In a world gripped by an unprecedented financial crisis and experiencing the impact of a global economic decline, many countries have implemented fiscal stimulus measures to revive economic growth and provide employment. In Hong Kong, many programmes have been created to combat and alleviate economic hardship, including assistance to the financial sector, liquidity for businesses and the acceleration of public works projects to safeguard employment opportunities. However, in this new global reality, Hong Kong must rely on innovation and a highly educated workforce to maintain its prosperity. Human resources have always been our society’s most valuable asset, and so to maintain our competitiveness it is critical to enhance the educational quality and competence of our population by developing a knowledge-based society and encouraging lifelong learning.
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Members of the University Council |
Since its inception, the OUHK has embraced the mission of providing higher education for all who aspire to it, irrespective of age and educational background, through its ‘open-door’ policy and flexible teaching modes. The services the University has offered have met the pressing need for tens of thousands of working adults to upgrade themselves, especially those who were left out by the highly selective tertiary education system. From modest beginnings since its founding in 1989 by the Government as an institute to provide open education for adults, it has developed into a full-fledged and accredited university.
The University has helped to popularize the concept of lifelong learning and over 150,000 people from varied backgrounds and age groups have benefited from this alternative route for part-time and full-time education. These learners have managed to overcome many barriers and challenges to acquire academic qualifications which are widely accepted as symbolizing quality and competence. Among them, 57,000 have been awarded recognized degrees or diploma qualifications and have moved on to better careers or more rewarding lives.
OUHK graduates are among those eagerly sought after by businesses and employers as they have demonstrated diligence, tenacity and good time-management in balancing competing demands.
The University’s efforts to reach out to young school leavers by offering full-time degree programmes have met with considerable success. Many associate degree graduates from other institutions have taken advantage of our credit transfer arrangements and multiple entry and exit pathways to complete their studies for a bachelor’s degree; and professional and niche groups have benefited from a variety of enriched modes of programme presentation from undergraduate to doctoral level. Beyond Hong Kong, the OUHK has introduced high-quality distance education to mainland China through partnerships with institutions in various provinces. Over 9,000 people there have obtained the University’s qualifications after completing programmes in business administration, teacher education, law and translation. It has also enhanced its course offerings with e-learning components in line with technological advances, and is making headway in presenting more fully online courses to benefit people around the world. The OUHK currently offers more than 190 programmes and over 600 courses to over 17,000 students, thus making a substantial contribution to the development of human resources.
As a financially self-sustaining university, the OUHK does not receive any Government recurrent subsidies. It fulfils its mission of providing thousands of places for higher education through astute and efficient financial management based on fees, contributions, endowments and investment income. Over 90% of its recurrent expenditure is met from tuition fees, with occasional ad-hoc grants and generous assistance from the Government and the community. Its success over the last 20 years has shown that a combination of prudent management, effective governance and financial discipline is a winning formula for survival and growth. The recent collapse of the global financial system due to market excesses is a poignant reminder of the need for sound management practices, and vigilance and supervision as well as vision. The OUHK will continue to uphold its operating principles, and enhance its capacity and efficiency in offering higher education opportunities to contribute to the building of a better society.
I have served as the Chairman of the OUHK Council from 1998 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2009. During this time, it has been my good fortune to receive the able assistance of our dedicated Council members and University staff. I have also been privileged to witness the phenomenal growth of the University and its expanding role in helping Hong Kong’s development as a learning society. Especially heartening is the success we have had in mobilizing the support of the community to provide a better learning environment for students. Our productive funding drive has enabled us to complete Phase Two of our campus and turn our cherished wish for modern facilities for students into reality. It is our earnest hope that the OUHK’s exemplary operating model and its contributions will be given more recognition through greater Government and community support in the future. The OUHK marches on with zeal and determination in the 21st century, ready to play an even greater role in providing cost-effective and quality-assured higher education. |
