The Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong (OLI) is established by legislation.
May 1989
Professor Donald SWIFT is appointed the first OLI Director.
May 1989
Mr CHENG Hon-Kwan is appointed the first OLI Council Chairman.
Jun 1989
With a core staff of 39, the OLI commences operation. OLI Council meets for the first time. The Academic Board is established.
Oct 1989
4,237 students enroll in the first eight courses.
Oct 1989
The OLI broadcasts its first TV series World of Learning on ATV.
Jun 1990
The OLI moves into Trade Department Tower in Mong Kok.
Jul 1991
Dr Gajaraj DHANARAJAN is appointed the second OLI Director.
Oct 1991
The OLI offers its first degree programme in Chinese.
Jun 1992
Mr Peter WONG Hong-yuen becomes Council Chairman.
Feb 1993
17 degree programmes are validated by Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation (HKCAA).
Apr 1993
The OLI becomes self-financing.
Nov 1993
161 graduates are awarded degrees at OLI’s First Congregation.
Aug 1994
Professor TAM Sheung-wai is appointed the third OLI Director.
Oct 1995
The first Master’s Degree, in Business Administration, is offered.
Oct 1996
Government grants OLI self-accrediting status.
Oct 1996
The OLI moves to a new campus in Ho Man Tin.
May 1997
Legislative Council passes the OLI (Amendment) Bill 1997 renaming OLI as “The Open University of Hong Kong”(OUHK).
Dec 1997
The OUHK presents the first batch of 11 MBA graduates.
Jul 1998
Dr the Honourable Charles LEE Yeh-kwong is appointed Council Chairman.
Oct 1998
The OUHK launches its Chinese MBA programme in mainland China.
Nov 1998
The Electronic Library is inaugurated.
Mar 1999
The OUHK receives the prestigious Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement in Distance Education from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).
Jun 1999
The International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) confers the Prize of Excellence for Institutions on the OUHK.
Feb 2000
The Centre for Continuing and Community Education is renamed as the Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE).
Jun 2000
The Electronic Library wins the Stockholm Challenge Award in a global IT contest.
Dec 2000
The OUHK’s first off-campus learning centre, the Island Learning Centre, opens at Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan.
Sep 2001
The OUHK launches its first full-time face-to-face programme at the Associate Degree level.
May 2002
The Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation (HKCAA) conducts an institutional review of the OUHK and concludes that the University ‘has succeeded in maintaining a sound and effective system of quality assurance for the delivery of its programmes.’
May 2003
The OUHK launches its first full-time honours degree programme offering full articulation for Associate Degree holders.
Jun 2003
Dr Philip WU Po-him becomes Council Chairman.
Aug 2003
The Shenzhen office of OUHK Consultants (Shenzhen) Ltd. opens.
Dec 2003
Professor John C Y LEONG takes office as the fourth President.
Jul 2004
Dr the Honourable Charles LEE Yeh-kwong is reappointed Council Chairman.
Dec 2004
Presents the first batch of 46 graduates of the full-time undergraduate programmes.
Aug 2005
The Homantin Plaza Learning Centre is opened.
Aug 2006
Construction of the Campus Phase Two Building begins.
Aug 2007
Launches free online courseware for public access.
Sep 2007
Offers full-time undergraduate programmes through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) for the first time.
Dec 2007
Included in the Government’s Matching Grant Scheme for the first time and raised a total of $160 million as a result.
Jun 2008
Clinical Nursing Education Centre is opened.
Jun 2009
Dr Eddy C FONG is appointed Council Chairman.
Sep 2009
Campus Phase Two opens.
Mar 2010
OUHK-CITA Learning Centre opens.
Feb 2012
Construction of the Jockey Club Campus begins.
Nov 2013
Dr the Honourable Charles LEE Yeh-kwong is appointed Pro-chancellor.
Sep 2013
OU launches full-time programmes in creative arts, testing and certification, and strengths the nursing programmes to support three of the six crucial industries being promoted by the Government.
Nov 2013
Kwai Hing Learning Centre officially opens.
Feb 2014
Jockey Club Campus officially opens.
Apr 2014
Professor Yuk-Shan WONG takes office as the fifth President.
Dec 2014
OUHK Honorary Doctor of Letter and Nobel Literature Prize recipient Dr MO Yan revisits the OUHK and delivers a lecture for the 25th anniversary celebrations.
Jul 2015
Launch of OUHK Institute for Research in Innovative Technology & Sustainability (IRITS).
Sep 2015
A total of 350 places of four full-time undergraduate programmes of OUHK receive the subsidy from the Government’s newly-launched Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP). This is the largest share among local self-financing institutions.
Oct 2015
Launch of OUHK Tin Ka Ping Centre of Chinese Culture.
Nov 2015
OUHK is appointed assessment agency for TIC (Testing, Inspection & Certification) practitioners.
Dec 2015
Launch of OUHK Research Institute for Digital Culture & Humanities (RiDCH).
Dec 2015
Launch of University motto “Disce, Progredere, Crea”.
Jun 2016
Mr Michael WONG is appointed Council Chairman.
Jul 2016
Launch of OUHK Institute for Research in Open and Innovative Education (IROPINE).
Dec 2016
Launch of OUHK Research Institute for Bilingual Learning and Teaching (RIBiLT).
Dec 2016
Launch of OUHK Institute of International Business and Governance (IIGB).
Aug 2017
The Government announces the expansion of its Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/ Sectors in 2018/19. 1,040 places from 12 full-time undergraduate programmes of OU are included in the Scheme, which is the largest share among local self-financing institutions.
Sep 2017
Launch of new programmes including sports and recreation management, and international hospitality and attractions management, etc.
Nov 2017
Animation students win the "Best Animated Short Film" at the 54th Golden Horse Awards.
Dec 2017
Construction of the OUHK Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare begins.
Aug 2018
The Government announces the increase of subsidized places under the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/ Sectors (SSSDP) in 2019/20. OUHK’s subsidized places increases to 1,150.
Sep 2018
Student learning experiences are significantly enhanced, with nearly 1,400 visits paid to over 85 cities and more than 2,600 internships opportunities arranged in Hong Kong and abroad.
Sep 2018
Receives a total funding of about HK$13 million from the Research Grants Council for 11 projects, which is the highest among all 13 eligible self-financing institutions. OU is also the only institution that has successfully received funding under the Institutional Development Scheme for five consecutive years.
Sep 2018
Since the Research Grants Council (RGC) started in 2014 to support the academic and research development of local self-financing degree sector on a competitive basis, a total of 47 projects of OUHK have been funded by RGC, amounting over HK$65 million.
Sep 2018
Introduces new full-time programmes including financial technology, global market and supply chain management, etc.
Jan 2019
OUHK kicks off year-long 30th anniversary celebrations.
