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SCMP Reporter

MAKING the best use of his spare time was ''all it took'' for the oldest graduate of the Open Learning Institute (OLI) to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Western Arts and Humanities.

  ''Finding time to study is the key to success,'' said Dr Nip Kam-fan, 60, the executive director of the Haven of Hope Christian Service who carries books everywhere in case a free moment presents itself for study.

  ''I even use the time travelling to work on the bus to read poetry.''     Of course, it also took a lot of hard work and a great deal of application, with many late nights spent poring over his books.

  Over the four years it has taken him to earn his degree, Dr Nip, who with his newest award from the OLI holds eight degrees, carefully noted how much time he spent studying: 5,138 hours.

  It seems a surprising amount of spare time for someone who is employed full-time (up until last year he was the director of the Territory Development Department), and devotes many hours to working for voluntary agencies, such as school management committees and Christian organisations.

    Four of Dr Nip's degrees were earned by long-distance learning through the University of London in England.

    He was accepted by the OLI in October, 1989.

    Dr Nip was glowing in his praise of the institute: ''Following the OLI's method of guided study offers a greater chance of success in the programme.''   Dr Nip decided on the Western Arts and Humanities programme to ''balance'' the science degrees he has, which include an honours degree in engineering from the University of Hong Kong (1956) and one in economics from the University of London (1983).

    Subjects in the programme included Introduction to Poetry and Drama, Fifth-Century Athens and Shakespeare.

    But that may have to wait for a while, as Dr Nip is already enrolled in another OLI course with the School of Arts and Sciences - Contemporary Chinese Usage.

  ''The OLI is offering such good courses that I could continue to study for another 30 years - until I'm 90,'' he said.



Dr Nip takes eighth degree in spare time