Openlink August 2016‧Vol 25‧Issue 3

It is no surprise if the enchanting image on the cover of this issue of Openlink caught your eye, as this image, 'Childhood', shot by our student Jimmi Ho, is a winner of a major international photo competition.

Over just 15 years, our full-time students have shown brilliance in different areas of learning: from academia to sports, science and creative arts they have demonstrated their full potential. In this issue, we interview Jimmi as well as winner of the Outstanding Prospective Teacher Gold Award Alvin Cheng, who share with us the joy of winning and their journey to pursuing their dreams. The feature story also includes achievements of other students in various fields.

Inspiring young people to pursue their dreams and bequeathing this spirit to future generations are the values of education that we too seek to uphold. Our students' outstanding achievements are the realization of this unwavering faith. Let me borrow Singapore Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien-loong's remarks to Joseph Schooling, the country's first Olympic champion, to pay tribute to all of our students: 'You made us very proud today. Thank you for showing us what it means to work hard and never give up on our dreams'.

Last but not least, on behalf of the University I warmly welcome Mr Michael Wong who succeeded Dr Eddy C Fong as Chairman of the OUHK Council in June. Mr Wong is an eminent business leader and has made notable contributions to the community, particularly in areas related to youth and education. We look forward to his guidance in leading the University from strength to strength. I also extend our most sincere gratitude to Dr Fong whose leadership of over a decade has helped us achieve a number of historical milestones.

Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong
President

Despite a relatively short history of 15 years, the OUHK full-time face-to-face programmes are thriving and the student population has grown to around 9,000. In this issue, we meet two talented young full-time students who are demonstrating tremendous potential in their degree programme and beyond.

Mr Matthias Li Sing-chung has been re-appointed as Member for three years while Mrs Joanna Li Lau Lai-hing has been re-appointed as Member for two years. The above appointments took effect from June 2016.

Dr Charles Kwong Che-leung and Dr Linda Lee Yin-king, Associate Dean of School of Arts and Social Sciences and Associate Head of Division of Nursing and Health Studies respectively, have become Senate representatives in the Council from June 2016, replacing Prof. Chiu Yu-lok and Dr Anthony Ko Chi-keung. Senior Finance Manager Mr Andy Chan has been elected as representative of full-time staff starting from August 2016, after the departure of Mr Chan Wai-kau. All three have two-year terms. Students' Union President Mr Gilbert Chan Tsz-wai took up his ex-officio position for one year in April 2016, in place of Mr Man Chun-kit. We also bade farewell to Mr Eddy Lee Wai-man, who was a member from 2010.

The OUHK has launched the Institute for Research in Open and Innovative Education (IROPINE) with funding support from the Research Grants Council. The Institute will spearhead research and development into open, innovative and flexible education, marking a new milestone in the University's long tradition of research in this field.

Is Education an economic activity through which to cultivate talent? Should university graduates apply what they have learnt in their career? Does knowledge change our fate?

At his talk entitled 'Education Misunderstood!' on 10 May, Prof. Cheng Kai-ming, Emeritus Professor and Honorary Director of the Education Policy Unit of the University of Hong Kong, urged a rethink of the above questions and three other common assumptions about education as he looked into the real demands of today's society. Whole-person development is all the more essential in an age of chaos and uncertainty, Prof. Cheng noted, drawing attention to the indispensability of cultivating knowledge, fundamental qualities and values. Finally, he challenged educators to reflect on whether education is better seen as a process of 'moulding' or rather one of 'release'.

The OUHK has been partnering with the Hong Kong Police College (HKPC) to offer a series of programmes since 2006. On 15 June, this was taken further through a new memorandum of understanding signed by President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong and HKPC Director Ms Edwina Lau Chi-wai. The new agreement allows police officers with a 'Professional Diploma in Leadership and Management in Policing for Probationary Inspectors' or a 'Professional Diploma in Policing for Recruit Police Constables' from the HKPC to transfer up to 40 or 100 credits, depending on their academic qualifications, when applying for six designated undergraduate programmes at the OUHK, thereby shortening their path to obtaining a degree.

Before the conclusion of new partnership, Prof. Wong visited the HKPC on 2 June. He was warmly received by Head of the School of Foundation Training Mr Rupert Dover and other trainers, and introduced to various training classes and facilities. In return, he spoke words of encouragement to police trainees in a lecture given by the University.

With sponsorship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the OUHK's Division of Nursing and Health Studies has for the second year run the Jockey Club Home Health Watch Programme. More than 300 volunteers have, over the past nine months, learned about the healthcare needs of the elderly, chronically ill, disabled and those recovering from mental health problems as well as basic healthcare skills. These volunteers will then provide healthcare support to people with special healthcare needs back in their families and neighbourhoods, fostering a culture of mutual aid and community support.

A graduation ceremony was held on 25 June with Mr Francis Hon, Charities Manager of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Vice President Prof. Lee Wing-on officiating. Once again, the ceremony was paired with the Community Healthcare Day promoting public awareness of health through game booths, simple body checks and a health exhibition.

On 28 March, the OUHK's Division of Nursing and Health Studies played host to 30 participants of the Youth Mentorship Scheme organized by the Building Healthy Kowloon City Association and co-organized by the Kowloon City District Office, as well as their 17 mentors from the healthcare, pharmacy and nursing professions. At the OUHK campus, the mentors introduced the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare professions through role play and demonstrated professional skills on site. Participants got to familiarize themselves with the industry's work and study environment by visiting the University's Clinical Nursing Education Centre.

On 30 May, the OUHK welcomed Director Mr Christopher Lavender and Executive Officer Ms Mya Kirwan of the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation. The visit began with President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong's survey of the OUHK's latest developments, followed by an introduction to the Division of Nursing and Health Studies by its head, Prof. Joseph Lee Kok-long. Among the senior staff welcoming the guests was also Vice President Prof. Lee Wing-on. The visit was completed with a tour of Jubilee College, around the nursing laboratories, the Clinical Simulation Education Unit and the Virtual Reality Education Unit.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council visited the OUHK on 20 May. Executive Director Ms Margaret Fong and Assistant Executive Director Ms Adeline Wong met with the OUHK senior management, including President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong and Associate Vice President Prof. Ip Yiu-keung. The delegates were briefed on the University's latest developments, and visited the laboratories, creative arts studios and nursing facilities at Jubilee College.

Ms Bernadette Ng, Senior Lecturer of the Division of Nursing and Health Studies, led a team of 27 from the Higher Diploma in Nursing Studies programme in a charity event 'Running to Your Home' on 26 March. They ran from Park Central, Tseung Kwan O, to Haven of Hope Nursing Home carrying 'peace boxes' donated by the community, and chatted with the senior residents.

This programme provides students with a solid knowledge base in psychology and in social science investigation skills. Graduates will be equipped with a thorough understanding of human dispositions from different psychological perspectives. This will enable them to achieve greater self-understanding and better appreciate the dynamics of human behaviour and interpersonal relationships in various contexts, and will enhance critical thinking and communication skills that are essential to both academic study and their chosen careers.

An engaging mini expo-cum-carnival was held on the Ho Man Tin Campus on 9 April for families with children aged three to six. Around 300 pre-service pre-school teachers from the Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education programme prepared 37 fun-filled game booths, nine interactive story sessions, lively clown performances for the kids as well as talks on parenting methods.

When she first arrived from Zhejiang, China to take a BBA with Honours in Management at the OUHK in 2014, Rebecca Wang Fangyu did not speak a word of Cantonese. But thanks to her perseverance and willingness to get out of her comfort zone, she has now mastered the language.

To overcome language barriers, Rebecca mixed with locals and took part in various activities on and off campus. Through Enactus, she found out about the social enterprise Ana by Karma and decided to volunteer. She then went on to take part in the Hong Kong Social Enterprise Challenge Competition. 'I had to present in Cantonese and didn't feel very well-prepared', Rebecca says. 'Surprisingly, we made it to the semi-finals!'

Rebecca enjoys learning outside the classroom and seizes every opportunity to practise her knowledge. To explore her career options, she has accepted two internships this summer, one being overseas work experience with the Singapore office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Hong Kong is on the wish list of many mainland Chinese students wanting to broaden their horizons. As such, the University holds regular information seminars on the mainland to promote its programmes. This year, Mainland and International Affairs Coordinator Ms Shi Xuemei, together with Dr Andy Kan of the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration and Director of Academic Support Prof. Chung Siu-leung hosted postgraduate and undergraduate admission seminars at Xinhua College of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Zhuhai College of Jilin University and Shenzhen Foreign Languages School from March to May. The University was also present at the China international Education Exhibition Tour 2016, held in Beijing and Guangzhou.

The Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration holds a residential school for postgraduate students of partner institutions from the mainland. On 4–8 July, 238 students from nine institutions came to attend seminars and visit the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Centre. The experience ended with a graduation ceremony on the Ho Man Tin campus on 8 July.

The Putonghua Association of the OUHK (Alumni) has for the first time been appointed as regional partner of the Hua-yangshaonian Linguistic Arts Tournament organized by the Communication University of China Press in Hong Kong. The preliminary contest and regional finals were held on 28 May and 26 June respectively. Thirty finalists from Hong Kong went on to compete with around 300 participants at the national finals at the Communication University of China Press, Beijing on 26–29 July.

Representatives from alumni groups attended a dinner with President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong, Vice President Prof. Lee Wing-on, Associate Vice President Prof. Ip Yiu-keung and the senior management. The dinner was hosted by the Alumni Affairs Office of the Public Affairs Unit on 2 June. The alumni shared their news and activity experiences and listened to a presentation on their alma mater's latest developments.

The OUHK was included on the Roll of Honour in this year's CIO Asia Awards, a prestigious annual listing compiled by CIO Asia magazine. The listing recognizes the Asian companies that have most effectively deployed information and communications technology to gain strategic value and yield strong returns for their key operations. The OUHK was nominated by Microsoft for its deployment of its enterprise-resource-planning (ERP)-based student administration system on a hybrid cloud, which enables system stability during high traffic periods at a reasonable cost. The shortlist included 26 companies and organizations, including three higher education institutions, and the OUHK was the only honouree from Hong Kong this year.