr Solomon Lee, former President of the Rotary Club of Kowloon East and a philanthropist who has donated to the OUHK since 1998, officiated at the ceremony and donated $5 million on the spot to establish the ‘Solomon Lee Education Fund’ to provide more bursary grants for needy students in the coming decade.

Further boost for Alumni Fund

In addition to friends from the community, another important source of income for the Student Assistance Fund is the University’s graduates and alumni. As people who have benefited from an OUHK education, they are well aware that their contributions offer opportunities and change the lives of many people. Since 2005–06, the Drs Richard Charles Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation has been providing grants to match donations to the OUHK’s Alumni Scholarship and Bursary Fund. With $1 million injected by the Foundation, the total amount of donations to the Fund since 2005 has exceeded $1.77 million. As a result, more scholarships and bursaries have been awarded to students. The success of the scheme has encouraged the Foundation to pledge another matching grant on a 1:1 basis for 2007–08. The University had already raised $500,000 – the maximum amount that can be matched by the grant – by April 2008.

An education fund to commemorate a brave alumnus

The sad news of the death of OUHK student and fireman Wong Ka-hei while on duty prompted several student and alumni societies to join with the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Staffs General Association in setting up the Wong Ka-hei Memorial Education Fund in June 2007. More than $560,000 has been raised to provide subsidies for non-degree-holding firemen to start any undergraduate courses at the OUHK. A scholarship of up to $4,000 will be granted to an eligible student upon completion of one or more courses with a pass grade.

Besides scholarships and bursaries, OUHK students can apply for low interest, non-means tested, interest-free and emergency assistance loans to finance their studies. Grants are also available from the Government for eligible students aged 25 or below. Nearly $110 million in grants, loans and bursaries was disbursed to over 8,000 OUHK students last year. Reimbursement for 80% of the tuition fees for courses under the Government’s Continuing Education Fund is also available, up to a ceiling of $10,000 for each individual. As of April 2008, 365 OUHK courses had been approved as reimbursable and 1,732 OUHK students applied for reimbursement of a total of $11.6 million last year. The University has also linked up with over 110 organizations through the Employer Support Study Scheme to provide tuition fee discounts to their employees.