The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 23) officiated at the Award Presentation Ceremony 2018 of the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme (HKSES). Eighty-three students were selected as the fourth cohort of awardees.
Fifty-eight of the awardees are going to pursue undergraduate study and 25 postgraduate study at world-renowned universities. These include not only top-notch comprehensive universities but also world-class institutions specialising in only one or a few particular disciplines.
The disciplines that the awardees are going to pursue cover a wide spectrum, ranging from conventional ones such as natural and social sciences, arts, law and engineering to other specialties such as music and fine arts, and disciplines of study which are currently unavailable in Hong Kong such as drama therapy and archaeology (distribution of the awardees by different disciplines is at the Annex).
"The diverse pool of scholarship recipients well reflects the variety and vibrancy of Hong Kong. The contribution of this diverse pool of talents to our society after their graduation and return to Hong Kong is expected to fuel further long-term development of Hong Kong in many different realms and aspects," said a spokesman for the Education Bureau.
He added that competition for the awards was keen and rigorous, with 789 applicants who will commence their undergraduate or postgraduate study in the 2018/19 academic year vying for the the scholarships. Apart from academic achievements, selection was also based on key considerations including the non-academic attributes of applicants, such as his or her leadership skills and potential as well as commitment and contribution to Hong Kong.
"As the selection process is still ongoing, some more applicants may be offered the scholarship after today's ceremony," the spokesman added. A list of the awardees as of August 23, 2018 has been uploaded to the HKSES website (www.edb.gov.hk/hkses).
Other officiating guests at the award presentation ceremony included the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, and the Chairman of the Steering Committee on the HKSES, Dr Victor Fung.
The HKSES aims to support local students to pursue studies at world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong with a view to grooming a top cadre of talents with global vision, an international network and world-class education, thereby contributing to enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness as Asia's world city in a globalised knowledge economy. Key features of the scholarship scheme are available at the HKSES website.
Details of the next cohort applications for the HKSES will be announced shortly.
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