In 2010–11, the University reached a number of significant milestones. The first of these took place in November 2010 when we celebrated our 21st birthday. The highlight of the year, however, was our successful land bid to build a new college on Chung Hau Street in Ho Man Tin.
The New College in Ho Man Tin
The New College will provide full-time, face-to-face learning in cultural and creative arts, testing and certification and medical services, to support several of the Hong Kong Government’s pillar industries. Half of the college’s construction cost will be funded by a $317 million interest-free loan from the Government.
The building of the New College is particularly exciting from several perspectives. First, the acquisition of the Chung Hau Street plot gives us a wonderful opportunity to provide our students with further amenities, and expand and develop our programmes.
Second, the land grant and interest-free loan demonstrate the Government’s endorsement of our full-time learning programmes, which now have a student population of over 5,000. The New College, with a planned intake of 750 students annually, will have a total student population of 2,400.
Third, the New College will enable the OUHK to build on its existing strengths to create programmes that will fulfil community needs. For instance, the demand for medical practitioners and nurses continues to grow, and the New College will offer further nursing programmes in general and mental health care, while exploring specialities such as physiotherapy, medical technology and public hygiene. Also, the introduction of two distance learning bachelor’s programmes in Product Design, Testing and Certification in April 2011 will respond to the growing need for qualified professionals in this relatively new discipline. It will give us the opportunity to gain valuable experience in this field. In addition, we will offer relevant subjects in cultural and creative arts by expanding our present offering in the area of Creative Writing and Film Arts.
Lastly, the OUHK’s ongoing development and expansion provides an ideal example of the success and sustainability of the self-financing educational model. With our 21 years of experience and high academic standing, we are set to take on a leadership role as more self-financed tertiary institutions are established in Hong Kong.
The New College, OUHK (OU-NC)
Gross floor area: 21,500 sq m (11 floors and a basement)
Student intake: An expected annual intake of 750, with a total student population of 2,400. |
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The 21st birthday celebration banquet
On 6 November 2010, we celebrated the OUHK’s 21st birthday at a banquet attended by over 700 students, alumni, staff and guests. During the evening, the Guest of Honour – Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare – commended the OUHK for its role in promoting lifelong learning in Hong Kong.
In recognition of the important role OUHK staff have played in meeting our objectives, Long Service Awards were presented to around 90 members of the OUHK team. The entertainment of the banquet included a rap song specially written for this occasion by a full-time graduate and the presentation of a design created by Mr Jan Lam, the well-known local disc jockey and designer, for the 10th anniversary of our full-time programmes.
Meeting the challenges ahead
Over the years, the University has introduced many changes by improving its facilities, setting up a modern campus, providing innovative and flexible learning, and adopting the latest technology to make its learning programmes more accessible and interactive. These ongoing enhancements, however, require considerable financial resources. Although it has been a struggle at times, the OUHK has been able to demonstrate that a university without government subvention can provide high-quality tertiary programmes.
Hong Kong will see the establishment of more tertiary education institutions based on this self-financing model. While this will mean greater competition for the OUHK, we welcome this move as it will offer greater opportunities for university education in Hong Kong.
Within the OUHK, we are fully aware that these developments will bring new challenges, and we will need to be focused to stay ahead of the increasing competition. We believe the pioneering role we have played in the establishment of this educational model will cement our leadership in the field, and we will have a valuable role to play in the years ahead.
