Openlink Vol 24 Issue 1 (March 2015)

Ten years ago, Cyrus Cheng Ka-chi entered the workforce to become a salesperson after performing poorly in his A-level examinations. One day, he was asked to work on the programming of the company website, and while working on this task he realized he had a real aptitude and interest in IT. He therefore started studying for an honours degree in Internet technology at the OUHK in 2010. After graduation he made a successful career change into IT, and was soon promoted to a middle management position.

Cyrus observes that employers occasionally have an incorrect picture of OUHK graduates, with some believing that they are less competitive. However, having now studied at four different local universities, Cyrus speaks highly of OUHK graduates, praising their self-discipline and strong independent learning skills. He believes that it is good attitude that counts in the workplace, and encourages youngsters to face any challenge and go for their goals.

Cyrus is now studying for a master's degree at the CUHK, with an interest in artificial intelligence. His ultimate goal is to obtain a PhD in computer science.

Tsang Hung-to
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education: Special Educational Needs)

Tsang Hung-to was born in the mainland where she received her degree. Holding an unrecognized qualification and speaking only Putonghua, she remained a housewife after getting married and residing in Hong Kong. When her child began attending kindergarten, the principal there encouraged her to learn computer operation and traditional Chinese characters, which gave her the opportunity to take up some administrative work and to teach Putonghua at the kindergarten. Upon obtaining a certificate in kindergarten education, she became a full-time Putonghua teacher.

Hung-to then started a degree in Chinese language and literature at the OUHK. With a long daily commute from her home on Lantau Island, she made good use of the travelling time to do revision. During the course of her studies she had another baby, yet she still graduated and became a primary teacher. She then took a further degree specializing in teaching children with learning difficulties, to better help the students in her classes.

As a working mother, Hung-to commends the OUHK's flexible learning mode for fitting the needs of those in her position. With self-discipline and perseverance, she managed to fulfil her family, work and study commitments, and also to successfully complete the programme and become a role model for her three children.

Cho Sheung-wa
Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Accounting

Cho Sheung-wa worked as a merchandizer after obtaining his HKCEE whilst taking a part-time degree programme in Chinese humanities at the OUHK. With a heavy workload, on one occasion he failed four courses in one semester. Eventually, he discontinued his studies. Later, in the face of a worsening economy, he decided to make a career change to accounting, believing that prospects would be better in this field which also had great growth potential in the mainland market. He therefore returned to the OUHK to complete his BA degree and embarked on another degree programme in accounting at the same time.

Sheung-wa recalls that it was very demanding to be engaged in both work and studies simultaneously. However, his strong determination to become a professional accountant drove him to persevere. Chinese literature may not have much in common with accounting, but it helped him develop a patient mindset which became useful for handling accounting tasks. Having failed courses before, Sheung-wa knew the academic standard of the OUHK to be stringent and the assessment system robust. This time, he successfully completed both programmes. Sheung-wa is now working as an assistant accountant and plans to go further and become a certified accountant after completing the professional examinations.

Bryan Yeung Yik-chuen
Master of Arts in Legal Translation

With fair A-level results and a career path in the legal sector, studying at the OUHK has brought much to Bryan Yeung.

Bryan worked as a clerk after his A-level examinations. To enhance his qualifications, Bryan began studying part-time for an honours degree in language and translation at the OUHK and eventually quit his job to study full-time. Upon graduation, he worked as a freelance translator specializing in advertisements, websites and police statements, and later for a church translating sermons and other religious matter. Over time he developed an interest in legal translation and decided to specialize by taking a master's degree in the field. Bryan excelled in his studies and won numerous outstanding student awards. The many legal documents and cases he read during the course of his studies confirmed his interest in law and he decided to pursue a career in the legal sector.

Bryan found the OUHK curriculum practical and useful, and praised the teaching staff for their professionalism. He is currently studying the CPE course at HKU SPACE. His advice to those who are experiencing hard times is to keep moving forward and making plans, and dreams will come within reach.