From the Chairman

I am very happy to report that the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong (OLI) became the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) on 30 May 1997. The achievement of university status was the culmination of a great deal of effort on the part of the Institute's Council members, staff, students and alumni, as well as the generous support of the government and the community. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all who have helped to turn this vision into reality.

Peter Wong Hong-yuen Council Chairman

Development on various fronts last year clearly proved that the Institute has come of age in assuming the full status and responsibilities of a university. There was sustained demand for OLI's courses at all levels. Last year 8,500 new adult learners joined the Institute, taking the total student population above the 20,000 mark for the second consecutive year. The continued popularity of the new programmes, notably the MBA, the MEd and the BA in Language and Translation, underscored the Institute's sensitivity and timely response to the community's demand for quality, flexible and practical learning.

Completing a part-time degree programme requires hard work and perseverance.

Equally impressive was the graduation of another 1,881 students, bringing the total number of our graduates close to 4,000. Many of them have found education at the OLI a very rewarding experience and helpful in moving up the career ladder. Some of these graduates have gone on to further studies or advanced to new jobs.

Holding fast to the principle of cost-effectiveness and in pursuit of our mission of being self-financing, we demonstrated our viability with the achievement of another balanced budget. We did this by staying lean and simple, while keeping a good nose for the fast changing needs and shifting demands in the market. To this end the Institute continued to strengthen its bonds with the community by engaging more companies as partners in the Employer Support Scholarship Scheme. Meanwhile we were pleased to see this close linkage with society translated into hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations and sponsorships for our endeavours from numerous donors and philanthropic bodies.

The completion of the new campus building in April 1996 placed the OLI in a stronger position to serve the needs of our students in a much better learning environment. These permanent facilities have added to their sense of belonging and provide a practical base to foster cohesion and fellowship.

To celebrate the opening of the new campus, the Institute threw open its doors to the public on the Open Day in November. The event was well received by over 10,000 visitors who enthusiastically looked over our facilities and services - testimony that the Institute is gaining in popularity and public recognition.

Council members

I would like to record my thanks to some of the Institute's close associates who departed from the Council in June 1996 after years of dedicated service, in particular the Council's Deputy Chairman Mr Carlos Cheung Hon-kau, Professor David Murray, a former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Open University in the UK, and Dr Ian Mugridge, Programmes Director at the Commonwealth of Learning.

Professor David Murray Sir John Swaine

Professor Murray and Dr Mugridge are long-standing supporters of the Institute; their service dates back to the days when the Institute was only an idea. Together with local celebrity and legal expert Sir John Swaine, they were conferred honorary degrees at the 4th Congregation on 19 December 1996. Dr Mugridge and Sir John received Honorary Doctorates of Letters, honoris causa; while Professor Murray was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences, honoris causa.

Dr Ian Mugridge

It was with a heavy heart that we received the news of the sudden death of the Institute's Founding Director Dr Donald Swift in January 1997. Dr Swift left the Institute in 1991 after helping to establish it in an amazingly short time to meet the enormous demand from Hong Kong adults for educational advancement. We feel sad that he could not have lived to see the Institute blossoms into a university.

The OUHK is now a respected adult education institution with 380 experienced and dedicated staff, reinforced by 900 enthusiastic part-time tutors. Through our concerted efforts we have come a long way in meeting our targets of providing training, education, self-improvement and development opportunities for our people. Not least is the gratifying support, faith and plaudits we have earned from our society. Looking forward to the new OUHK era, I am confident that the University will maintain its 'get up and go' spirit and become the premier institution of open education in Asia in the 21st century.

Peter Wong Hong-yuen Council Chairman July 1997

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