The OUHK is committed to providing innovative education in new ways and streams that serve Hong Kong and beyond. With every year that marks our growth, the University has responded with fresh courses and programmes that allow the next crop of learners to adapt and thrive in our ever-changing world. This year, 14 new programmes were launched, including Bachelor- and Master-level degrees, as well as Postgraduate Certificates. Our academic units have maintained their service delivery through distance learning, e-learning and face-to-face classes, providing courses that enhance intellectual capacity and prepare students for greater success. OUHK members continued to organize and take part in various research and exchange activities, enriching course content and pushing the boundaries of a wide range of academic disciplines.
The School of Arts and Social Sciences
The School of Arts and Social Sciences aims to broaden students' perspectives on life, society, culture and values, and provide them with knowledge, methodologies and theories for analytical and critical thinking. It has de4veloped a wide range of programmes in language, literature, translation, liberal studies, social sciences, psychology, economics, sociology, public administration, and law enforcement and security management.
Two new JUPAS programmes – Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Chinese, and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Language Studies and Translation of the School admitted its batch of students for 2009-2010. Major academic activities organized by the School included lectures and seminars on the financial tsunami, the work of renowned writer Liu Yichang and legal translation. The School also collaborated with the Education Bureau in developing teaching plans for liberal studies in the secondary school curriculum.
Financial Tsunami and Asia's Emergence as a Global Leader
In a lecture on 18 September 2009 sponsored by Lam Kin Chung Morning Sun Charity Fund to mark the anniversary of the financial tsunami that rocked economies around the globe, Lingnan University former President and eminent economist Prof. Edward K Y Chen explained how the efficient capital theory and US dollar standard led to the meltdown and emergence of Asian countries like China as global leaders.
Liu Yichang and Modernism
An international conference on ‘Liu Yichang and Modernism’, jointly organized by the School and the Centre for Humanity Research of Lingnan University, was held at the OUHK on 18 November 2009. Prof. Liu, whose novels inspired the creation of films such as In the Mood for Love and 2046 by film director Wong Kar-wai, shared his writing experience at a seminar hosted by the School the following day. The 91-year-old novelist accepted his appointment as Honorary Professor of the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) programme in Creative Writing and Film Arts, and received a sketch of Nathan Road in the 60s depicted in his work Intersection by a Year 2 student of the Programme.
Translation competition and seminars, and formation of
Institute of Legal Translation
The School kicked off a translation competition on 15 June 2009 and held an award ceremony for winners in the two categories of legal and literary translation on 17 October, which was followed by three presentations. While the Hon Mr Justice Patrick Chan spoke on ‘Bilingualism in the Courts – Past, Present and Future’ and Mr Anthony Neoh, SC, discussed the absorption of Western legal concepts in Chinese law, legislator Dr the Hon Margaret Ng presented interesting legal translation examples. The School’s staff and postgraduate students inaugurated the Hong Kong Institute of Legal Translation to provide an exchange platform and find ways to meet the severe demand for competent translators.
Helping teachers teach liberal studies and economics
In 2007, the Education Bureau invited the School to develop three teaching plans on the topic of globalization to help teachers teach liberal studies classes for the new senior secondary school curriculum. The plans, developed together with the Educational Technology and Publishing Unit, were introduced at a seminar for teachers on 27 June 2009. The School also delivered 11 lectures from December 2008 to June 2009 to better prepare economics teachers for the new curriculum.
Student becomes a Hong Kong Young Strategist
In March 2010, Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Psychology full-time Year 3 student Kirby Tsang was selected from among top local university students to join the Hong Kong Young Strategists Program under Hong Kong Strategy (HKS), a local think tank consisting of university professors, business community leaders, heads of NGOs and other professionals. The young strategists will attend meetings with top Government officials, take part in various policy research and public consultation exercises and work together with HKS members to produce research papers.
