Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU, previously known as the Open University of Hong Kong) is a public university in Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is the only self-financing university set up by the Hong Kong government.
The university opened in 1989 as the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong and gained university status in 1997 as the Open University of Hong Kong, focused on distance learning. It began to offer full-time programmes in 2001 and was renamed to Metropolitan University in 2021.
HKMU has five schools and more than 13,700 students on its full-time programmes. The current president is Professor Lam Kwan Sing.
History Early development The Hong Kong government established the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong (OLI) in May 1989 as the city's first tertiary education institution to provide distance learning. It was created to satisfy greater demand for education and re-training of working adults. Students did not need to satisfy any academic requirement, in contrast to other Hong Kong tertiary institutions at the time that had academically-rigorous entrance criteria.
The management of OLI had only four months to prepare for its first intake of 4,200 students in eight courses. The Hong Kong government provided decreasing financial support until 1993, when it required OLI to become self-financing. Because of the limited financial support and time allowed for OLI's founding, Open University in the United Kingdom provided courses, consultants and staff, and its management model was a point of reference.
OLI received more than 63,000 applications for its first cohort. The first batch of graduates left the institute in December 1993.
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.
Continuous improvement 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 LearningTowards the 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.
Launch of full-time programmes In September 2001, the OUHK firstly launched the full-time associate degree programme. In March 2005, the University introduced the first full-time top-up degree programme. In May 2004, the OUHK partnered with the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to introduce top-up degree programmes.
In May 2005, the OUHK started to collaborate with local hospitals for nurse degree education. The University partnered with Cathay Pacific Airways to organise the Professional Diploma in Inflight Service programme. In October 2005, the University partnered with the Hong Kong Police Force for recruit police constables' foundation training.
In September 2006, the OUHK officially started to participate in the Hong Kong's centralised joint university admission system (JUPAS), becoming the first higher education institution offering self-financing degree programmes. In the meantime, the OUHK partner with the Hong Kong Baptist Hospital. In June 2007, the OUHK established Centre for Putonghua Education and Testing. In August 2007, the OUHK signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Hospital, partnering to launch full-time Bachelor of Nursing with honours (General Health) programmes. In the meantime, the OUHK freely opened its teaching materials, providing Hong Kong residents with self-studying opportunities. In September 2007, the University Council unanimously approved to name the School of Business and Administration after Dr Lee Shau-kee to acknowledge his donation of HK$50 million in supporting the establishment of the University Development Fund. In December 2007, the OUHK was included in the Government's Matching Grant Scheme for the first time and raised a total of HK$160 million as a result.
In May 2008, the OUHK firstly partnered with the Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) on fashion business top-up degreeOUHK partners CITA on fashion business top-up degree 14/05/2008
In June 2008, full-time nursing programmes were accredited by the Nursing Council.OUHK's full-time nursing programmes granted accreditation by the Nursing Council 19/06/2008
Research 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.
Programmes offered Full-time programmes Full-time programmesFull-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 Part-time programmes include distance learning programmes. The programmes have been ongoing at the HKMU since its establishment. The University provide students who applies 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 evenings and weekends. Distance learning programmes allow students to decide of they want 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 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.
Governance and Organisation 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.HONG KONG METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY ORDINANCE
Academic and Research Units The academic units of the University consists of: School of Arts and Social SciencesSchool of Arts and Social Sciences Lee Shau Kee School of Business and AdministrationLee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration School of Education and LanguagesSchool of Education and Languages School of Nursing and Health SciencesSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences School of Science and TechnologySchool of Science and Technology School of Open LearningSchool of Open Learning Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE)Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE) The University Office of Research Affairs is set up to serve as a centralised unit of the University overseeing research activities of the University, supporting research carried out by staff of the University and co-ordinating development projects with external funding. There are six main research institutes and they are: Institute for Research in Innovative Technology & SustainabilityInstitute for Research in Innovative Technology & Sustainability Institute for Research in Open and Innovative EducationInstitute for Research in Open and Innovative Education Research Institute for Bilingual Learning and Teaching (RIBiLT)Research Institute for Bilingual Learning and Teaching (RIBiLT) Institute of International Business and GovernanceInstitute of International Business and Governance Public and Social Policy Research CentrePublic and Social Policy Research Centre Research Institute for Digital Culture and HumanitiesResearch Institute for Digital Culture and Humanities OUHK Tin Ka Ping Centre of Chinese CultureOUHK Tin Ka Ping Centre of Chinese Culture
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Campus development
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.