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The Education and Manpower Bureau has launched a variety of services, including new Internet services and exhibition to provide extensive information on further studies for secondary school leavers. The launches coincide with the release of the results of the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination and the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.
ˇ§The bureau has been providing useful information to secondary school leavers to help them decide their future study path,ˇ¨ a bureau spokesman said today (June 26).
ˇ§The bureau has introduced a new webpage, 'Further Education Opportunities Express' (FEOE), at www.emb.gov.hk/feoe to the bureau website. The programmes of the FEOE are classified either as government subsidy or self-financing. Secondary students can make use of FEOE to have quick access to relevant websites. There is also a hyperlink to the bureau webpage on non-local degree programmes.
ˇ§We have also launched a pilot project under which participating institutions provide information on their accredited full-time self-financing sub-degree programmes for uploading to a new website,ˇ¨ the spokesman said.
ˇ§iPASS, also named as Information Portal for Accredited Self-financing Sub-degree Programmes (www.ipass.gov.hk) contains information about self-financing sub-degree programmes (i.e. higher diploma, associate degree and professional diploma) provided by 17 institutions (list attached), making it easier for students to make the best choice. The website also provides a platform for sharing good practices and experiences among the sub-degree course providers.ˇ¨
Students will find on the iPASS, information including programme name and award, programme type and normal duration, application period, tuition fees, normal entry requirements, workplace experience, as well as formal agreement on credit exemption and transfers.
They will also find information on the course providers including number of full-time students enrolled, number of full-time and part-time academic staff, qualifications of academic staff, academic staff-to-student ratio, teaching and non-teaching facilities, student support services, number of graduates and graduates survey, articulation and employment statistics. Hyperlinks to the course providersˇ¦ own websites, "Careers Guidance Handbook for Secondary 7 Graduates" and other useful websites, as well as courses and programmes searching functions are also available.
ˇ§This is the first time information on self-financing sub-degree programmes and course providers has been provided on a single website,ˇ¨ the spokesman said. ˇ§As such, students can make informed choices about the learning programmes that most suit them."
Besides the two initiatives on the internet, the Education and Manpower Bureau will hold the annual Information Expo for Secondary School Leavers, at Olympic City 2 on July 28 and 29. Secondary Students will find information on further studies and employment including sub-degree programmes, Project Yi Jin, Qualifications Register, Pre-employment Training Programme and Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme.
The bureau continues to produce the ˇ§Careers Guidance Handbook for Secondary 7 Graduatesˇ¨ in conjunction with the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters. The handbook is being distributed to S7 graduates via schools, the bureauˇ¦s Regional Education Offices, Careers Information Centre and Job Centres of the Labour Department and Public Enquiry Service Centres of various District Offices. The electronic version is also available on the bureau website.
Ends/Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:01
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