Гонконгский Метрополитенский Университет: История и Развитие

Public university in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU; as Open University of Hong Kong from 1997 to 2021) is a public university in Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Established as the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong government in 1989, HKMU now consists of five schools, namely the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration, School of Education and Languages, School of Nursing and Health Studies, and the School of Science and Technology. HKMU is the only self financing university set up by the government. It began as a distance learning based university, but is now in effect two universities in one. It has started to offer full time programmes since 2001 and has participated in Hong Kong's centralised joint university admission system (JUPAS) since 2007. Currently, it has a headcount of more than 9,600 students on its full time face to face programmes, occupying one sixth of all undergraduate students in Hong Kong. The current president is Professor Lam Kwan Sing.

Hong Kong Metropolitan University, formerly as the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong (OLI) and the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), was established by the British Hong Kong Government in 1989. With the consent made by the Governor of Hong Kong and the Executive Council of Hong Kong in May 1997, the motion for the third reading was agreed by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. The OLI officially upgraded to the Open University of Hong Kong. The promotion marks the public recognition to the achievements and contributions made by the OUHK in the academic field.

In May 1989, the Hong Kong Government established the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong. The OLI was the first distance learning based higher education institution in Hong Kong. The OLI adopted a flexible academic score system, allowing its students to accumulate their credits by stage until successfully earning the degree. In August 1992, the Hong Kong Government announced to accept graduates from the OLI to apply for its positions which required a university degree. In November 1992, the OLI offered 17 degree programmes which were approved by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic Qualifications. In November 1993, the OLI held its first congregation.

In June 1995, the OLI passed the accreditation by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic Qualifications and received the recommendation of granting the self accrediting status after June 1996. In October 1996, the Hong Kong Government granted the OLI with the self accrediting status. It recognised the capacity of self management and quality assurance of the Institution. In February 1997, the Hong Kong Executive Council approved in principle to the upgrade the OLI to a university. In May 1997, the motion for the third reading was agreed by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. The OLI was upgraded to the Open University of Hong Kong and became the seventh statutory university in Hong Kong.

In October 1998, students of the OUHK were allowed to be included in the Non means tested Loan Scheme for Full time Tertiary Students (NLSFT). In June 1999, the OUHK was conferred the Prize of Excellence for Institutions by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) for 1999. In October 1999, the Hong Kong Government approved a one off grant of HK$50 million to develop the University into a Centre of Excellence in Distance and Adult Learning and accepted the OUHK to apply for the grant of the Research Grants Council (RGC). In June 2000, the electronic library of the OUHK won the Stockholm Challenge Award in a global IT contest. In October 2000, the Open University of Hong Kong Centre for Continuing and Community Education was officially renamed as the Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education to acknowledge the donation of HK$40 million by the Li Ka Shing Foundation in supporting the establishment of the Island Learning Centre.

Under the co ordination of the Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2014, the OUHK was granted a subsidy of HK$18 million in the application of research grants for local self financing institutions to set up the Institute for Research in Innovative Technology & Sustainability, the Research Institute for Digital Culture and Humanities and the Centre of Chinese Culture.

Full time programmes have been the recent main focus of the HKMU. Similar to the full time programmes of other universities, the programmes are conducted by lectures and tutorials. Some even include laboratory courses and practicums. Face to face programmes mainly consists of full time and part time modes. Some full time face to face programmes have been included in the Hong Kong's centralised joint university admission system (JUPAS).

Part time programmes include distance learning programmes, the programmes have been the ongoing programmes of the HKMU since its establishment. The University provides students applied for distance learning programmes with self study materials. Some programmes even include interactive CD ROMs, videos and computer software. The University's tutors conduct regular tutorials on weekday evening or weekend. Distance learning programmes allow student to decide to attend tutorials. However, some tutorials require students to attend specific classes or laboratory courses. Besides, the University arranges tutors to provide students with guidance and assistance by phone, email or online at specific time. Tutors also provide feedback on all assignments to help guide students' learning. Although most distance learning programmes are in open entry, with no entry requirements and time limits on finishing a qualification, students are required to complete specific assignments and to pass end term exams during their study periods so as to attain the course credit. Besides, every distance learning programme, including diploma and degree programmes, is set with studying rules. Students are required to follow the rule to accumulate assigned course credits so as to apply for qualifications.

Hong Kong Metropolitan University Ordinance states that the Chief Executive (Hong Kong Governor before the return of Hong Kong to China) or a person designated by him shall be the Chancellor of the University.

The earliest campus of the Open University of Hong Kong was located at the Hennessy Centre at Causeway Bay. Then, it moved to the Trade and Industry Department Tower in Mong Kok. It soon moved to the Princess Road, Ho Man Tin for the preparation of the grand opening of Ho Man Tin Campus. In April 1996, the campus located in 30 Good Shepherd Street opened and provided students with an ideal learning environment. In July 2000, the multimedia laboratory subsidised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club opened. In October 2000, the Island Learning Centre located in Shun Tak Centre, Sheung Wan opened. The Open University of Hong Kong Centre for Continuing and Community Education was officially renamed as the Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education to acknowledge the donation of $40 million by the Li Ka Shing Foundation in supporting the establishment of the Island Learning Centre. In April 2005, the OUHK rented the entire 1/F of the Ho Man Tin Plaza as its learning centre. In May 2005, the Campus Phase II Development started. The Project was to build an academic building of 12 floors at the carpark of Ho Man Tin Main Campus located at Good Shepherd Street. The expense of the Development was about $170 million. It received various donations from the public, including the TS Kwok Foundation, the Tin Ka Ping Foundation, Wong Bing lai, Serena Yang Hsueh chi, Stanley Ho Hung sun, the Chiang Chen Industrial Charity Foundation, Cheng Yu tung, Solomon Lee Kui nang and others. The Campus Phase II Development Project received the Government interest free loan of $120 million. The OUHK officially named the new academic building after Dr Kwok Tak Seng Building to acknowledge the TS Kwok Foundation granting a donation of $40 million to support the Campus Phase II Development Project. In August 2008, the Campus Phase II Building Ground breaking Ceremony was held. On 22 January 2008, the OUHK named the high block of the Ho Man Tin main campus building after Cheng Yu tung, in recognition of his donation of HK$35 million towards the development of the University's phase II campus extension. In May 2008, the Clinical Nursing Education Centre opened. It is the simulation centre incorporating the learning elements of general, mental and Chinese medicinal nursing. In September 2008, the Campus Phase II opened. In September 2010, the OUHK named the courtyard of the Ho Man Tin Main Campus after Siu Tsang Fung Kwan, in recognition of the donation of 10 million by Mr Gerald C S Siu and the support from his mother Siu Tsang Fung Kwan and his wife. In December 2012, the OUHK received the grant of land on Chung Hau Street, Ho Man Tin from the Education Bureau and made use of it to develop the Campus Phase III and a new academic institute. The expected expense was about $720 million. In January 2011, the Campus Phase III received the Government interest free loan of $317 million. In February 2012, the OUHK named the new campus and the auditorium after the Jockey Club, in recognition of its donation of $190 million in supporting the development of the Campus Phase III. On 28 February 2012, the ground breaking ceremony of the Campus Phase III was held. In August 2012, the OUHK sold the Island Learning Centre located at Shun Tak Centre, Sheung Wan and purchased a new learning centre in Kwai Hing. In September 2013, the Kwai Hing Learning Centre opened. The Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE) moved to the Kwai Hing Learning Centre at the Block 2 of the Kowloon Commerce Centre. In February 2014, the Jubilee College at Jockey Club Campus of the OUHK officially opened. In August 2014, the OUHK received the approval from the Town Planning Board, rezoning the vacant land of 11 years on Sheung Shing Street for the government and public purposes to facilitate the development of a new academic building。The Planning Department considered that the development would not bring any negative impacts to neighbouring areas. In the meantime, the Education Bureau also gave support to the extension project of the OUHK. Therefore, the application was finally approved. In February 2017, the OUHK is going to build a Nursing and Healthcare Complex opposite to the Ho Man Tin Main Campus on Sheung Shing Street. The establishment of the new Complex will enable the University to cater to the future manpower requirements for nursing and other healthcare services, and will allow swift response to the new and unforeseen community needs that may arise as our society ages.

The company is located in Shenzhen, Guangdong, mainland China. It is responsible for managing programmes of the OUHK held in China and handling the admission applications of mainland students.

The HKMU always encourages its students to form societies and organise student activities. The University provides student organisations with assistance and help by Student Affairs Committee and Student Affairs Office. By planning and participating in various activities, students can improve their knowledge and enhance their organisational skills. Currently, there are near 50 student societies and various alumni associations accredited by the University and granted for subsidy. The associations provide students with various kinds of activities, including sports competitions, academic discussions, seminars, outdoor activities and rehearsal exercises. Since the re establishment of the Students' Union in 2008, the current Committee on Student Affairs transforms into the joint discussion platform of both the University representatives and the principle members of the Students' Union, helping to manage the constitute politics and financial affairs of student societies.

Every student who is registered on a credit bearing course of study offered by HKMU during a session shall be entitled to exercise the rights and enjoy privileges of membership during such session. The Students’ Union aims to act as a channel of communication between the students and HKMU and other bodies, to promote a school spirit amongst the students, to promote the welfare of the students, to promote and develop social and educational opportunities for the students and to represent the students.

With a mission to provide open and distance education, the OUHK has been purchasing airtime to broadcast television programmes for the benefit of the learning public since 1989. The programmes feature a wide spectrum of topics including arts, science, social sciences, business administration, education, information technology, child development and psychology as well as Chinese history and culture. They are either produced by the OUHK or purchased from the Open University of the UK or the China Central Radio and TV University. In October 2015, the OUHK and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) once again made a joint effort to launch Open for Learning, the educational TV programme airing on TVB Pearl from 9 am to 1 pm every Sunday morning. The programme has been continuously brought to the public, enlightening not only students, but everyone in Hong Kong.

Congregation CeremonyNo. of academic awards presented1st Congregation Ceremony (1993)1612nd Congregation Ceremony (1994)5493rd Congregation Ceremony (1995)1,3434th Congregation Ceremony (1996)1,9235th Congregation CeremonyOnly honorary doctorate degree presented6th Congregation Ceremony (1997)2,2647th Congregation Ceremony (1998)2,2988th Congregation Ceremony (1999)2,7859th Congregation Ceremony (2000)4,50710th Congregation Ceremony (2001)3,69511th Congregation Ceremony (2002)4,66412th Congregation Ceremony (2003)4,81713th Congregation Ceremony (2004)6,14114th Congregation Ceremony (2005)5,45615th Congregation Ceremony (2006)6,72216th Congregation Ceremony (2007)5,58517th Congregation Ceremony (2008)5,91418th Congregation Ceremony (2009)5,39719th Congregation Ceremony (2010)5,78920th Congregation Ceremony (2011)6,35021st Congregation Ceremony (2012)5,73222nd Congregation Ceremony (2013)5,86723rd Congregation Ceremony (2014)6,14824th Congregation Ceremony (2015)5,80725th Congregation Ceremony (2016)6,83326th Congregation Ceremony (2017)7,05527rd Congregation Ceremony (2018)7,30628rd Congregation Ceremony (2020) Postponed6,88729rd Congregation Ceremony (2020)6,671