A lawmaker says the ultimate goal of developing an international version of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) is to have a qualification which is universally recognised and could be adopted in other countries and regions, giving students more choice and pathways to pursuing their studies post secondary school. The government said it is working with the mainland on establishing an international version of DSE, and it plans to launch it on a pilot basis. Election committee lawmaker, Alex Fan, said in future, the global version of the DSE might be as influential as the International Baccalaureate (IB), and the UK's General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), and A-level qualifications. "Promoting the internationalisation of the DSE is a very important step in propelling Hong Kong into an international hub for education, especially for post secondary education." He said support from more countries, including popular destinations for study, would be needed to help garner external recognition for this qualification. "We need internationalisation in different aspects of our education and educational system and DSE... is a vital component of our education system." Fan pointed out that the DSE would be a great option for overseas students interested in studying in Hong Kong or on the mainland. Edited by Tony Sabine