OEA JUPAS Complete Guide

The OEA is an important opportunity for you to demonstrate your overall development and show university admissions officers your unique value and potential in the JUPAS application. This guide will help you understand the importance of the OEA, the key points to complete, and the process of submitting the OEA, so that you can stand out from the crowd in the highly competitive university application process.

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Hong Kong students' participation in the OEA JUPAS competition and the winning scenes

OEA Overview - What is Competitive Activity Experience Achievement?

OEA (Other Experiences and Achievements in Competitions/Activities) is an important supplementary information section of the JUPAS application.

Definition and purpose of OEA:

Definition:To record the experiences and achievements of DSE students other than their academic grades, including various competitions, activities, awards, etc.
Purpose:It allows university admissions officers to have a more comprehensive understanding of the applicant's diverse abilities, interests and potentials, and serves as an important reference in addition to the DSE results.
Importance:In the highly competitive world of university applications, a quality OEA can be an effective way to enhance an applicant's competitiveness, especially in a 'tie-breaker' situation.

Key features of the OEA:

Voluntary, but strongly recommended.
Can be used as a discussion topic for interviews
Principle of assessment on quality rather than quantity
Proof of documentation required (random sampling)
Complementary to SLPs for Whole Person Development

Collage of scenes of students' participation in various OEA JUPAS competitions

Multi-Construction

Demonstrate a wide range of talents and achievements beyond academia

Competitive Advantage

Provide additional competitiveness in tie-breaker situations

Interview Materials

Provide rich discussion topics for university interviews

Whole Person Assessment

Assisting universities to conduct more comprehensive student assessment

OEA Importance - Why do Universities Value OEA?

Why do universities value OEA?

Supplementing Academic Achievement - OEA demonstrates personal attributes that are not fully reflected in DSE results, such as leadership, creative thinking, teamwork and problem solving.
Assessment of students' all-round development - Universities want to recruit well-rounded students, and the OEA demonstrates the applicant's achievements in sports, arts, social service, academic competitions, and more.
Understanding students' interests and enthusiasm - Through participation in OEA activities, universities can determine an applicant's true interests and level of commitment to a particular area.
Important Basis for Interview Screening - OEA provides interviewers with a rich source of discussion material to help gain insight into the applicant's experiences and reflective skills.

University Admissions Officers Review OEA JUPAS Application Materials

"Key Factors in a Tie-Breaker - When several applicants have the same DSE score, the quality of the OEA is often the key factor in determining admission.

Enhancing Interview Opportunities

Applicants with a strong OEA have a higher percentage of interview opportunities

Increase the chance of admission

A quality OEA significantly improves the chances of getting a place in a marginal score scenario.

Specific Programme Benefits

Certain programmes (e.g. medicine, law) place particular emphasis on relevant OEA experience.

"Universities are not just looking for academic excellence, they are also looking for people who can actively participate in campus life, contribute to the community and demonstrate leadership potential, and the OEA is an important window to demonstrate these qualities."

- Admissions Office, The University of Hong Kong

OEA Areas - 8 Categories of Activities Covered

The OEA covers a very wide range of activity types, mainly including the following eight categories:

OEA JUPAS Eight Activity Categories Chart

Academic Related/Intellectual Development Activities - Academic competitions and contests in Mathematics, Science, Languages, Debate, Model United Nations, etc.
Arts, music and other cultural activities - Music, dance, drama, art, photography and other arts activities and competitions.
Vocational/employment-related experience - Internships, workshops, vocational experience, professional training and other activities related to career development.
Social/School Services - Volunteerism, community activities, charity work, environmental protection and other social participation activities.
Leader Training - Various leadership and organisational roles such as Student Council, Club Officers, Class Captains, Team Leaders, etc.
Moral and Civic Education - Civic awareness, character education, social responsibility and other related activities.
Religious Activities - Participation of religious bodies, religious services, organisation of religious activities, etc.
Physical Activity - All types of sports competitions, sports events, sports training and related certifications.

Tip:When choosing an OEA project, you should give priority to activities and achievements that are relevant to the university programme you are applying for, as this will more effectively demonstrate your interest and potential in the field.

Academic Competitions

Example:Maths Olympiad, Science Exhibition, English Speech Competition, Chinese Debate Competition

Social Services

Example:Elderly Service, Environmental Volunteer, Charity Fundraising, Community Cleaning

Leadership

Example:President of Student Union, President of Students' Union, Class President, Sports Captains

Guide to Completion - Detailed Instructions for Both Parts of the OEA

Part I: Awards/Activities

Applicant may fill inNot more than 10 awards/events.. The following information is required for each award/event:

1. Name of Award/Event - Fill in the official name of the event, which should be accurate and consistent with the supporting documents.
2. Scope - Select the category to which the activity belongs, e.g. academic, sports, arts, social services, etc.
3. Year of participation - Fill in the specific year of participation to ensure accurate timing.
4. Participation modalities - Indicate whether the participation is individual or organisational and the specific form of participation.
5. Nature of activities - Describe the nature of the activity, e.g. competition, performance, service, training, etc.
6. Participation roles - Describe the roles played in the activity, e.g. participant, organiser, leader, etc.
7. Award/non-award programmes - Indicate whether the event has awarded prizes and the specific awards received.
8. Award Categories - If you have won an award, give details of the level and type of award.
9. Brief description of award/activity - A brief description of the activity, personal contribution and gain (word limit: 40 words).

Example of JUPAS OEA System Filling Interface

Part II: Additional Information (AI)

This section is designed to allow students to describe interests or activities that have had a significant meaning or impact on their personal growth and life goals.

Additional Information Writing Points:

Character Limit:500 words max.
Language Selection:Choose to write in Chinese or English
Content highlights:Personal Growth, Learning and Future Goals
Writing Style:Honest, concrete and reflective

Notice:OEA is not a test of language proficiency, but students should still pay attention to fluent writing, clear logic, and avoid grammatical and spelling mistakes. It is advisable to ask teachers or classmates to help you to check your work after completion.

OEA Example - Excellent Sample Reference and Analysis

Below are examples of different types of OEA add-ons to help you get ideas and writing skills:

Example 1: Academic Competitions and Educational Aspirations

"Education plays a substantial role in shaping the future world, nurturing talents of different fields to become future pillars and change-makers of the society, and empowering the next generation. Education plays a substantial role in shaping the future world, nurturing talents of different fields to become future pillars and change-makers of the society, and empowering the next generation. Fascinated by the impact brought by education, I have always dreamed to become an educator in Hong Kong, and this is why it has always been a personal goal for me to study for a double degree in English and Education at university.

Having been the chairlady of the English Society for two years, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to pass on my passion for language studies and literature to my schoolmates. By organising various events such as English Week and Book Sharing Day, I was given the responsibility of planning new themes for the events. By organising various events such as English Week and Book Sharing Day, I was given the responsibility of planning new themes for the events. Working as the chairlady also trained my communication skills both within the team and for external communication."

Analysis:Clearly articulate educational aspirations, incorporating specific leadership experience, demonstrating organisational skills and a passion for education, with clear objectives and relevance to the programme being applied for.

Example 2: Social Services and Personal Growth

"In the past three years of volunteering at the elderly centres, I have gained a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of different sectors of the community. My weekly interaction with the elderly has not only taught me to listen patiently, but also inspired me to think about social policies and the ageing population. In the process of organising birthday parties for the elderly, I learnt the importance of co-ordinated planning, resource deployment and teamwork.

These experiences have made me realise that true care is not only about providing services, but also about understanding and respecting the dignity of each individual. I hope that I can join social work or policy research in the future, and contribute to improving people's livelihood, so that society can become more tolerant and warmer."

Analysis:From specific volunteer experiences, the programme demonstrates concern and in-depth thinking about social issues, a strong sense of social responsibility and a clear direction for the future.

Student Writing OEA JUPAS Additional Information

Example 3: Innovative Technologies and Problem Solving Capacities

"My experience as a programmer in a robot design competition has fascinated me with the limitless possibilities of technological innovation. In the face of complex programming challenges and hardware limitations, I learnt to think systematically and solve problems creatively. When the robot failed repeatedly in tests, I did not give up, but analysed the problem with my team members and eventually found a breakthrough solution.

This experience has not only enhanced my technical skills, but more importantly developed my perseverance and teamwork skills in the face of difficulties. I hope that I can learn more about engineering at university and contribute to the technological development of Hong Kong in the future."

Analysis:Highlighting problem solving skills and technical interest, demonstrating perseverance through specific challenges and overcoming processes, closely related to the engineering disciplines.

Suggested Use of Examples

Examples are for reference only and should not be copied or applied directly.
Learning the structure, presentation and depth of reflection of the exemplars
Write your own OEA based on your own experience.
Be mindful of word limits and ensure that your content is concise and powerful

Find a Tutor to Guide OEA Writing

Submission Process - JUPAS System Operation Steps

Log in to your JUPAS account - Use your JUPAS application number and password to log in to the JUPAS Online Application System.
Go to OEA page - Find the "Competition/Activity Experience and Achievement (OEA)" option in the Application Information section.
Fill in Award/Event - Fill in the details of up to 10 awards or activities as required by the system.
Write additional information - Write a reflective essay on your personal experience and growth within the 500 word limit.
Check and submit - After double checking that all the information is correct, confirm the submission and save the Successful Submission page.
Upload supporting documents - If you are subject to random checking (showing pink colour), you are required to upload relevant supporting documents upon request.

Important deadlines

Deadline for submission of 2025 OEA: 2 January 2025 (11:59 p.m.)

Late submission/revision/uploading of supporting documents will not be accepted! It is recommended to complete and submit as early as possible to avoid last-minute system busyness.

Note on Submission:

The successful submission page must be retained as proof
Sampled items will be shown in pink colour
Items without the required supporting documents uploaded will not be considered.
The uploaded file must be legible and not exceed 1MB.

Supporting Documents - Requirements and Notes

Basic Requirements for Proof of Documentation

Required information:
- Name of the applicant (additional proof is required if the name is not printed on the supporting documents)
- Official Name of the Award/Event
- Year of Participation
- Award Category (if applicable)
- Chinese or English translation (if the original document is not in Chinese or English)
File formatting requirements:
- Format: PDF, JPG, JPEG or PNG
- Size: not more than 1MB per file
- Clarity: Ensure text is clear and readable
- Completeness: contains all necessary information

OEA JUPAS Proof of Documentation Example

Acceptable supporting documents

Certificate or letter issued by the organiser
Certificate or letter issued by the school
Photographs of medals/trophies with applicants' names on them
Online results with a valid link to the official website
Other official documents with the required information

Unacceptable supporting documents

Athlete's Licence
Invitation / Email / Reply Slip
Unnamed certificates/medals/trophies
Press Releases
Leaflets / Brochures
Invalid link to online results
Unofficial Proof of Documentation

"Ensuring that your supporting documents are in order is key to successful consideration under the OEA. Non-compliant supporting documents may result in relevant items being disregarded, affecting your application."

Common Mistakes - Pitfalls to Avoid When Completing an OEA

1. seeking more and more and neglecting quality

Question:Filled 10 projects, but most of them were participatory in nature and lacked concrete achievements.

Avoid:Choose the most representative and golden experience, and emphasise quality rather than quantity.

2. Inconsistent information

Question:The information provided does not match the contents of the supporting documents.

Avoid:Check all the information carefully to ensure that it is exactly the same as the supporting documents.

3. The additional information is vague and uninformative

Question:It is a simple list of activities that lacks in-depth reflection and personal growth.

Avoid:Describe in depth the significance of the experience and its impact on personal development.

4. Certification of non-compliance with documentation requirements

Question:Uploading unacceptable file types or incorrect formatting.

Avoid:Prepare and upload supporting documents in strict accordance with official requirements.

Avoiding Common OEA JUPAS Errors for Students

5. Staggered deadlines

Question:Failure to complete the submission or upload the supporting documents within the specified time.

Avoid:Plan ahead and allow sufficient time to complete all procedures.

6. Exaggeration or fabrication of experience

Question:Exaggerating achievements or fictionalising non-existent experiences.

Avoid:Maintain honesty and truthfulness in reflecting personal experiences and achievements.

7. Neglect of relevance to the curriculum

Question:The choice of experience is in no way related to the programme being applied for.

Avoid:Priority is given to experiences and achievements relevant to the target programme.

8. Inappropriate language

Question:Some of the additional information is not in fluent language or has grammatical errors.

Avoid:Proofread carefully to ensure that the language is clear and accurate.

Successful Strategies - Selection Techniques for Quality over Quantity

Strategies for selecting OEA projects

Prioritise successful experiences - Choose activities that have received awards, recognition, or tangible results, rather than experiences that are merely participatory.
Outstanding leadership and organisational skills - Focuses on demonstrating leadership potential through experience in leadership roles or organised activities.
Demonstrate continuity and depth - Demonstrate persistence and focus by choosing activities that you have been involved in for a long time or are deeply committed to.
Relevant to the programme you are applying for - Priority is given to experiences related to the target programme that demonstrate interest in and preparation for the field.
Embodying Diversified Development - To strike a balance between different areas and demonstrate all-round development.
Highlighting Unique Characteristics - Choose activities that demonstrate your individuality and unique experience.

Students Strategically Selected for the OEA JUPAS Programme

Additional Information Writing Tips

STAR Principles - Structured description of experience using Situation, Task, Action, Result.
embodiment - Use concrete examples and data to support your descriptions and avoid vague statements.
Reflection and growth - Focus on describing what was learnt from the experience and personal growth rather than just describing the activity itself.
Link to Future Goals - Relate past experiences to future learning and career goals.
Positive tone - Maintain a positive tone and demonstrate a passion for learning and growth.
Concise and powerful - Within the 500-word limit, ensure that every sentence has value and avoid length and repetition.

Examples of STAR Principles

Situation:"As captain of my school's debate team, I was challenged by low team morale and lack of preparation."

Task:"I need to improve my team's performance in two weeks to be ready for the Hong Kong Secondary School Debate Competition".

Action:"I have rearranged the training programme, introduced a peer review mechanism and organised mock debate competitions with individual coaching".

Result:"The team ended up as runners-up in the competition, three places better than last year, and each member of the team has made significant personal growth."

Frequently Asked Questions - Answers to Questions about OEA

Q1: Is the OEA mandatory?

A1: The submission of an OEA is completely voluntary but strongly recommended. Whilst DSE results are the most important consideration, the OEA can provide an additional advantage in the case of a 'tie-breaker', especially if several applicants have similar results.

Q2: If I don't have a lot of extracurricular experience, should I still complete the OEA?

A2: It is recommended that you fill in the form even if you do not have a lot of activities. The emphasis is on quality rather than quantity, and even a few meaningful experiences can be effective in demonstrating your abilities and attributes. You can focus on what you have learnt and grown from these experiences.

Q3: Should the additional information of OEA be written in Chinese or English?

A3: You may choose to write in either Chinese or English. It is recommended that you decide on the main language of instruction for the programme you are applying for, or choose the language in which you are most fluent. It is the quality of the content that is important, not the choice of language.

Q4: What if my OEA project is randomly selected but I don't have the relevant supporting documents?

A4: If the required supporting documents cannot be provided, the item will not be considered by the University. Therefore, it is recommended that only items with solid supporting documents are completed and that you ensure that you are able to provide proof of compliance before completing the form.

Q5: Can I make changes after I submit my OEA?

A5: Before the deadline (2 January 2025, 11:59 p.m.), you can log in to your JUPAS account to make changes to your OEA information. After the deadline, no further changes can be made or additional supporting documents can be submitted.

Q6: What is the difference between OEA and SLP?

A6: OEA is mainly a record of specific awards and activities, whereas SLP is a more comprehensive overview of learning, including academic achievements, other learning experiences, personal statements, etc. OEA is part of SLP but needs to be completed separately in the JUPAS system.