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Understand National Strategies, Choose the Right International Curriculum: Starting from A-Level and HKDSE, Cultivate Chinese Students Who Are in Demand Worldwide.

2025-12-05

Preface

Recently, Huai Jinpeng, Party Secretary and Minister of the Ministry of Education, explicitly pointed out that “study abroad programs are of paramount importance to the nation’s development strategy,” and emphasized the need to integrate study abroad efforts into the broader context of national development. This is not merely a policy signal—it is also a profound confirmation of our commitment to an internationally oriented approach to education.

For students and parents who are currently choosing international curricula, a pressing issue is how to align their children’s academic plans with the nation’s strategic goal of “cultivating globally competitive talent.” Today, taking Yinghua—a school specializing in A-Level and HKDSE programs—as an example, we’ll explore how these two pathways can effectively help students become the talents that our country will need in the future.

 

A-Level Courses:

Deep academic immersion, directly paving the way to top global institutions.

 

A-Level is hailed as the “gold standard” curriculum, and its value lies in depth rather than breadth.

  • Highly recognized: Almost all Commonwealth countries, as well as numerous top universities in the U.S. and Europe, directly accept A-Level results as an admission criterion—making them tantamount to a “passport to world-class universities.”
  • Flexible Course Selection: Students can choose 3–4 courses based on their future academic specialization (such as engineering, medicine, business, or humanities) to pursue in-depth study, avoiding the “broad but shallow” approach and achieving early academic orientation.
  • Examination Authority: The exams are uniformly designed and graded by international examination boards such as Cambridge CAIE and Edexcel, ensuring that the results are comparable and credible worldwide.

Yinghua’s Approach: We not only offer a wide range of academic subjects, but also help students turn their A-Level academic strengths into standout highlights in their applications through initiatives such as “subject competition coaching,” “internships,” and “summer schools,” truly enabling them to “learn deeply and put their knowledge to practical use.”

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination has recently emerged as a highly acclaimed “value opportunity” course, with its greatest strength lying in its flexibility.

Globally Recognized: The results are recognized by more than 300 universities worldwide, including institutions in the UK, Australia, Canada, and other countries.

A Dual-Channel Pathway Between Hong Kong and Mainland China’s Prestigious Universities: Students can directly apply to all Hong Kong universities using their DSE results, while Hong Kong residents can also enroll in 127 top mainland Chinese universities—including Tsinghua, Peking University, and Fudan—through the “Exam-Free Admission Scheme.” This is a unique advantage that other international curricula do not offer.

Chinese-language examination: Cultural Integration—With the exception of English, most subjects can be taken in Chinese, allowing students to showcase their academic abilities with their strong command of the Chinese language and maximizing their “native-language advantage.” This option is particularly well-suited for students who excel in science or those who wish to make a smooth transition.

Yinghua’s Approach: Tailored to the unique characteristics of the DSE curriculum, we strengthen bilingual instruction and provide specialized training in shifting assessment and examination mindsets. We also offer an exclusive “Joint Application Guidance for Hong Kong and Mainland Universities,” enabling students to secure multiple university admission options across various regions and at different levels with just one single exam.

 

HKDSE Curriculum:

Bilingual and Bicultural: Building a “Flyover” for College Admissions

 

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination has recently emerged as a highly acclaimed “value opportunity” course, with its greatest strength lying in its flexibility.

  • Globally Recognized: The results are recognized by more than 300 universities worldwide, including institutions in the UK, Australia, Canada, and other countries.
  • A Dual-Channel Pathway Between Hong Kong and Mainland China’s Prestigious Universities: Students can directly apply to all Hong Kong universities using their DSE results, while Hong Kong residents can also enroll in 127 top mainland Chinese universities—including Tsinghua, Peking University, and Fudan—through the “Exam-Free Admission Scheme.” This is a unique advantage that other international curricula do not offer.
  • Chinese-language examination: Cultural Integration—With the exception of English, most subjects can be taken in Chinese, allowing students to showcase their academic abilities with their strong command of the Chinese language and maximizing their “native-language advantage.” This option is particularly well-suited for students who excel in science or those who wish to make a smooth transition.

Yinghua’s Approach: Tailored to the unique characteristics of the DSE curriculum, we strengthen bilingual instruction and provide specialized training in shifting assessment and examination mindsets. We also offer an exclusive “Joint Application Guidance for Hong Kong and Mainland Universities,” enabling students to secure multiple university admission options across various regions and at different levels with just one single exam.

 

Beyond the Curriculum:

How can we respond to the “National Strategy” in cultivating talent?

 

Minister Huai Jinpeng emphasized “enhancing the service capabilities and standards for overseas students.” This reminds us that preparing to study abroad is by no means just about achieving high scores.

  • A Curriculum Integrating National Sentiment and a Global Perspective: We offer a variety of lecture series and global issue research projects to ensure that when our students “go out into the world,” they can clearly articulate China’s position and gain a deep understanding of China’s development.
  • Long-term career planning services: Starting from the moment students enroll, we guide them to explore the intersection between their personal interests and national strategic needs—such as artificial intelligence, new energy, international organizations, and more—ensuring that their choice of study abroad major resonates with their long-term career aspirations and aligns with the country’s requirements.
  • Connecting Overseas Study with Career Development Upon Return: We provide alumni networks, company visits, and internship opportunities to help students gain insight into domestic career development prospects, thereby paving the way for them to return home after completing their studies and contribute their knowledge and skills.

Choosing A-Level or HKDSE is not merely selecting two different curriculum systems—it’s also choosing two distinct career paths that align with China’s national strategies. One path leads to profound academic depth on a global scale, while the other opens doors to broad educational opportunities both within China and abroad.

At Yinghua, we are committed to turning the nation’s aspirations into solid, day-to-day teaching and clear, step-by-step planning. Our goal is crystal clear: to empower students—with a strong academic foundation, a clear cultural identity, and a forward-looking career perspective—to become a new generation of Chinese youth who are both in demand and respected on the global stage.