A new interactive CD-ROM containing learning resources for Communications Technology students will be produced in March next year through the concerted efforts of the OUHK and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).

Signing a memorandum of understanding with HKIE President Ir Prof. Chan ching-chuen, OUHK President Prof. Tam Sheung-wai remarked that this was another fine example of the synergy between industry and education, with the incorporation into the University's course components of the papers and reports of the Asia Pacific Mobile Communications Symposium 1999, held in September.

According to Prof. Chan, the passport to global citizenship is mobile communication, and one would need six 'I's -- imagination, innovation, invention, integration, implementation and investment -- to meet the challenges in the rapidly changing environments and the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century.

The HKIE will contribute $30,000 towards the production costs. The OUHK will provide 1,000 copies of the CD-ROM to the HKIE for it to distribute to its members and other interested parties.

In addition, Prof. Tam sits on the Steering Committee of the 1999 Mobile Multimedia Communications Design Contest organized by the HKIE, which aims at promoting the development of 'smart computing' applications for the mobile communications environment and fostering entrepreneurial thinking among university students. The competition is open to all university students in Hong Kong, and details can be obtained on http://www.mmcdc.org/ or 2895 4446 or by email: pub_pr@hkie.org.hk or ptsang@ouhk.edu.hk.