The Education Bureau will lead a delegation to Vancouver and Toronto on March 1 to promote the new academic structure and the international recognition of the Diploma of Secondary Education.

The visit will also encourage more education exchange between Hong Kong and Canada to enrich students' cultural experience and global outlook.

Deputy Secretary for Education Dr Catherine Chan will lead the delegation, joined by Examinations & Assessment Authority Chairman Eddie Ng and Secretary General Dr Francis Cheung.

Dr Chan will meet with key academic personnel, including professors and teaching professionals coming from Hong Kong as well as community leaders, and the Advanced Placement Programme in Canada, College Board director. The delegation will also visit the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

In Toronto, Dr Chan will have meetings with senior representatives of the Toronto District School Board, the Education Quality & Accountability Office, the Ontario Universities' Application Centre and the Council of Ontario Universities.

She will brief them how Hong Kong students will be better prepared for whole-person development and life-long education, while learning the institutions' services provided to students in assessment and university admission.

The delegation will visit three tertiary institutions - York University, the University of Toronto and Ryerson University - and a local secondary school with a rich tradition of external involvement and community service.