When the OUHK arrived at its 30th anniversary last year, we chose as our theme ‘Striving to Nurture, Transforming the Future’. That theme recognizes that the future is not fixed, and that we can make a real and positive difference to how our society develops in the years ahead. We have seen how unexpected changes can occur, in the last year especially. But in ‘Striving to Nurture’, we also recognize an unchanging educational mission— one of nurturing talent for individual fulfilment and shared social advancement.

To reflect our evolution in the last couple of decades, we have decided it is time to adopt a new name. We do still offer a route for everyone at all stages of life looking for further education opportunities. But today, well over half of our students are secondary school leavers who are looking to qualify themselves as professionals in Hong Kong’s job market. I have witnessed this shift over recent years and am very happy to have seen more and more young students choose the OUHK as the launching pad for their careers and life ambitions. It has meant that the University is forging a distinctive position within our modern world, making a contribution to positive change, and gaining a reputation for delivering a high quality workforce to meet Hong Kong’s practical social and technological needs.

Recently, the results of our sexennial Institutional Review confirmed that we are definitely on the right track in our efforts. The comments of the Review Panel commended the OUHK across the board, and showed that our efforts in terms of delivering educational quality and student support can be compared favourably with any of the UGC universities. Commendations were also made for the way our performance-based pay and reward system and measures to support part-time teaching staff are supporting our staff fully, and motivating them to excel. I would like to thank the OUHK management and all staff for their efforts to bring the University to this level.

Our varied educational programmes are providing our students with specialized professional qualifications to address the needs of our society. But recent events such as the pandemic have also accentuated how important it is for people to possess more general life skills, along with qualities of adaptability, resilience and creativity in the face of challenges. Here at the OUHK, we have placed increasing focus on co-curricular activities for our students, and this has helped us produce new generations of all-round graduates who are learning to cope calmly and effectively with change.

To help students nurture these qualities of resilience and creativity in very difficult times, over the past year we have expended considerable resources on initiatives designed to lift students’ spirits and inject positivity and energy into their outlook. I hope these kinds of activities will contribute to our students becoming genuine leaders of tomorrow.

One very tangible symbol of the way the University is looking to transform the future is the new Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare building, now on the verge of coming into full use. I am delighted by the space and opportunities this wonderful new building will bring us all. It will not only offer more facilities and more space for talent training and knowledge building, but also provide a new focus for our healthcare work and related research.

More generally, our research work across the University is also being harnessed to contribute to the wider goal of Greater Bay Area integration and sharing. This is a goal that will be served by another project in the University’s pipeline — the establishment of the Open University of Hong Kong (Zhaoqing), which will be modelled on its Hong Kong counterpart in governance, curriculum design and positioning. The University has already shown its ability to serve the changing needs of Hong Kong through targeted, socially important teaching and research. This new plan will give us the chance to perform a similar role on a larger scale. The project is now pending approval by the Ministry of Education and we are hopeful that when it comes to fruition, it will play a significant role in fostering the exchange of talent and knowledge across the border.

Our Council Chairman, Mr Michael Wong, has been reappointed by the Government to the position for another term. I would like to sincerely thank him here for what he has done already for the University, and look forward to his continued leadership to steer the University towards new heights. We have also benefitted from the passionate commitment of our President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong over the past almost seven years. He has been instrumental in moving the University forward and guiding its transformation. His care and support for students impressed me in particular, which has helped us cultivate honest, determined and all-rounded talents for the Hong Kong community. As he approaches a well-earned retirement, I wish him the very best on behalf of everyone at the OUHK.

Charles Lee Yeh-kwong
Pro-Chancellor
September 2020