|
About 86% of the full-time graduates of the
Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) in 2008 were employed or pursuing
further studies six months after graduation, according to survey results
announced today (25 June) by Prof. Danny Wong, the University's Vice
President (Academic) today (25 June). The average monthly salary for
those employed was around $10,000, similar to the year before.
The survey was conducted from December 2008 to late January 2009 by
means of questionnaires and telephone interviews on the University's 836
full-time graduates last year, with a response rate of 90.7%.
According to survey results, 78.7% and 7.4% of the 759 respondents were
in full-time employment and pursuing further studies respectively. About
82% of them had received one to three job offers. The highest paid
graduate was earning $21,880 a month.
The survey also showed that about 84.7% of the graduates worked in the
business or industrial sector, followed by 5.8% in educational
institutions, 5.7% in community/social services and 3.8% in the civil
service.
Ms Jacqueline Cheng, OUHK's Head of Public Affairs, introduced four
full-time graduates this year to the media.
"Our two Bachelor of Nursing programmes will have their first batch of
full-time graduates this year. There are 92 graduates in total, 54
majoring in general health care and 38 in mental health care. We
anticipate that they will be fully employed," said Ms Cheng.
Below are the profiles of the four full-time graduates:
Lin Lai-na worked in a digital picture production company as an
animator after finishing her Bachelor's degree in creative media at the
City University of Hong Kong. Lai-na had to spend long hours before a
computer screen but she likes meeting and communicating with people. She
later quitted the job and worked in a clinic as an assistant.
Unexpectedly, the clinic job brought her a great sense of fulfillment
and ignited her interest in joining the nursing profession. After
evaluating the nursing programmes offered by various local institutions,
Lai-na opted for the OUHK's Bachelor of Nursing degree with Honours in
General Health Care. She will graduate this year. Apart from the
knowledge and skills gained from the courses, Lai-na experienced a lot
during her practicum training. Her whole-hearted dedication to work won
her the trust of patients. Their thank you cards not only showed their
appreciation for her performance, but also reminded Lai-na to do her
best in taking care of patients. Whenever Lai-na puts on her uniform
now, she feels a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Lai-na will
start working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at the end of July. She
plans to pursue a master's degree later for further professional
development.
Kenny Ngai's father passed away when he was very young. While
studying secondary school, he decided to become a health care
professional so as to take the best care of his ailing sister and aged
mother. After obtaining his Associate Degree in health studies, Kenny
immediately applied for the OUHK's Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in
General Health Care programme. Nevertheless, he was admitted to the
Mental Health Care programme because of his eloquence and outgoing
personality. Kenny started the professional training that gradually
changed his perception of mental health care. Understanding that mental
illnesses are often due to gloominess and depression, he began to use
various skills learned from classes and practicum training to
communicate with patients and relieve their distress. He has since
developed a deep interest in mental health care and considers it a
meaningful life-long career.
Connie Leung Ho-yi joined the OUHK after completing Form 7 and
gained an honours degree in social sciences this year. She enjoyed her
days at the OUHK very much and actively participated in various
extra-curricular activities. She was the chairlady of the Christian
Fellowship at the University for two consecutive years, and once joined
an exchange tour to Taiwan. Having been a student ambassador throughout
her studies, Connie was glad to have the opportunity to participate in
various events and serve as emcee on important occasions like the
anniversary banquet and the Campus Phase Two ground-breaking ceremony of
the University. A veteran in voluntary services, Connie decided to
develop her career in social service after university. To pave her way
to this goal, she studied social sciences and worked part-time in an NGO
so as to gain relevant work experience. Her earlier academic results
were far from satisfactory, but she managed to catch up and make great
improvements under the guidance and encouragement of caring teachers and
faculty members. Finally she was able to graduate with pleasing results
and received a job offer as a welfare worker immediately after
graduation. She plans to continue her studies for a master's degree in
the coming year, moving a step closer to her dream of becoming a social
worker.
Jossta Zhang enrolled in the OUHK's full-time programme four
years ago, right after getting the permit to come to Hong Kong from
mainland China to join her parents. She was then studying at Harbin
Normal University where the medium of instruction was Chinese. Although
the social sciences courses are mainly taught in English at the OUHK,
she overcame the barrier by studying even harder and was awarded the
HSBC Hong Kong Scholarship in 2008 and named an Outstanding Student this
year. Encouraged by professors and teachers, Jossta participated
actively in various extra-curricular activities. Last year, she was
among the outstanding representatives from local universities selected
to join the Global Citizenship Programme organized by the Dragon
Foundation. The tour to New York in June, which explored the
relationship between innovation, creativity and the city's development,
has inspired her to keep an open mind to new experiences. Jossta will be
conferred a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree with Honours this year.
She will go to the University of Helsinki in Finland in September to
study for a master's degree in social sciences to further widen her
horizons.
|
|
|
Photo captions
:
(1) From left :
Jossta Zhang, Connie Leung
Ho-yi, Vice President (Academic) Prof. Danny Wong, Head of Public Affairs
Ms Jacqueline Cheng, Lin Lai-na and Kenny Ngai |
(2) From left :
Jossta Zhang, Connie Leung
Ho-yi, Lin Lai-na and Kenny Ngai |
|
Skip to Content
The Open University of Hong Kong 2012
