e-Bulletin for Parents - 16 September 2022

Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme opens for new applications

The Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS) aims to support Hong Kong students in pursuing undergraduate studies on the Mainland and ensure that no students will be deprived of post-secondary education opportunity due to a lack of means. The MUSSS comprises two components: “means-tested subsidy” (eligible students who have passed a means test will receive either a full-rate subsidy or a half-rate subsidy, depending on their needs) and “non-means-tested subsidy”. The subsidy is granted on a yearly basis. The subsidised period is the normal duration of the undergraduate programme pursued by the student concerned in a designated Mainland institution. Eligible applicants can only receive either a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy in a given academic year. The MUSSS is not subject to any quota. For the 2022/23 academic year, there are 191 designated Mainland institutions.

Students meeting the following criteria may apply for the “means-tested subsidy” for the 2022/23 academic year:
(a) having right of abode* or right to land in, or have entered Hong Kong on One-way Permits;
(b) having received and completed senior secondary education in Hong Kong; and
(c) pursuing undergraduate studies in any of the 191 designated Mainland institutions in the 2022/23 academic year.

*A student who is expected to receive his/her right of abode within the 2022/23 academic year may also apply.

Students meeting the following criteria may apply for the “non-means-tested subsidy” for the 2022/23 academic year:
(a) having right of abode* or right to land in, or have entered Hong Kong on One-way Permits;
(b) having received and completed senior secondary education in Hong Kong;
(c) pursuing undergraduate studies in any of the 191 designated Mainland institutions in the 2022/23 academic year; and
(d)(1) attained “3322” in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination, i.e. attained Level 3 for Chinese Language and English Language and Level 2 for Mathematics and Liberal Studies; OR
(d)(2) pursuing studies in Huaqiao University through “Pilot Scheme on the Articulation of Hong Kong Sub-degree Graduates to Huaqiao University”; OR
(d)(3) admitted to a Mainland institution through the School Principal Nomination Scheme (SPNS) under the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions.

*A student who is expected to receive his/her right of abode within the 2022/23 academic year may also apply.

Eligible students are required to submit their applications via the MUSSS Electronic Application Platform (https://musss.edb.gov.hk) or send the completed application forms by post to EDB on or before 30 September 2022.

Details of the MUSSS (including the list of designated Mainland institutions) are available at the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/musss) .

Enquiries should be directed to 2827 1112 or musss@edb.gov.hk.

Campaign on Promoting Positive Values and Attitudes through English Sayings of Wisdom
SOW Instant Messaging Stickers and 2022/23 SOW Campaign

SOW Instant Messaging Stickers

As a sustained effort to support the campaign on “Promoting Positive Values and Attitudes through English Sayings of Wisdom (SOW)”, the Curriculum Development Institute of the Education Bureau (EDB) has developed a new set of 40 instant messaging stickers to promote English learning and values education through festival greetings, the related SOW and common daily expressions. Parents and their children are strongly encouraged to make good use of the SOW stickers to spread positivity, extend festival blessings, appreciate the beauty of SOW and put them to good use in daily communication and writing.

This new collection of SOW stickers comes in two series:

(i) 28 animated stickers on festivals / special occasions and the related SOW
This series includes fourteen pairs of animated stickers featuring different greetings for festivals and special occasions (e.g. “Happy Chinese New Year” and “Health is wealth.”, “Have a nice school day!” and “Well begun is half done.”). Each of them can stand alone to convey its message or be used in pairs to pass on the blessings with an English saying of wisdom.

(ii) 12 non-animated stickers on common daily expressions
This series comprises twelve stickers on English common expressions for use in daily communication to show support and spread positive vibes. For example, the stickers “Rooting for you!”, “Support you!” and “Hang in there!” can be used to show encouragement and support.

To download the SOW instant messaging stickers, please visit the SOW web page of the English Language Education Section (https://www.edb.gov.hk/sow_stickers), the EDB Educational Multimedia (EMM) web page (https://emm.edcity.hk/instant_messaging_stickers) or EMM mobile application.

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2022/23 SOW Campaign

The 2022/23 school year marks the third year of the SOW Campaign. The diversified learning and teaching resources developed in the past two years, for example, the SOWIT videos, posters and a game kit, were widely acclaimed by schools, and the year calendar and flipbooks showcasing the winning entries of the student competitions manifested the encouraging learning achievements of students. In the 2022/23 school year, with an overarching theme “Leading a Positive Life”, the SOW Campaign will commence in November 2022. Featuring positive values and attitudes including “Cherishing Life”, “Diligence”, “Empathy” and “Respect for Diversity”, the campaign continues to nurture positive values and attitudes in students, and encourage them to apply positive values in daily life through caring and respecting the people and things around them. Highlights of activities in the 2022/23 SOW Campaign include the SOW Motivational Talk Contest, Poetry Remake Competition and “Week of Positivity”. Parents are welcome to encourage their children to participate in the SOW activities to enrich their English learning experiences and foster their positive values and attitudes.

For more information about the learning and teaching resources, the deliverables developed from students’ winning entries in competitions and the latest updates of the SOW Campaign, please visit the SOW web page of the English Language Education Section (www.edb.gov.hk/sow).