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The 2013 Mainland Higher Education Expo, jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and the Education Bureau (EDB), is being held today and tomorrow (November 23 and 24) at Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre. The Expo will enable students aspiring to pursue further studies in the Mainland to have a better understanding of the scheme for admission of Hong Kong students to Mainland higher education institutions.
The Ministry of Education announced in October detailed arrangements for the scheme in 2014 for the admission of Hong Kong students to Mainland higher education institutions based on their results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, thus exempting them from taking the Joint Entrance Examination for Universities in the Mainland. A total of 75 Mainland higher education institutions (list of institutions in Annex 1) will participate in the scheme in 2014.
Speaking at the Expo's opening ceremony today, the Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Cherry Tse, said that the expansion of the scheme for the admission of Hong Kong students to Mainland higher education institutions will provide students with a wide array of institution and programme choices and diversified pathways.
Mrs Tse noted that with five more institutions participating in the scheme in 2014 compared with 2013, the 75 participating institutions from 14 provinces and municipalities in the Mainland will offer various specialised programmes, providing more choices for students.
She said that students pursuing further studies in the Mainland will be able to broaden their horizons, enrich their living and cultural experience, build up their own connections and explore development opportunities, thereby realising their personal goals.
Mrs Tse also thanked the Ministry of Education for its great support in making the scheme a success in 2014, and the 75 Mainland higher education institutions for their participation in the Expo.
The Expo is open to the public today from 10am to 7pm and tomorrow (Sunday) from 10am to 6pm at Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre. Admission is free.
During the event, there will be talks by the Ministry of Education on details of the application procedures and admission arrangements under the scheme, as well as briefing sessions conducted by representatives from the institutions on the characteristics and career prospects of individual programmes. The Expo programme is at Annex 2.
The 75 Mainland higher education institutions that are participating in the scheme will set up exhibition booths and organise talks to provide information on aspects such as faculties and subjects, admission criteria, number of places and tuition fees. There will also be sharing sessions during which some Hong Kong graduates from Mainland institutions will talk about their study life on the Mainland. In addition, human resources consultants and representatives of corporations will give talks on the career prospects of students after their graduation from Mainland higher education institutions.
The EDB and Hok Yau Club have jointly compiled the "Handbook on the Scheme for the Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions". The handbook provides comprehensive information on the scheme and further study on the Mainland, including information on all the institutions participating in the scheme, programmes offered, strategies on programme choices, and sharing by graduates of Mainland universities. The handbook will be distributed free of charge at the Expo. The e-version will also be posted on the website of the EDB after the Expo (www.edb.gov.hk/expo13).
Ends/Saturday, November 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:05
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