Kevin Chan Lai-sin

Bachelor of General Studies (distance learning programme)

Kevin Chan Lai-sin grew up in a grassroots family. After completing his Form 5 education, he worked for the MTR and studied design part-time. He entered the design industry once he had obtained the relevant qualifications. He is now the design director of the design centre he established, employing more than 200 staff members.

To Kevin, knowledge is the greatest form of wealth. With the hope of learning more about different disciplines, he enrolled in the OUHK’s Bachelor of General Studies programme in 2006 and graduated in December last year.

Kevin said the high-quality course materials and the professional tutors had inspired him to study hard. He was also impressed by the persistence and stamina of OUHK students. He met many who were studying simply to gain knowledge, not for higher qualifications or better career prospects. For that reason, he always gives preference to OUHK graduates when recruiting staff.

His enjoyable learning experience motivated him to pursue further studies. He has started an early childhood education programme, a psychology programme and a Master’s level business administration programme. Kevin encourages his colleagues to pursue lifelong learning and he has become a role model for them.

Manny Cheuk Man-wai

Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in General Health Care (full-time programme)

Manny first aspired to be a nurse when she was in Form Six, but was admitted to a Higher Diploma in electrical engineering programme under the Joint University Programmes Admissions System. After studying engineering for just two months, she knew she could not catch up with the class. Around the same time visits to her grandfather who was ill in hospital rekindled her aspiration to become a nurse. Manny enrolled in a first-aid course and reviewed reading materials on human biology to prepare herself for a new course of study. These preparations paid off when the OUHK admitted her to the Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in General Health Care programme.

In her four years of study, she gained a deeper understanding of the work of a nurse and came to realize that nurses are often better able to tell the needs of patients than doctors because nurses have more frequent contact with patients. Her many unforgettable experiences include an encounter with a woman patient who suffered from postnatal depression. The woman brushed off all the people around her and refused to eat or rest. Manny talked to her with great patience, tried to feed her and prayed for her. The woman was finally moved by Manny’s kindness and recovered from her depression. Another memorable event occurred during the summer break in her third year of study — Manny donated her bone marrow. Convincing her family to accept her decision was the hardest thing, but she was relieved to win their support in the end. She was grateful for this opportunity to help give someone the gift of life.

Manny will start working in a hospital at the end of July. She plans to study for a Master’s Degree to advance her professional development.

Robert Lau Chi-ching

Master of Laws in Chinese Business Law (eLearning programme)

Robert Lau Chi-ching embarked on the OUHK’s Master of Laws in Chinese Business Law programme in 2008 and just obtained the degree in December last year.

Robert planned to pursue further studies after obtaining his Master of Science in China Business Studies degree at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2007. As his work as a company director required frequent travel to the mainland, Robert would have to lead a very busy life, balancing work and study. He finally decided to turn to the OUHK and enrol in the law programme, which is delivered in the e-learning mode.

Robert said that the OUHK programme allowed students to benefit from real-time lectures and tutorials, view videotaped lectures and seminars, and take part in discussion forums and video conferencing without needing to travel to the University. He also highly commended the programme for its practicality and extensive use of up-to-date case studies. The tutorials were conducted by practicising legal professionals. He also found that the practical knowledge of Chinese business law that he gained enhanced his management and communication skills.

Manny will start working in a hospital at the end of July. She plans to study for a Master’s Degree to advance her professional development.

Billy Ng Tsz-yu

Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Creative Writing and Film Arts (full-time programme)

Billy has been a film lover and a big fan of local actress and singer Miriam Yeung since he was a child. He has not missed a single album, film or concert of his idol and has collected many media clippings about her. Despite being a long-time fan of Miriam Yeung, Billy was able to use theories from ‘star studies,’ which is a type of film studies, to do an objective analysis of the codes used in her films. He even took into account the broader perspective of the dynamic relationship between her images in various films and the image of her in her daily life as seen through the media. In his final thesis, he examined the images projected by two characters played by Miriam Yeung in the films Love Undercover I & II, and Love in a Puff and its sequel Love in the Buff from a functionalist perspective. This year, the OUHK is presenting its first batch of creative writing and film arts graduates, and Billy is one of them.

During his four years of study, Billy explored various facets of creative media, including the production of, critical review of and research into different literary and film genres; the shooting and production of commercials and radio programmes; and the translation of subtitles and scripts. He gradually developed his own views on film study as well as a passion for expressing those views in writing. His reviews have been published on the website of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society and in Breakazine, which is published by the youth organization Breakthrough.

Billy will pursue a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in September to better equip himself for the future and gain a deeper understanding of various cultural forms.

Sun Gang

Master of Business Administration (distance learning programme)

Sun Gang, his wife and son are more than just a family. They are also all alumni of the OUHK, having completed the postgraduate business programmes jointly offered by the University and its mainland partner institutions. Sun Gang’s wife was the first in the family to study with the OUHK, pursuing a Master’s Degree and later recommending it to Sun Gang’s son. The two graduated in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

Sun Gang himself enrolled in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme launched by the OUHK in partnership with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2009, and graduated in July 2011.

Despite the fact that he was already very experienced, Sun Gang hoped to upgrade his qualifications and acquire new knowledge through the MBA programme. He also found that the OUHK’s programme suits the needs of senior mainland executives.

Sun Gang said that one of the challenges was to figure out the best way to study for the MBA programme, which involves a substantial number of case studies in the learning materials, and requires active thinking, drawing reference to work experiences, and the use of one’s personal judgment. As part of his administration and management role at the China Machinery Enterprise Management Association, Sun Gang has to conduct evaluations of corporations. He has found his MBA training useful in helping him to carry out his duties.

Sun Gang believes that the OUHK, in offering flexible and open education, provides a suitable platform for learning families and learning organizations. His family’s experience is just one good example.