New Academic Structure – Meeting Aspirations through Multiple Pathways

1. New Academic Structure –Meeting Aspirations through Multiple Pathways

2. Purpose of New Academic Structure – paradigm shift • Develop whole-person and life-long learning capabilities • Opportunities for ALL students to succeed by enabling them to find themselves, and meeting their aspirations, needs, aptitudes • Promote diversified human resource development in HK • Maintain HK’s competitiveness as an international city 2

3. Some initial success Reducing early specialisation • over 1,450 subject combinations each in S4 and S5 • choices of elective subjects more diversified and not limited to a particular Key Learning Area (KLA): 68% of S4 students and 70% of S5 students take elective subjects from two or three KLAs • all secondary schools offer an average of 11 to 12 elective subjects in S4 and S5 3

4. Some initial success – Unleashing students’ potential Examples: Student A：“My horizon broadened under the New Academic Structure and I learnt to have early planning for my future.” Student B： “I could choose subjects according to my interests which enhanced my motivation towards learning.” Student C： “I could have chances to participate in different kinds of activities through OLE which allowed me to explore my potential. Student D： “I had never thought of how to equip myself for my future until I compiled my SLP. I started to plan ahead for my future career. There are different study paths that we could choose to fulfill our career aspirations. I believe “all roads lead to Rome”. 4

5. 「While only 20% of the NAS graduates can enter universities, the remaining 80% will have no chances for future studies …」

6. New Senior Secondary Curriculum Meeting Students’ Aspirations via Multiple Pathways The New Senior Secondary Curriculum provides a broad and balanced curriculum which fosters students’ whole-person development and life-long learning, allowing them to unleash their potential and realise their aspirations. The NAS connects more smoothly with multiple pathwaysso that students can make choices according to their interests and abilities.

7. NAS – for ALL students to succeed Change old mindset to new perspectives that help students develop their potential and aspirations via multiple pathways: • Although not everyone can enter university directly, they can further their studies if they so wish: there are 110,000+ university degree and post-secondary places (e.g. sub-degree, higher diploma, VTC courses) for 108,300 graduates under NAS & old system • “All roads lead to Rome” – it is not a failure if one cannot enter university directly; some students can enter university in the end through different pathways • “Old is old; new is new and there is no direct comparison between the two” --- Under the old system, only some students would study sixth form and take the A-Level examination for admission to university. Under the new system, ALL students complete the senior secondary education and they should choose the pathway best suited to their interests and abilities • tj 7

8. NAS – for ALL students to succeed Change old mindset to new perspectives that help students develop their potential and aspirations via multiple pathways: • There is no loser in HKDSE --- everyone has a diploma that describes the knowledge and skills they possess • “Everybody has something that they were born to be good at.”“One may distinguish oneself in any trade” --- students only need to excel in a particular area (e.g. through taking the VTC courses) in accordance with their personal goals and aspirations in order to succeed in different careers.” • “Tomorrow is in the hands of those who have made preparation today.” 8

9. Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Multiple & Diversified Pathways for Students Bachelor’s degree programmes 3+3+2+2(1-2 electives at Level 2/3) UGC funded :30300 (15150+15150) Self-financed: 6800 Further Studies in Mainland China / Abroad Sub-degree Programmes [HD & AD] 2+2+2+2+2(including Chin Lang and Eng Lang) Employment (announcement by Civil Service Bureau in June 2011) 37400 Vocational programmes New Project Yi Jin Non-local courses offered in Hong Kong/Distance learning programmes 15000 around 15700 9

10. Multiple Pathways Post- graduate Smooth articulation to multiple pathways University (1-4 years) Post- Secondary Project Yi Jin Senior Secondary (S4-S6) VTC Youth College Junior Secondary (S1-S3)

11. Information Portal for Accredited Self-financing Post-secondary Programmes (iPASS) & Electronic Advance Application System for Post-secondary Programmes (E-APP) Latest news *Except those offered by the Hong Kong Shue Yan University and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts as participation in E-APP is on voluntary basis.

12. VTC Programmes Master’s Degree Programmes Latest news Bachelor’s Degree Programmes (4 yrs) Tech. & Higher Ed. Inst. of HK (THEI) 3322+2 [L3 or above in Chi and Eng Lang, L2 or above in Maths, LS and 1 elective ] • 6 newly launched programmes in 2012/13 • BA (Hons) in Advertising • BA (Hons) in Fashion Design • BA (Hons) in Product Design • B Eng (Hons) in Civil Engineering • B Eng (Hons) in Environmental   Engineering and Management • B Soc Sc (Hons) in Sports and      Recreation Management    Holders of HKDSE Higher Diploma Programmes L2 in 5 subjects (incl. Chin and Eng Lang) Duration︰2 years Other Professional Cert. Course Prog. duration︰ Hospitality Service︰ 4 months– 2 years Chinese Chef︰ 2 – 3 years Junior General Purpose Rating Course︰ 23 weeks Diploma in Vocational Ed. Programmes For S6 graduates Duration：1 year Application period 1 Dec 11 – 29 Feb 12 VTC: Web-AS EDB: E-APP (Feb to May) New Foundation Diploma Programme [L2 or above in 3 subjects (If Eng Lang not 1 of the 3, should attain L1 in Eng Lang)] Duration︰1 year 12

13. Employers recognise NAS & HKDSE: • NAS cultivates the Key Attributes they are looking for. • Impressed with the wide variety of ApL courses- help students understand their career aspirations. • Understand explicitly what the candidates know and can do through theStandards-referenced Reporting (SRR)of the HKDSE • The Student Learning Profile (SLP) facilitates their selection of candidates - attributes, attitudes, aspirations, etc. 13

14. Sectors that welcome HKDSE holders: Retail, Hotels, Airlines, Telecommunication, Health care, Mass Transportation, Broadcasting, I.T., Catering . . . . Sectors that anticipated a prevalent growth in demand in the labour market: Financial Services, Insurance, Construction, Property Development/Management Sectors that recorded high turnover rate: Community/Social/Personal Care, Import/Export, Trading &Distribution Situation in employment sectors 14

15. The HKDSE has secured recognition from overseas academic agencies, universities and governments… HK Delegations to Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, South East Asia… Positive response! Australia has recognised the HKDSE as equivalent to the Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. UCAS Study: UCAS tariff points to 23 subjects (except Maths); Standards of the HKDSE is broadly comparable to GCE (AL) Examination -- HKDSE a Global Passport for Overseas Pathways 15 UCAS: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UK)

16. They welcome the change… “Preparing students for whole-person development and life-long learning…” “Encouraging international student mobility…” “Useful information from Student Learning Profile…” “Actively considering admission requirements of HKDSE holders…”(UK, USA, Australia, Canada) Encouraging Responses from Overseas Countries… EDB and HKEAA jointly publish information regarding admission requirements from overseas universitieswww.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/ir/ircountry_hkdse.html 16

17. International Recognition:Admission Requirements for holders of HKDSE Admission requirements for HKDSE of individual university/ institution

18. Continued visits and liaison with overseas countries and economies to garner support and recognition Update governments of each jurisdiction of the progress of NAS to facilitate student exchange and mobility Positive views on NAS in “International Education Forum & Expo”from 14 to 16 July More Mainland institutions would exempt HKDSE students from “joint entrance exam” in 2012 Recentnews… 18

19. Some critical milestones (1) • Sept – Dec 2011 (information & support): • Disseminateall necessary information on multiple pathways to parents & students (e.g. Information Pack) • Workshops on “New Academic Structure – Meeting Aspirations through Multiple Pathways” for schools • Inter-sector regional briefing sessions for parents • Start counseling service for parents & students 19

20. Some critical milestones (2) • 25 Oct 2011 – 9 Jan 2012 Submission of JUPAS main applications • 1 Dec 2011 – 29 Feb 2012 Application for VTC programmes • Early Dec 2011 Issue of Candidates’ Handbook for HKDSE • 1 – 16 Jan 2012 Delivery of practice papers to schools • Jan – Apr 2012 Submission of SBA marks for S6 students • Feb – May 2012 Application for post-secondary programmes • (submit applications via the E-APP platform) • 28 Mar – 3 May 2012 HKDSE written exams • 20 July 2012 Release of HKDSE results • 20 – 27 Jul 2012 Application for rechecking and remarking via • online portal • 21 – 23 July 2012 Modification of choices in JUPAS • 17 Aug 2012 Announcement of JUPAS Main Round Offer results for HKDSE applicants 20

21. What are the new opportunities for students under the NAS? • All students get the diploma -- HKDSE: • a global passport for further studies and employment • a more informative diploma (SRR) with strong value • no “pass” or “failure” -- all students receive proper recognition • a credible diploma with international & local recognition secured • Smooth articulation to multiple pathways for study or work that cater for students’ diverse needs/abilities and results • All students to develop their potential • and meet their aspirations! 21

22. http://www.edb.gov.hk/nas

23. http://www.edb.gov.hk/nas

24. Thank you! New Academic Structure – Meeting Aspirations through Multiple Pathways