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It is of paramount importance that secondary school leavers should get hold of comprehensive and up-to-date information on study pathways and programmes when planning for their future, the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said at the opening ceremony of the Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2015 today (May 9).
He encouraged secondary school leavers to make use of the Concourse for Self-financing Post-secondary Education (www.cspe.edu.hk) and the Information Portal for Accredited Post-secondary Programmes (iPASS) (www.ipass.gov.hk) to learn more about the self-financing post-secondary sector. Information is available on topics including institutions providing full-time locally accredited sub-degree and undergraduate courses not covered by the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS), programme details, application arrangements, enrolment deposits and the expected number of places. Applications for non-JUPAS post-secondary programmes, he added, can be made via the Electronic Advance Application System for Post-secondary Programmes (E-APP) (www.eapp.gov.hk).
Mr Yeung said, "We strive to provide flexible and diversified pathways with multiple entry and exit points to secondary school leavers. Apart from choosing undergraduate programmes, they could also choose sub-degree courses, which comprise Higher Diploma and Associate Degree programmes."
He added, "We expect that about 57 730 full-time locally accredited post-secondary places will be provided by various institutions in the 2015/16 academic year, including 24 230 undergraduate places and 33 500 sub-degree places. Many institutions also provide Yi Jin Diploma programmes and other continuing education programmes. Generally speaking, post-secondary institutions will provide sufficient places for eligible students to pursue their studies."
Mr Yeung also remarked that vocational education is not confined to lower-level programmes, noting that some degree programmes are in fact vocationally or professionally oriented, such as those in the fields of engineering and health care. He also said that in the 2015/16 academic year, 940 places in 13 programmes offered by five participating post-secondary institutions will be subsidised under the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors to broaden the opportunities for local students to receive higher education in selected disciplines and to nurture talents to meet Hong Kong's social and economic needs.
The Information Expo is organised by the Education Bureau, with the Federation for Self-financing Tertiary Education, the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters and Hong Kong Education City as supporting organisations. It is being held from 10am to 6pm today and tomorrow (May 10) at Rotunda 2 of the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre. Admission is free.
More than 30 exhibition booths are providing information on locally accredited post-secondary programmes (including vocational education programmes), the Yi Jin Diploma, non-local programmes and articulation pathways outside Hong Kong. The Expo also provides information on iPASS, E-APP, e-Navigator, the Concourse and the Qualifications Framework, which are useful tools and platforms to assist students in planning their further studies.
Institutions and organisations participating in the Expo are providing candidates of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination and other students with enquiry services and programme information. Hok Yau Club, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association are also offering advisory services to students.
Apart from booths, there are also talks on multiple pathways for secondary school graduates, including preparation for articulation to post-secondary education and experience sharing by students of post-secondary programmes.
Ends/Saturday, May 9, 2015
Issued at HKT 13:11
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