e-Bulletin for Parents - 26 November 2021

Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors – Undergraduate Programmes

The Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 3 075 places under 44 undergraduate programmes of eight post-secondary institutions (including Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Chu Hai College of Higher Education, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Tung Wah College, UOW College Hong Kong and Vocational Training Council - Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong) for the cohort to be admitted in the 2022/23 academic year. The programmes and number of subsidised places, which fall under ten disciplines with keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, financial technology, health care, insurance, logistics, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality, are determined by the Education Bureau in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments.

In the 2022/23 academic year, the annual subsidy amounts for non-laboratory-based programmes and laboratory-based programmes are up to $44,240 and $77,040 respectively. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

SSSDP was launched in the 2015/16 academic year to subsidise about 1 000 students per cohort to pursue designated full-time locally accredited self-financing undergraduate programmes in selected disciplines. It aims to increase the supply of subsidised undergraduate places and to nurture talent in support of specific industries with keen demand for human resources. SSSDP has been regularised from the 2018/19 academic year with an increase in the number of subsidised places to about 3 000 per cohort. Continuing eligible students of designated undergraduate programmes will also receive the subsidy from the 2018/19 academic year. The scope of the SSSDP was expanded with effect from the 2019/20 academic year to benefit students enrolling in designated sub-degree programmes.

Allocation of the subsidised first-year intake undergraduate places will mainly go through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS). Should there be unfilled places after all admission rounds under JUPAS, participating institutions are allowed to admit non-JUPAS local students via direct admission of no more than 10% of the subsidised places of each designated programme.

For details of the SSSDP, please visit https://www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp.

Let’s Learn from the Fantastic People and Support our Children in Realising their Dreams

In support of English Language education of both primary and secondary levels and the Campaign on “Promoting Positive Values and Attitudes through English Sayings of Wisdom (SOW) 2021/22”, the Curriculum Development Institute of the Education Bureau (EDB) has launched a new series of short videos on “Fantastic People”, in which three celebrities share their success stories, to foster students’ positive values, attitudes and behaviour.

Parents are highly recommended to watch the short videos together with their children; guide them to learn about the celebrities with achievements in different areas and to understand their secrets of success as well as contributions to Hong Kong; and encourage their children to set goals and pursue their dreams. One of the interviewees is Professor Sung Jao Yiu Joseph, who is a renowned medical doctor specialising in gastroenterology and hepatology in Hong Kong. He was also the Vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong from 2010 to 2017. During the interview, he shared his fascinating secondary school life at his alma mater Queen’s College and his story of being a doctor. In Prof Sung’s career, he overcame challenges and difficulties with perseverance and commitment, and fought SARS in 2003 through the concerted efforts of the medical team. The interview helps inspire youngsters to strive for their goals with positive attitudes, such as faith and hard work.

Ms Yu Chui Yee Alison, another interviewee, is an outstanding wheelchair fencer. She was diagnosed with bone cancer when she was 11 years old, and had a prosthesis installed after her left leg was amputated. However, she stayed optimistic and proactive in the face of adversity. With determination and perspiration as well as support from her family and friends, she won 11 medals in the Paralympic Games. The interview can encourage children to overcome various challenges with a positive and optimistic attitude.

Positive values are traditional wisdom common to both Chinese and Western cultures. Lots of classic sayings in both cultures embody philosophies about self-cultivation, quest for knowledge, human relationships and attitude of life. Learning these sayings helps nurture students’ virtues and positive values, attitudes and behaviour. Hence, the EDB promotes not only Chinese classic sayings and pieces of classical literature, but also the campaign on English SOW. A series of related learning and teaching resources, including a new resource kit on “Promoting Positive Values and Attitudes through English Sayings of Wisdom” (e-version), have been developed for teachers’ use, with the aim of enabling students and parents to have a better understanding of the wisdom of the SOW. In addition, a series of activities and competitions will be launched to enrich students’ English learning experiences, for example, the Poetry Remake Competition, SOW Creative Singing Contest and Filmit 2022: A Student Film Competition. The SOW Creativity Contest: A Moment in Time, in particular, has started in November. Both primary and secondary students are invited to capture a special moment, which illustrates the meaning of a SOW related to positive values by taking a photo or creating a 2D artwork and writing a short description to share their messages with others. Primary one to three students can also submit their work with the support from their parents. Parents are welcome to encourage their children to participate.

The videos on “Fantastic People” have been uploaded to the webpage of Educational Multimedia (https://emm.edcity.hk/playlist/1_hea30nj2/1_gjbkgroh). Parents are recommended to make good use of the videos to support their children in realising their dreams through learning from the success stories of the three celebrities.