Open University president John Leong Chi-yan brightens when he speaks of a gift he once received from a former student. It was a piece of calligraphy written by the father of a prison inmate who had completed his MBA with the university.
The gift symbolised the gratitude many students owed to the university for having had a second chance to study.
Students can make up for what they may have missed during their school years at the Open University, which also offers various courses for specific professions such as the Hong Kong Police Force and Cathay Pacific's in-flight personnel.
'All the policemen in Hong Kong are students of the Open University,' Professor Leong said.
The course for police officers features modules on criminal law, psychology and sociology, and allows police officers to learn something beyond their shooting range and gyms.
'We always try to reach out to society. The aim is to nurture a culture of lifelong learning among the population,' Professor Leong said.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Open University was set up by the government. Formerly the Open Learning Institute, it has come a long way towards enhancing Hong Kong's education standards.Following the granting of the self-accrediting status in 1996, the institute achieved university status in 1997. It was included in the government's matching grant scheme, which is financed by the University Grants Committee (UGC), in 2007.