Tam Sheung-wai (1934 – 1 January 2021)[1] OBE, GBS, JP (Chinese: 譚尚渭) was the President Emeritus of The Open University of Hong Kong.[2] He is widely recognised for his many contributions towards the development of distance education in Hong Kong.[2] He was also the Chairman of the College Council of St. Paul's Co-educational College.
Tam received bachelor's and master's degrees in science from the University of Hong Kong. In 1964, he obtained a PhD in chemistry from the University of Nottingham.[3]
Tam joined Chung Chi College, part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), as a chemistry lecturer in 1965.[3]
He served as head of the Chinese University's graduate school from 1981 until 1993, and as a pro-vice-chancellor of the university from 1990 to 1994. Tam retired from CUHK in 1995, the same year he was appointed president of OUHK.[3] Tam retired from the presidency in November 2003.[4]