Openlink December 2017‧Vol 26‧Issue 4

'The 54th Golden Horse Awards for Best Animated Short Film goes to … Losing Sight of a Longed Place — Shek Ka-chun (Isaac), Wong Chun-long and Wong Tsz-ying (Jess)! Congratulations!' On 25 November the three fresh graduates from the Animation and Visual Effects programme had their first taste of the red carpet in Taipei. Up until that moment, they had been content with the eyeopening experience of the grand occasion alone. When their names were announced on stage, they were entirely dumbfounded.

'We really love film, and also animation… We've always watched the Oscars and the Golden Horse …' Isaac spoke first, still recovering from the shock. Indeed, the trio are still reflecting on the implications of the unanticipated laurels, having received the surprising nomination from among 300 Golden Horse Award entries. They had entered their finalyear project into various competitions.

The creation of the 7m45s experimental animated documentary, incorporating mixed media such as watercolour, crayon and newspaper cuttings, was an experimental adventure from the outset. 'When our teacher, Senior Lecturer Mr Vincent Mak, suggested that we look for inspiration from social issues,' Jess recalls, 'what we had in mind was to interview inhabitants of “cage homes”. But soon we dropped the idea because we didn't have that kind of network. Then we found out we had quite a few gay friends, so we decided to start from there.' While all but one of the ten interviewees were their personal friends, they were most moved by the story of Adam Wan, Chairman of collegebased LGBT advocacy group Action Q whom they met online. 'We also thought of weaving the character traits of all ten interviewees into a fictitious image, or piecing together episodes from the protagonist's experiences. Throughout the year, the film went through five different versions.' In the end, considering the length limitation, the team revisited the father-son tension that first caught their attention and focused on the sense of helplessness felt by the gay activist at home. The sentiment portrayed turned out to be transferrable, shared by other minority communities as well as the young generation seeking social change.

The young animators who have just embarked on their career see the enviable accolade as an 'awesome' honour. Chun-long admits feeling pressure regarding the next steps, and in Jess' view, 'all other nominees are superb. We have much room for improvement.' President Prof. YukShan Wong, however, reminded the team to relax while offering his congratulations: 'The award shows industry recognition of your work. More opportunities will come.' At present, Isaac and Jess are engaged in full-time creative work at an online radio station and a production house respectively, whereas Chun-long has chosen to be a freelance animator, 'so that I have more room to pursue what I really want to do while I am still young.' The trio began their fruitful partnership when they met in Year 3 and hit it off right away. As of now, they have no concrete future plans except that they 'definitely want to continue'. 'We hope more people will understand that animation is much more than cartoons and will support local creations,' says Chun-long, aware that how far they can go will depend on the audience. Before it was nominated for the Golden Horse Awards, Losing Sight of a Longed Place was voted audience's choice in the DigiCon6 Asia Awards — Hong Kong. So far so good.

OUHK's SSSDP programmes
a nurturing ground for highly sought-after professionals

The Government has regularized the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) from the year 2018/19 and expanded the subsidized quota to cover ten disciplines which have a keen demand for manpower. A third of the subsidized places, precisely 1,040, have gone to the OUHK, making it the largest player in the scheme with 12 programmes covered. President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong finds this very encouraging: 'This is a sign of Government recognition for the quality of our education. The regularization of the SSSDP will not only ease students' financial burdens, but will also benefit the development of selffinancing institutions in the long run. It will allow us to introduce more programmes that answer society's needs and improve our quality of education.'

The scheme
The SSSDP was first introduced in the academic year 2015/16 to encourage self-financing institutions to develop programmes fit for Hong Kong's socioeconomic development. Back then, it was a pilot scheme offering around 1,000 subsidized places per cohort, and the OUHK secured 350 for the following four programmes: Animation and Visual Effects, General Health Care Nursing, Mental Health Care Nursing and Testing and Certification. Next year will see a wider range of academic disciplines coming under the scheme as the total number of places jumps to 3,000. For the OUHK, new fields will include financial technology, logistics, tourism and hospitality, and sports and recreation. By then, new and existing students of the designated programmes will be given a yearly subsidy of $40,000 for general programmes or $70,000 for laboratory-based programmes.

Gearing up for expansion
The University has lost no time in planning ahead. Vice President (Academic) Prof. Reggie Kwan expects a further rise in enrolment following the increase in subsidized places. 'We are going all-out to enhance supporting hardware and human resources,' says Prof. Kwan. 'Take the Creative Arts programmes for example. We've been investing millions of dollars on new equipment and studio renovation year after year. Now that the Cinematic Design and Photographic Digital Art programme will be included in the SSSDP, we are likely to invest up to tens of millions in the next two years.'

State-of-the-art apparatus and facilities, including 3D videos, virtual reality programmes and other simulation technologies have also been acquired to facilitate learning for the equally popular Nursing programmes. While the Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare project is underway, the University is formulating an overall development plan for these programmes. Apart from moving the Nursing laboratories to the new complex, around ten million dollars will be spent on educational technology and some ten full-time staff will be hired to strengthen the teaching team.

At the cutting edge of the market
The University's success in the SSSDP can largely be attributed to its close ties with industry, which has enabled it to keep abreast of market trends. Some examples can be found in the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration. The Sports and Recreation Management and the International Hospitality and Attractions Management programmes, both offered from this year, satisfy the manpower demand for two types of management specialists. The former is geared towards business opportunities brought by increasing health awareness among the public and the popularity of large-scale sports events, while the latter is directed towards a key pillar of Hong Kong's economy. To groom business talent for the technological era, the School has launched the Business Intelligence and Analytics programme tackling big data generated by Internet technologies, and more recently, the Financial Technology and Innovation programme catering to fintech innovations born out of the ever-evolving banking and financial services sector.

All other SSSDP programmes offered by the OUHK have been tailored to industry needs, and many are firsts of their kinds. To align learning with industry reality, these programmes emphasize the application of theory, so that students will become familiarized with workplace practices at an early stage and be able to carve out a successful career path.

Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Creative Writing and Film Arts

Film arts and creative writing are usually taught in separate programmes. We break the norm by bringing these two interconnected areas together. Students will learn film production, film theories and creative writing.

Senior Lecturer Mr Dan Ip

Bachelor of Sports and Recreation Management with Honours

Compared with those of other institutions, our programme places a greater emphasis on management knowledge, which makes up around 40% of the curriculum.

Associate Professor Dr Lenis Cheung

Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Animation and Visual Effects

Animation effects have penetrated mainstream and social media, but related programmes are few and far between. Ours is the only such programme offered at Bachelor's degree level in Hong Kong.

Associate Professor Dr David Yip

Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Cinematic Design and Photographic Digital Art

The programme not only covers a wide range of cinematic design, photographic and digital imaging technologies with cutting-edge equipment, but also focuses on nurturing students' artistic vision and personal style.

Senior Lecturer Ms Venus Lai

Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Business Intelligence and Analytics

The programme covers the skills of analysing social media content and developing business mobile apps, which will come in handy in marketing.

Associate Professor Dr Franklin Lam

Bachelor of International Hospitality and Attractions Management with Honours

Our partners include the InterContinental Hotel Group, which operates more than 5,000 hotels around the globe, and SuperPark from Finland, opening up various opportunities for overseas internships.

Associate Professor Dr Lenis Cheung

Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Financial Technology and Innovation

The programme helps students cope with the revolutionizing financial services through topics such as algorithmic trading, blockchains, electronic money and Internet security.

Associate Professor Dr Samuel Choi

Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Global Marketing and Supply Chain Management

We train supply chain managers with a firm grasp of the global market in this age when online shopping is breaking down national boundaries and logistics delivery is key.

Associate Professor Dr Lenis Cheung

Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in General Health Care

We make the most of educational technology to help students construct knowledge visually.

Head of Division of Nursing and Health Studies Prof. Joseph Lee

Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in Mental Health Care

We are the pioneers in mental health nursing at Bachleor's degree level. The programme utilizes advanced technology just like its general healthcare counterpart.

Head of Division of Nursing and Health Studies Prof. Joseph Lee

Bachelor of Computing with Honours in Internet Technology

Our graduates are adept at creating innovative solutions for today's information society with state-of-the-art techniques and technologies such as agile methods, the Spring Framework, data mining and artificial intelligence.

Associate Dean of School of Science and Technology Dr Andrew Lui

Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Testing and Certification

Our students have always had an edge in the career market as they are required to participate in training and placements in industrial training centres and T&C organizations.

Associate Professor Dr George Lau

Fun day to kick off the

'Million Dollar Matching Challenge

campaign:

Around 500 alumni and staff members, students, as well as members of the public spent a happy Sunday with their families and friends at a fun day held on 17 September on the Jockey Club Campus.

The OUHK is now constructing the OUHK Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare on Sheung Shing Street, Ho Man Tin. Upon completion, the Institute will provide students with more facilities and space, enhancing the learning and recreational facilities of the University while at the same time meeting the pressing need for more and better healthcare services. With fundraising work underway, Council Chairman Mr Michael Wong has made a heartening contribution of HK$1 million to launch the 'Million Dollar Matching Challenge', in which each donation from members of the OUHK family will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by 31 March 2018. Following the launch of the Seventh Government Matching Grant Scheme, the donations will have a chance to match the grant and thus help secure extra resources for the University's development projects.

To kick-start the matching challenge fundraising campaign, a fun day featuring a range of fun-filled activities was arranged. First up was a performance by the Student Dance Society who impressed the audience with their dynamic moves. The campaign was formally declared open by a ceremony officiated by Council Chairman Mr Michael Wong, President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong, Vice Presidents Prof. Reggie Kwan and Prof. Tong Chong-Sze. 'The Fun Day is a festive occasion with family-friendly games and activities for all members of the OUHK family to enjoy. I call upon your support — let's join hands to meet the challenge!' Mr Michael Wong said.

In addition to enjoying the activities, participants took home gifts and souvenirs, partially sponsored by local sports brand Nikko. On the same day the unveiling ceremony of Alumni Donor Wall, located on the first floor on the Jockey Club Campus, was held. The wall is a tribute to donors who contributed to the OUHK Alumni Scholarship and Bursary Fund from June 2014 to December 2015. The ceremony, in the gracious presence of the donors, was officiated by Mr Michael Wong, Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong and OUHK Honorary Fellow and alumna Miss Katie Shu Sui-pui.

OUHK and the Japanese Consulate-General promote Olympism and Japanese culture

The next summer Olympics will be back in Asia with Tokyo as host city, and from now up to 2020, LiPACE has prepared an event series entitled 'Discovering Tomorrow: Getting Ready for the Tokyo Olympics 2020' to promote Olympism as well as boost understanding of Japanese sports and culture in general. This kicked off with a collaborative event entitled 'Understanding Budo and Budo Culture through IJF Refereeing Rules (Judo and Karate)' on the Jockey Club Campus on 18 November, as part of the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong's Japan Autumn Festival in Hong Kong 2017.

The Hong Kong Judo Kan was invited to give a demonstration alongside special guest Japanese master judoka Mr Yasuyuki Muneta, 2003 and 2008 World Judo Championships gold medallist, who also explained competition rules. Karate, which will make its first appearance at Tokyo 2020, was demonstrated by Gojuryu Karatedo Ryushinkai, while a jaw-dropping performance of samurai sword watermelon cutting drew huge applause. Participants also took part in experimental fights with the martial artists and sampled local specialities at stalls put up by Japanese prefectural governments

Nearly 700 students receive financial awards

Hundreds of donors, awardees and their families gathered at the OUHK campus on 24 August for the 2016–17 Scholarship and Bursary Awards Presentation Ceremony. This year, 414 students received scholarships and 283 students were granted bursaries, amounting to a total value of approximately HK$6.4 million. Speaking at the ceremony, President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong expressed heartfelt gratitude to the donors, with special thanks to the Youth Arch Foundation for renewing its support by contributing another $2.5 million towards the Youth Arch — OUHK Improvement Scholarship. Nearly 700 students receive financial awards

Hong Kong Police Choir 40th Anniversary Concert

With the full support of the University, the Hong Kong Police Choir held its 40th Anniversary Concert at the OUHK Jockey Club Auditorium on 21 October. A piper of the Police Silver Band led Commissioner of Police Mr Lo Wai-chung and Vice President (Academic) Prof. Tong Chong-sze to the venue and kicked off the event. The programme featured a charming selection of popular classics and attracted a full house.

The University has long partnered with the Hong Kong Police College to offer training courses for police constables. Over the years, thousands of police officers have become OUHK alumni.

Short video contest promotes healthy living

The OUHK Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare construction project has just begun. In addition to meeting local need for training more healthcare professionals, the Institute will also aim to shift Hong Kong towards becoming a healthier city. To promote healthy living, the Short Video Contest — My Healthy City was organized during May and August, encouraging students to dream up their ideal healthy city in one-minute videos. Ten finalists were selected among dozens of entries, and in the end Creative Arts students swept all prizes with their outstanding performance in creativity, production techniques as well as interpretation of the theme.

View prize-winning videos:

Champion
Chow Kong-ying
(Cinematic Design and Photographic Digital Art)

First runner-up
Chan Lok-hin, Wu Man-ho
(Cinematic Design and Photographic Digital Art)

Second runner-up
Leung Ming-ka
(Cinematic Design and Photographic Digital Art)

The 'most popular choice'
Ho Oi-yee
(Creative Writing and Film Arts)

Management retreat

The University management, joined by a dozen senior administrative staff members, had a fruitful discussion and sharing session at the management retreat held on 25 August at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sha Tin Clubhouse. On the occasion, two inspiring speeches were given by Prof. Cheng Kai-ming, Emeritus Professor of the University of Hong Kong, and Prof. Andrew Chan Chi-fai, Director of the EMBA Programme of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, on the topic of 'The Open Edge — Open University in a New Era' and 'Brand Building' respectively, each followed by a Q&A session.

Forging stronger ties with partners and friends

The OUHK is always striving to strengthen ties with the global counterparts to promote the exchange of ideas and knowledge. In addition, the University recently arranged campus visits for leaders of various sectors in an effort to deepen community outreach.

Education Bureau

Undersecretary for Education Dr Christine Choi and Political Assistant to Secretary for Education Mr Jeff Sze visited the University on 7 November and met with the University management. President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong gave a presentation on the current development of the University and its future plans. The two parties also discussed various education issues. The visit was concluded with a campus tour of Jockey Club Campus.

Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office

On 27 July, delegates from Taiwan Economic Cultural Office paid a visit to the OUHK and were greeted by Associate Vice President Prof. Ip Yiu-keung and Head of Mainland and International Affairs Ms Shi Xuemei. The two groups discussed degree recognition and future collaboration.

Fujian Normal University

Led by Secretary of the Party Committee Lin Heping, a delegation from Fujian Normal University visited the OUHK on 16 August and met with Vice President Prof. Reggie Kwan and the senior management. The guests were briefed on the latest developments of the OUHK, and toured various campus facilities including laboratories and creative workshops.

Gengdan Institute of Beijing University of Technology

Deputy President of Gengdan Institute of Beijing University of Technology Dr Ding Xiaoliang visited the OUHK on 17 July. A discussion about further collaboration on admission of postgraduate students was held, followed by a campus visit led by Ms Shi Xuemei.

Awards for creative arts students

Full-time students from the Creative Writing and Film Arts programme excelled in two recent film competitions. Year 4 students Cheung Ka-yan, Chung Siu-tung, Kwok Tsz-chun, Mak Chi-ho, Pun Lam-shing and Yiu Tsz-kwan teamed up to participate in the 20th Anniversary Micro Movie Competition organized by Estate Agents Authority with their entry Warm Place. The team was crowned champion of the competition.

In addition, fresh graduates Chan Hoi-yu, Suen Sui-hung, Wong Hoi-yin and Wong Ka-man won the Highly Commended Award in the 14th Global Chinese Universities Student Film and Television Festival organized by the Academy of Film of the School of Communication of Hong Kong Baptist University with their entry Monkey Business. Depicting three young people in a series of incidents following accidental encounters in a back alley, the winning team aimed to encourage reflection on morals and ethics.

Innovative interior design students come second

LiPACE Higher Diploma in Interior Design students Lee Pui-him, Wong Chak-yin and Wong Chak-fung won second place in the Social Innovation Inventor — Competition for Innovative Design 2017 organized by the World Green Organization. On the theme of 'smart city', participants were required to submit a design for an elder-friendly community.

Winning scholarships for Japanese Studies

LiPACE students from the Higher Diploma in Japanese Studies programmes were presented scholarships by the Society of Japanese Language Education Hong Kong. Dawnnie Mak was awarded a scholarship of HK$6,000 for tertiary students whilst the team formed by Fung King-fai, Cheng Tsz-yan and Lee Kai-kin won the Group Project Award and was awarded a scholarship of HK$5,000. The award presentation ceremony was held on 30 September.

Computing students sweep awards in IEEE competitions

Computing students shone in the annual Final Year Project Competition and Postgraduate Paper Contest organized by the IEEE HK Computational Intelligence Chapter and the OUHK was crowned Champion for the first time. Derek Leung Chun-wa won the championship whilst the second place was awarded to the team formed by Calvin Tsui Yiu-chuen and Vico Lai Ka-wai. Another awardee was MPhil student Tony Tam Hiu-hin who came third in the Postgraduate Paper Contest.

T&C student recognized by IET

Year 4 student Sze Chun-hao from the full-time Testing & Certification (T&C) programme was awarded the Local Network Prize by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in recognition of his outstanding academic performance. The IET is one of the largest engineering institutions in the world and has over 160,000 members worldwide in 150 countries.

First award for OUHK Debate Team

After several rounds of keen competition from June to November in the 19th Basic Law Inter-collegiate Debating Competition, the OUHK Debate Team was awarded third runner-up, the first award since the team's establishment in 2016. Organized by the Joint Committee for The Promotion of The Basic Law of Hong Kong, this year's competition attracted 16 teams from various local institutions.

OUHK co-organizes International Congress in Algebras and Combinatorics

The OUHK and its Institute for Research in Innovative Technology and Sustainability (IRITS) were honoured to co-organize the third International Congress in Algebras and Combinatorics (ICAC 2017), held decennially since 1997, alongside the International Mathematical Olympiad Hong Kong Committee (IMOHKC) and the Southeast Asian Mathematical Society. Taking place on 25–28 August, the ICAC 2017 was sponsored by the IMOHKC and especially dedicated to the 80th birthday of Russian algebraist Prof. Leonid Bokut. Nearly 200 leading mathematicians, scientists, engineers and researchers from around the world met to exchange findings on all aspects of algebraic structure and theoretical computer science and computations. In addition, members of the public benefited from the insights of Russian-American Fields Medalist Prof. Efim Zelmanov in his lecture 'Mathematics: Science or Art?', chaired by Prof. Lam Siu-por on 27 August.

IRITS Conference 2017

IRITS held its second annual conference on 22–24 August, inviting academics, scientists and industry experts to discuss issues related to algae and green energy development. Distinguished Professor Dr Hoe Chang, Emeritus Marine Biologist of the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere Research, New Zealand, gave a presentation on exceptional harmful algal blooms and their apparent association with unusual climatic conditions in New Zealand.

Great Speakers Series

Hong Kong's Next 5 Years — Make or Break Time

Mr Franklin Lam Fan-keung

The latest guest to the Great Speakers Series was Mr Franklin Lam Fan-keung, founder of independent non-profitable Hong Kong-focused public policy research organization HKGolden50. On 27 October, he analyzed the city's economic future under the title. In his opinion, in order to become a real international metropolis, Hong Kong must rise to the opportunities brought by demand from China and overcome bottlenecks in development such as the lack of living and business space, labour shortages and the foreseeable medical crisis.

Symposium on Open and Innovative Education

On 27 October, the OUHK Institute for Research in Open and Innovative Education (IROPINE) organized the first Symposium on Open and Innovative Education, with the support of the Institute of Educational Research of the Open University of China (OUC). Highlights of the symposium were keynote speeches by Prof. Alan Tait from the Open University, UK, who is also IROPINE's Distinguished Professor, Prof. Chin-Chung Tsai from National Taiwan Normal University and Prof. Kinshuk from the University of North Texas on the latest developments of open education, technology-enhanced learning and learning analytics, respectively. OUHK and OUC academics also presented their research findings and innovative practices, while Vice President Prof. Reggie Kwan facilitated a forum discussion on the future of open and innovative education.

Joint certificate programme with SAS

The OUHK has entered into partnership with leading business analytics software company SAS to offer a joint certificate programme on SAS programming and data mining. Students from the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Statistical Analysis and Data Science programme will be issued a certificate by SAS upon completion of three designated credit-bearing courses reviewed and approved by SAS.

Feasibility study of pension scheme

None would disagree that retirement protection is a pressing issue in our ageing society. But public reception of a mandatory universal scheme has always been an area of contention. To obtain substantial data, Dr Charles Kwong, Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, together with Senior Lecturers Dr Arbitor Ma and Ms Yuka Chan, recently conducted the 'Feasibility study of old age pension scheme in Hong Kong: An employee's perspective', with funding from the Central Policy Unit.

The team interviewed a sample of the working population aged 15 or above during June to August 2016, and their findings would have surprised those who might expect great reluctance to a new contributory pension scheme. Over 70% of the interviewees would accept a preset tax rate on top of their contribution to the current MPF scheme in exchange for a monthly pension of $3,000 from age 65. 'This study shows that the public in general is not strongly opposed to paying extra taxes for retirement protection. In other words, with substantial public support, a universal retirement protection scheme may indeed be feasible,' said Dr Kwong at the press conference announcing the results, which drew great media attention.

Asked why the general public would accept the preset tax rates despite grievances towards the MPF Scheme, he explained, 'The returns of MPF investments are not guaranteed, whereas the universal pension scheme is believed to provide a stable source of income.' To ensure sustainability, he proposed a tripartite contributory scheme with the participation of the government, employers and employees which would 'offset the challenge of reduced employee contributions due to a shrinking working population'. Next, the research team will investigate employees' attitude and assess the government's share in such a scheme.

Enrolled nurse training programmes for the welfare sector

With an ageing population, the demand for healthcare services in Hong Kong has long expanded out of hospitals and into every corner of the community. In a move to alleviate the shortage of Enrolled Nurses in the welfare sector, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has commissioned the OUHK to provide Higher Diploma in Nursing Studies (General Health Care) and Higher Diploma in Nursing Studies (Mental Health Care) programmes for the sector for four consecutive intakes. The programmes are fully subsidized by the SWD with respective quotas of 200 and 30 this year, attracting a strong response of over 3,000 applications.

New Vice President Prof. Tong Chong-sze ignites the power of innovation on campus

Prof. Tong Chong-sze took up the post of Vice President (Administration & Development) at the OUHK in mid-September. Despite his several decades of service in the education sector, he still finds the multi-mode learning model of the University innovative and captivating: 'I love new things. Work would feel meaningless if it didn't present a challenge,' he chuckles.

Keenly aware of the importance of listening, he has met and talked with many colleagues since joining. He has also explored the campus, and is delighted that his office offers him spectacular views and a high vantage point on the progress of the OUHK Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare construction project. Prof. Tong is currently drawing up plans for the layout of this new development project, infusing new thinking on space utilization into the overall set-up of the entire campus. 'There must be harmony with other campus facilities, and space must be used wisely, bringing students together and meeting the needs of all,' he says.

The new campus, a symbol of vigour and vitality, is a testament to the University's enterprising spirit and a bold step forward. It contributes to the impression of a 'young, innovative and dynamic' university in Prof. Tong's mind, in tune with the University's flexible, multi-mode learning, its use of learning technology, and its recruitment of young, creative teachers. 'We should strengthen the public's understanding of the work of the OUHK. In addition to external promotion, we should open up our campus to let more people come into contact with the University. For example, we can invite visitors to our campus for competitions or public activities,' he suggests.

Prior to joining the OUHK, Prof. Tong was the Secretary General of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. As the man behind the launch of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), he is often called the 'Father of the HKDSE'. While Prof. Tong is grateful for the compliment, he stresses that he only helped to 'deliver' the new examination. As a seasoned university staff member who has participated in both teaching and education reform, Prof. Tong strongly believes that 'every individual has the potential to achieve great things'. For example, he emigrated with his family to the UK when he was in his fifth year of primary school. Hindered by a language barrier in an unfamiliar environment, he struggled in his studies but was fortunate to have the help and support of caring teachers. After obtaining his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Cambridge, he became a mathematician.

'Each one of us has a fire in our soul awaiting to be ignited before it can truly sparkle. Education serves to help students find their interests and maximize their strengths,' Prof. Tong says. He encourages young people to widen their horizons and networks first to find that something which touches their heart, and then give their best to realize their full potential. His own son also struggled at school when he was young, and only after he had discovered his interest in mathematics did he find his study path. He is studying overseas now and they still enjoy chatting about mathematics, bridge and even rock-and-roll from time to time despite their physical distance. Indeed, Prof. Tong's favourite after-work activity is to spend quality time with his
family.

Although he has no intention of getting back to teaching after bidding farewell to it years ago, Prof. Tong is still deeply concerned with the welfare of students. 'I will be pleased if my work in policy formulation and resource allocation can help students. Interaction with students, and giving them encouragement and guidance, are also a form of indirect coaching,' he says. After all, on campus, Prof. Tong is completely in his element.

New academic staff

School of Arts and Social Sciences

Assistant Professor Dr Karen Liu Shuwen received her BSc and MSc in Environmental Science from the Sun Yat-sen University, China and her PhD in Geography from the University of Hong Kong. She taught at the City University of Macau before joining the OUHK. Her research interests include cultural tourism, tourism impacts, sustainability and sense of place.

Assistant Professor Dr Walter Lee Wan-fai earned his PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Auckland. Before joining the OUHK, he taught at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Auckland and the Auckland University of Technology, and was Senior Research Fellow at the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Law. His research focuses on post-Western international relations, China and global governance, and global justice.

Assistant Professor Dr Vera Hau Chui-luen obtained her BA in Psychology and Special Honours Curriculum from Hunter College, City University of New York, and an MA in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology and a PhD in Biopsychology from Stony Brook University, State University of New York. Prior to joining the OUHK, she taught at Hang Seng Management College. Her research interests include working memory, attention, emotion, and decision-making.

Assistant Professor Dr Charlie Ng Chak-kwan obtained her BA in English and MPhil in English (Literary Studies) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and graduated with a PhD in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh. Before joining the OUHK, she taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include romanticism, 19th century English literature, spatial literary studies, ecocriticism and literary translation.

Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration

Assistant Professor Dr Louisa Lee Yee-sum obtained her Higher Diploma, BSc, MPhil from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and her PhD in Tourism Management from James Cook University, Australia. Prior to joining the OUHK, she taught at the Community College of City University. She has also worked at a local business hotel and the Pacific Asia Travel Association Headquarters in Thailand, as well as pursued consultancy work for Tourism Port Duglas & Darintree. She has keen research interests in tourist motivation and behaviour, service management, gaming and cultural study.

Prof. Allan Chan Kit-kwong received his PhD in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde, UK. He has served for almost 30 years at Hong Kong Baptist University, during which he served various positions including Head of the Marketing Department, Associate Dean of the Business School, Executive Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice-President, before retiring this summer. He was a Rajawali Visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School in 2015 during his sabbatical leave, and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Journal of Business Ethics.

School of Education and Languages

Assistant Professor Dr Jessie Wong Ming-sin received her Master of Social Work and PhD in Early Childhood Education Policy from the University of Hong Kong. She was World General Secretary of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education, where she is currently an Executive Committee Member of the Hong Kong branch, and was Communication and Research Officer of Victoria Educational Organization. Her research interests include early childhood education policies, child rights and play.

School of Science and Technology

Senior Lecturer Mr Norton Yuen Ho-yin obtained his BEng in Electrical Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and an MSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining the OUHK, he worked as a consultant for the Hong Kong Productivity Council, focusing on laboratory management and smart product development projects. He has decade-long experience in the testing and certification of electrical and electronic products.

OU scholar recognized for education leadership

Dr Wong Yee-keung, Assistant Professor of the School of Science and Technology received the Education Leadership Award at the eighth Asia's Education Excellence Awards presented by the World Education Congress, CMO Asia on 2 August. Dr Wong was recognized for his supervision of many award-winning student projects for external competitions throughout the years.

'Wow, English Made Easy?' Associate Professor of the School of Education and Languages Dr Danny Leung Chung-hong recalls the moment he was recognized when he stepped into the classroom after joining the OUHK in 2014. In the latest season of the popular RTHK educational show, he starred in the segments 'Catch me if you can' and 'Pronouncing English this way', playing a hilarious language coach named Dr D and teaching English pronunciation in a light-hearted way.

Going in front of the camera for each episode did not come easy, though. 'I'm used to speaking spontaneously in class, but for filming you must memorize every single word and gesture from the script. And very often the same shot has to be taken several times to get all the angles.' Luckily, he was not alone — as coordinator of an advisory board of four, he took turns with Dr Vanliza Chow, Dr April Liu and Ms Gladys Luk from the School's English Team to review the scripts and proofread the subtitles, as well as stand by to answer English questions that might come up during shooting.

The name 'Catch me if you can' implies catching the gist of English usage. 'A common problem with English learning in Hong Kong is that people tend to memorize grammatical rules blindly without regard to application,' he observes. 'Just like most of our students of English. Their English is actually not bad, only too bookish. Most students shy away from speaking for fear of making mistakes.' To help students go further, the OUHK programmes therefore focus on functional English, putting language back in context. To create a favourable language environment, the English Team insist on speaking to their students only in English anywhere within campus. In addition, a three-week English Language and Culture Immersion Programme is organized for English students at the University of Warwick every summer.

Chatting away heartily in his cartoon-adorned office, Dr Leung half-jokingly calls talking his hobby. 'I can't stand formal lecturing.' Instead he can be found roaming around the classroom, keeping students awake with visual aids and cracking a few jokes. He is happy to make an actor of himself in lecture halls and on media channels alike, all for the sake of promoting the learning of everyday English.

Four distinguished leaders conferred Honorary University Fellowships

(From left)

Dr Samson Tam Wai-ho is a founder of Group Sense Limited, which he set up at the age of 24 to develop the electronic dictionary brand 'Instant-Dict'. He was a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council representing the information technology sector between 2008 and 2012. In recent years, he has actively participated in angel investment projects to support budding local IT entrepreneurs. He was an OUHK Council member from June 2011 to June 2017, and was a member of its Finance Committee and Chairman of its Student Loan Management Committee.

Prof. Nora Tam Fung-yee is a renowned scholar in environmental biology, with a focus on biological waste treatment, bioremediation and mangrove ecology. She is currently a Chair Professor of the Department of Chemistry at City University of Hong Kong (CityU), where she directs the Futian-CityU Mangrove Research and Development Center. Among the many honorary appointments she has taken up at local and mainland institutions, she has contributed to the OUHK as an External Programme Assessor for several environmental studies programmes and as an external member of the Programme Review and Validation Committee since September 2014.

Dr Maggie Koong May-kay has dedicated herself to early childhood education for over 30 years, guiding generations of children and teachers to become compassionate life-long learners with a global vision. In addition to transforming her mother's Victorian kindergartens into an educational enterprise of great renown, Dr Koong promotes quality early childhood education through her capacities in local and international governmental and non-governmental bodies. She also strives to advance tertiary education and teacher training, serving as a member of the Advisory Peer Group for the OUHK School of Education and Languages and an honorary advisor to the University's Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE), among others.

Dr Samuel Lam Pak-nin is a diagnostic radiology specialist who pioneered the use of filmless digital radiology in Canada in the 1980s. He served as the first Corporate Chief Radiologist at the William Osler Health Centre in Ontario. Despite heavy work responsibilities, he has devoted much time and energy to health, education, social welfare and church work, following the example of his late grandfather Mr Lam Woo. He is now a Director of the Lam Woo Foundation, which has generously agreed to donate HK$5 million to the OUHK for the construction of its new Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare this year.

A new academic year is both exciting and challenging, especially for freshers! Academically, studies become more focused, as students begin to specialize in their field. Outside the classroom, plenty of learning opportunities and fun activities await. To help freshers adapt, the University organized a variety of activities at the start of this year.

The Welcome Day for non-JUPAS students was held on 11 August, featuring briefings on practical matters, a dance performance and a student society showcase. On 29 August, President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong welcomed and encouraged the new full-time undergraduates at the Inauguration Ceremony, officiated by Secretary for Education Mr Kevin Yeung, while orientation sessions for mainland undergraduate and postgraduate students were held on 28 August and 7 September respectively, both hosted by President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong and Associate Vice President Prof. Yip Yiu-keung. To bring freshers and senior students together for a fun first week on 4–8 September, the Student Affairs Office prepared a series of Orientation Week activities, including indigo dyeing and dream catcher workshops, performances and mini games.

The Students' Union and around 30 groups reached out to new full-time undergraduates through orientation camps and activities from August to October.

OU Hall

The University has rented an 18-storey building on Shantung Street, Mong Kok and turned it into a dormitory for non-local students. From late August, 88 mainland students and two senior-year student mentors started moving into OU Hall. Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong, Prof. Yip Yiu-keung and Head of Mainland and International Affairs Ms Shi Xuemei paid them a visit on 8 October and a cozy rooftop post-Mid-Autumn Festival gathering was held.

Cultural immersion

Local students have been invited to help mainland students overcome language and cultural barriers. The local students are serving as teaching assistants in Cantonese classes, and also helping to organize social activities such as yum cha gatherings and a tram party introducing Hong Kong's night life.

Post-internship sharing

Eight participants, back from Vietnam on the 'YIC × OUHK Internship Programme in Newly Industrialized Country — Vietnam', shared their six-week experiences at local factories on 27 September. The occasion was attended by OUHK President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong, alongside Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council (HKYIC) President Mr Cheung Kit, Vice President Mr Paul Tai and HKYIC Foundatioon President Dr Allen Shi.

English summer camp for underprivileged teens

The OUHK Volunteer Team helped out at an English learning camp for 70 underprivileged secondary students on the University campus on 24–28 July. The camp was co-organized by Principal Chan Free Tutorial World and Oxbridge Summer Camps Abroad, and our energetic volunteers helped participants have a great time as they learnt English through fun activities like drama, singing and dancing.

Youth Ambassadors

The Government has launched a special Youth Ambassadors programme in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, inviting young people to assist in various celebration events, especially international conferences and activities, and to act as hosts for other young visitors. Three OUHK students and one fresh graduate have been selected for the programme. They will take part in cultural and travel exchanges with young people from Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Poland and other countries.

Taipei Universiade and sports exchange

A team of OUHK athletes visited Taipei this August, firstly to cheer on fellow student Ada Lee Wan-yi, Hong Kong delegate for women's compound archery, at the biannual Summer Universiade, and then to visit the National Taiwan Normal University for a sports and cultural exchange.

Musical October

During Musical October, the first of a series of lunch-hour programmes presented by the SAO, student and guest performers brought a variety of music to the OUHK campus: pop song busking, a beatboxing demonstration by national champion Heartgrey and a piano performance by Kajeng Wong, amongst others.

Movie music night

The OUHK Orchestra gave its annual performance, 'Moved by Movie Music', on 12 November, playing themes and music from a range of classic films. Proceeds from the concert were donated to the 'Million Dollar Matching Challenge' campaign in support of the OUHK Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare development project.

Open InnoChallenge kick-off

The SAO has launched a brand new scheme called 'Open InnoChallenge' to help students translate innovative ideas into viable operations. The scheme kicked off with the Open InnoCarnival on 26–28 September, with four teams of alumni showcasing their projects on food waste dyeing, 3D printing, bricks building and a mobile app for the visually impaired entitled 'iSEE'. Two information sessions then followed, and 14 October saw a trip to Wan Chai's Blue House, the first of a series of local tours.

Career simulation game

Funded by the Qualifications Framework Secretariat, LiPACE has designed a simulation game named 'Career City — HR Kaleidoscope' for some 300 students from three secondary schools. The game allowed students to experience workplace dynamics and learn more about the human resources industry.

New Publication

The Routledge Handbook of Chinese Translation
Associate Professor of the School of Arts and Social Sciences Dr Emily Poon (book contributor)
Published by Oxon: Routledge.

Hall named in honour of Agile Group

The OUHK has received a generous donation of $10 million from the Agile Group Holdings Limited (Agile) to support its new campus development project. The multi-purpose hall in the Jockey Club Campus has been named the Agile Sports Hall in recognition of the Group's philanthropy.

The naming ceremony was held on 3 November with Chairman and President of Agile Mr Chen Zhuo-lin, Vice Chairperson Madam Fion Luk Sin-fong , OUHK Council Chairman Mr Michael Wong Yick-kam and President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong officiating. Upon completion, the new campus building will become home to the future OUHK Jockey Club Institute of
Healthcare.

New scholarship for mainland MCG students

Honorary University Fellow of the OUHK Ms Edith Shih and the Chartered Secretaries Foundation Limited have made a generous donation of HK$240,000 to the University. The gift will be used to set up a scholarship scheme recognizing outstanding mainland students of the Master of Corporate Governance programme jointly presented by the OUHK and East China University of Science and Technology. Six awards of HK$8,000 each will be disbursed every year.

New Programmes

Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Global Marketing and Supply Chain Management

The growth of e-retailing and cross-border business activities has brought plenty of opportunities for logistics and supply chain management positions. Covering knowledge and skills relevant to the management of marketing, supply chain and logistics functions in a globalized economy, this programme prepares students for careers as analysts, managers or consultants in such fields as transportation, logistics, purchasing/procurement, warehousing and international trade.

Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Financial Technology and Innovation

Financial technologies such as algorithmic trading systems, blockchains and electronic money have revolutionized the business environment. This programme supplies new talent to the financial industry by combining skills in the application of cutting-edge technological innovations to the financial services industry with a sound knowledge base.

Bachelor of Education with Honours in Early Childhood Education (Leadership and Special Educational Needs)

This programme is designed especially for holders of diplomas or certificates in Early Childhood Education who want to pursue a Bachelor's degree. It focuses on skills in leading early childhood education organizations or kindergartens and working with children who have special educational needs.

Higher Diploma in Computer Engineering (LiPACE)

This programme equips students with comprehensive knowledge in the design of components making up a computer system and system implementation, enabling them to pursue a career as programmers, system designers, game developers and system testers. Graduates are eligible to apply for admission to relevant top-up degree programmes offered by local and overseas institutions.

Openlink December 2017‧Vol 26‧Issue 4

OUHK's SSSDP programmes a nurturing ground for highly sought-after professionals

OUHK and the Japanese Consulate-General promote Olympism and Japanese culture

Nearly 700 students receive financial awards

Hong Kong Police Choir 40th Anniversary Concert

Short video contest promotes healthy living

View prize-winning videos:

Management retreat

Forging stronger ties with partners and friends

Awards for creative arts students

Innovative interior design students come second

Winning scholarships for Japanese Studies

Computing students sweep awards in IEEE competitions

T&C student recognized by IET

First award for OUHK Debate Team

OUHK co-organizes International Congress in Algebras and Combinatorics

IRITS Conference 2017

Great Speakers Series

Symposium on Open and Innovative Education

Joint certificate programme with SAS

Feasibility study of pension scheme

Enrolled nurse training programmes for the welfare sector

New Vice President Prof. Tong Chong-sze ignites the power of innovation on campus

New academic staff

OU scholar recognized for education leadership

Four distinguished leaders conferred Honorary University Fellowships

OU Hall

Cultural immersion

Post-internship sharing

English summer camp for underprivileged teens

Youth Ambassadors

Taipei Universiade and sports exchange

Musical October

Movie music night

Open InnoChallenge kick-off

Career simulation game

New Publication

Hall named in honour of Agile Group

New scholarship for mainland MCG students

New Programmes

Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Global Marketing and Supply Chain Management

Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Financial Technology and Innovation

Bachelor of Education with Honours in Early Childhood Education (Leadership and Special Educational Needs)

Higher Diploma in Computer Engineering (LiPACE)

OUHK's SSSDP programmes
a nurturing ground for highly sought-after professionals