Overseas Summer Curriculum Change: From 'Experience Life' to 'Practical Gains'

2019年的香港中學文憑考試(HKDSE)，12位狀元當中，就有10位選擇入讀醫科；而2020年的7名狀元中，獲港大取錄的4人當中有3人讀醫。香港入讀醫學院只有兩個選擇，香港大學或中文大學，而這兩間大學的醫學院，收生分數接近滿分；Adrian 過往幾年見過太多有志願入讀醫學院，但因為只差一分，就同入讀醫學院的機會擦身而過。這裡是位於西印度群島格林納達 (Grenada) 的St. George’s University (SGU)，見到這張相，以為我接著要寫去Grenada的旅遊Blog？你可能會問，為什麼要選擇去Grenada讀醫？以下這篇文將會解答大家這個問題！ 1. SGU簡介 為何會稱 SGU 為隱世醫學院？因為SGU在過去43年來，已經培育出超過18,000名醫生，他們均在美國50個州獲得執業資格，並在全球50多個國家執業。SGU位於西印度群島格林納達(Grenada)，多年來，SGU 向世界各地輸送訓練有素的醫生，而SGU的醫學博士(MD)學位亦獲得英國及美國醫療機構的認可。除了培育超過18,000名醫生，根據Federation of State Medical Boards的2018年US Medical Regulatory Trends and Actions，SGU是全美勞動人口中，醫師界別的第 2 大輸出來源，成為美國第 2 大國際輸出院校。根據2020 年資料顯示，SGU為美國提供了 1,110 名住院醫師，沒有其他海外醫學院可為美國的醫療體系培育出這麼多新進醫生，事實上，以過去 11 年總計，SGU是美國首年住院醫師的第 1 大輸出院校。 SGU 的MD課程獲得Grenada政府認證外，並獲得了多間外部及國際機構的認證及許可，證明課程於Grenada及其他國家認可，認受性高。以下為部分認可機構：SGU 畢業生還獲准在下列國家的醫療機構註冊： 學生完成SGU 的MD課程前必須有兩年的臨床實習經驗，而SGU在美國、英國和Grenada的附屬醫院數量超過80家，SGU乃一間國際醫學院，學校並沒有設國際學生的人數上限，所以學生可選擇位於不同國家的附屬醫院進行實習。   合作的附屬醫院和臨床醫學中心主要集中在美國，共有65家，在紐約就有12所臨床研究中心和4所附屬醫院和SGU合作，包括The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Manhattan Psychiatric Center, Metropolitan Hospital Center, NYC Health + Hospitals, Lincoln Medical And Mental Health Center 等等。此外，如果學生選擇在英國培訓，SGU也有16家合作的醫學中心可以申請，包括St. Ann’s Hospital, London, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Hellesdon Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital等等。 2. 入讀SGU的收生要求及課程簡介： 多個入學點 SGU醫學院提供靈活的MD課程，入學資格配合全球各地任何教育體制的學生，包括持有傳統學士學位的學生可入讀4年制課程，持有國際學歷背景的學生可入讀5年、6年和7年制課程，而持有高中文憑（A Level、IB或DSE）的學生則可根據其學術背景和成績申請入讀5年或6年制課程。那持有不同學歷背景的學生應該入讀幾多年制的課程，我先簡單說明一下。假如你經已持有一個理科的學士學位，不論是那一個國家，只要符合醫學院的要求，便可直接入讀4年制的MD課程，即直接入讀為期兩年的基礎科學課程，然後完成兩年的臨床科學便可獲得MD博士學位。假如你係中六 HKDSE 、IB 或A Level的學生，學校會根據你的文憑試成績，安排你入讀五年制或六年制的MD課程，縮短臨床醫學先修課程的年數，然係升讀兩年的基礎科學課程及兩年的臨床科學課程。假如你是英國會考 (GCSE) 學生，已有明確目標讀醫科，你可以完成GCSE後便入讀7年制的MD課程，頭三年會係臨床醫學先修課程，第四年及第五年係基礎科學 (Basic Sciences) 課程，完成五年的課程後，順利完成兩年臨床科學 (Clinical Sciences) 便讀完整個7年的MD課程。   除了學術要達到醫學院的要求外，學生的英語水平亦要達標，學生必須取得TOEFL成績600（紙筆測驗）、250（電腦測驗）或100（網路測驗）；或IELTS總分7.0。 3. 豁免醫學院入學考試 (MCAT) 通常要考入美國的醫學院，申請的學生都須要考MCAT(Medical College Admission Test) 美國醫學院入學考試，但SGU卻豁免國際學生考MCAT，鑒於世界各地各有不同的課程編制，因此SGU不鼓勵美國和加拿大以外的公民或永久居民（包括在北美接受教育的申請人）參加MCAT考試。因為MCAT是一項以美國醫學院為中心的考試，國際學生未必能在短期內掌握得宜。 4. 四年制醫學博士課程(MD)綱要 四年制醫學博士學位課程 (MD) 前兩年的重點放在傳統的基礎科學學科上，最後兩年主要關注於臨床科學。SGU提供高達80週的臨床培訓，臨床教育讓學生有機會在一些世界知名的頂級醫院學習醫學。這些醫院分佈於美國、英國、加拿大和格林納達。這些醫院的培訓遵照SGU醫學院的課程設置、課程描述和教育目標而定，並通過走訪醫院和教師會議進行細緻的監督。在臨床學年期間，進行教學的臨床醫師超過1,000名。醫學院除了指定臨床教授，還為每個臨床醫學中心和附屬醫院指派醫學教育總監，並為其中開展的每個核心臨床專業指定見習主管。臨床研究辦公室定期走訪附屬醫院。 5. 修讀醫學博士 (MD) 的流程 英國讀書機會 你可能會問，是否一定要留係Grenada修讀這麼多年，可不可以去其他國家體驗不同國家的醫療體制，SGU跟英國的Northumbria University合作，學生可選擇在Northumbria University修讀臨床醫學先修的第三年或基礎科學的第一年，接著會回到Grenada完成第二年的基礎科學課程，而最後兩個學年則會貫徹教學傳統，接受臨床實習，學生可選擇於美國、英國、加拿大或Grenada進行臨床醫學實習；當中SGU會有專責的Career Guidance and Student Development，部門由教職員及舊校友所組成，經驗豐富，協助學生有關實習課程及解釋如何考取及獲得英國及美國執業資格的考試及程序，亦會提供專業的建議關於如何選擇專科及考執業試的準備。 SGU與Northumbria University (NU)由2007年1月開始，至今已有1,700多名醫學生到入讀NU，學生於英國讀的課程和Grenada 讀的課程一樣，但為學生提供了在不同的醫療環境中學習和體驗的機會。 SGU和NU的教職員都按照相同的課程時間表進行教學。因此課程設置和考試節奏都遵循相同的原則和時間表，令學生無論身在何處都能獲得完全相同的教學材料。 6. 回港執業資格 /如何取得美國執業資格？ 格瑞那達醫療及牙醫委員會 (GMDC)– 認可為美國醫學教育評鑑委員會(LCME)對等認證機構美國教育部 — 聖喬治大學獲認可為與美國醫學院對等的醫學教育構機 美國的「外國醫學系畢業生教育委員會」（Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates，簡稱ECFMG）在2010年發表聲明：2023年以後，外國醫學院畢業生要赴美申請住院醫師訓練或行醫執業，於申請美國ECFMG證書時（ECFMG Certification）時，其畢業的醫學院是通過WFME所認可之評鑑組織的認證，方具備有進入美國住院醫師訓練計畫的資格。國際醫學畢業生（International Medical Graduate, IMG）要獲得ECFMG認證，必須通過美國醫學執照考試（United States Medical Licensing Examination, USMLE），才可獲得美國執業醫學的執照。USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) 考試USMLE是美國執業醫師資格考試，共分有: Step1, Step2 Clinical Knowledge(CK)， Step2 Clinical Skill(CS）和Step3的三個步驟、四個考試。Step1是考察基礎醫學的內容，Step 2 CK考察臨床醫學知識的內容而Step 2 CS 是看受試者是否能按照美國醫療體系的要求規範進行日常診療，最後考的Step3 考察受試者對於獨立行醫的能力。IMG完成ECFMG的認證後可以通過美國醫院實習審核進入美國住院醫師培訓計劃(The Match)，通過至少3年的培訓，通過考核獲得美國的獨立行醫執照。 7. USMLE 考試流程 Step 1> Step 2 CK > Step CS> ECFMG 認證> 住院培訓> Step 3 > 完成全部美國住院醫師培訓(通常3年)國際醫學生可以選擇在THE MATCH前完成STEP 3的考試 SGU 國際學生於2019第一次考USMLE的合格率為97%。 […]

Summer vacation, for many parents, has been a "paradoxical holiday". On the one hand, they hope that their children can have time to relax and rest, and on the other hand, they expect their children to make the most of their leisure time to enrich themselves. Therefore, in recent years, more and more parents have arranged for their children to attend overseas summer courses, which not only broadens their knowledge, but also paves the way for further education. Vincent Tang, executive director of external affairs at LINKEDU, said parents’ mindset when inquiring about overseas summer courses has been quietly changing in recent years. "In the past, we mainly focused on basic factors such as course content, living facilities and price, but in recent years, we have focused more on children's 'practical gain' in the entire course." He described this practical thinking as more common among parents of students aged 15 or above. "I can understand the practical considerations of parents. After all, they have to pay a large amount of money. Of course, I hope that their children can learn more knowledge, experience culture and gain maximum benefits through these courses. Especially for parents of students who are about to enter university, this is very consistent with their actual admission rules For parents of students who still have 4 to 6 years to face the choice of further education, Vincent also recommends that they should be far-sighted, guide their young children to explore interests and directions early, and observe and give advice from the sidelines, rather than blindly pursuing admission to high-ranking universities or theology. From boarding experience to specialist orientation With more and more parents “deploying ahead”, Vincent has found that planners of UK boarding schools and summer courses are also responding quickly to market needs. “In recent years, there have obviously been many new summer courses for STEM subjects or specialty-based subjects. They are different from the traditional ‘boarding school experience’ and focus on ‘specialist training’ and ‘industry experience’ to encourage students to discover individuals by participating in different specialist activities Interest, to prepare for the future, also in line with the requirements of 'goal-based' parents and students." He also shared that after meeting with representatives of different boarding schools and summer courses, the changes in the summer courses could be seen from the latest course information provided by each other, and cited the following two courses as examples: Example 1: Abbotsholme School Veterinary and Animal Science Summer Course The summer course is explicitly themed “veterinary medicine” and “animal science” for students aged 15 to 17. "This is a summer course that combines 'specialist training' and 'boarding school experience' to attract students who are interested in animals and also attract the attention of parents who value 'specialist way out'. The course enrolls high school students aged 15 or above. They are relatively more mature and have some ideas and directions for their future development. As a taster session, students can try and learn about veterinary work and study early in the UK The summer thematic experience is aimed at students aged 11 to 14 and covers experiences in a variety of specialized categories including engineering, medicine, finance, computers and artificial intelligence, and offers a traditional boarding school stay. "Dulwich College is a long-established boarding school in the UK that is extremely attractive to parents. It is also a two-in-one summer course with 'specialist training' combined with 'boarding school experience'. The enrollment is younger, which shows that the market has begun to respond to the exploration needs of young students. "Today's students are very happy, have the opportunity to visit neighboring Asian countries, even Europe and America, exposed to different educational culture. I recently heard that Austria, Sweden and other places, also intend to come to Hong Kong to promote their summer courses and boarding schools, also just encourage Hong Kong students dare to do diverse development

The Financial Budget announced by the government every year not only involves the economy and people's livelihood, but also points out the direction for the future development of the city. Vincent Tang, executive director of external affairs at LINKEDU, said every decision made by the government to invest resources is actually heralding the future direction of the city's industry, which will more or less affect students and parents' choices for planning their education, career and future development. Vincent continued that Hong Kong is an international city that accommodates diverse development while retaining its unique advantages in culture, media and art. In the new Budget, the government is keen to develop industries with "higher professional and technical content". 2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its related The Budget proposes universal AI training to offer AI application courses for students and the general public to improve AI literacy across the nation. 3. Aerospace Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Automotive Engineering These engineering sectors have advantages, especially the industry has recently recruited and trained talents for aircraft maintenance, development of autonomous driving, automatic programs. 4. Freight Logistics, Aviation (Airport) Management Several chapters in the Budget mention the development of maritime and air transport measures, which, driven by the government, bring demand for talents from relevant disciplines. 5. Event Management, Tourism Management Several international conferences have been held in Hong Kong over the past year, including APAIE, one of the three major international higher education conferences. The introduction of more events and international conferences will drive the local demand for talent in the disciplines of event management and tourism management. In addition to the emerging disciplines or industries mentioned above, Vincent also mentioned that Hong Kong has its own traditional advantages in areas that highlight its professional characteristics if it can keep pace with the times. He cited law as an example. The Budget aims to build Hong Kong into an international legal and dispute resolution service center Students and parents in Hong Kong have long sought after popular disciplines such as medicine, dentistry and business, making admission applications for related health sciences and biology more competitive. Vincent said: "This year's Budget proposes several highly valuable 'non-biological' areas, which deserve students to re-examine their development prospects. In addition to traditional 'divine subjects', they can also look at emerging areas. I often emphasize that the subject studied today is not the only way out in the future For students who are facing difficulties in choosing a subject, especially if they will be applying to university within 2 to 3 years, Vincent offers a specific and practical advice—take time to participate in relevant activities in the field of interest during Form 4 and Form 5. "It's best to have activities that allow students to participate in person and learn about their interests and ideas in these disciplines through real people. And individual overseas summer courses with university selection and career orientation are also a shortcut for students to learn more about related specialties in a short time."