Our visits to institutions across Queensland and Sydney offered insights into the offerings of 11 esteemed universities, including the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney. We had the opportunity to engage in professional dialogue with academics, admissions teams and education partners. Each university showcased unique strengths and flexible study pathways. Notable takeaways included an increasing emphasis on work-integrated learning, customised support for international students, and multiple accessible entry routes for both HKDSE and NLC graduates. A particularly memorable highlight was witnessing DSSSC formalise ties through Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with some of the universities—a promising step that paves more direct pathways for our students and strengthens our academic partnerships.