Introduced in September 2003, the piloting of Applied Learning (formerly known as Career-Oriented Studies, COS), is an initiative of the Education Bureau (EDB) to diversify the senior secondary school curriculum and to provide students with varying abilities the opportunity to learn better through experiencing and doing by placing greater emphasis on applied learning.

Understanding that the quality of ApL courses and student attainment will only be recognized if they can match the quality and attainment standards of the existing and newly developed New Senior Secondary (NSS) subjects, the EDB introduced a three-stage quality assurance process to ensure the learning outcomes and standards of the ApL subjects are comparable to other subjects of the existing and the NSS curriculum. The Curriculum Development Institute (CDI) is responsible for the Stage 1 process to assess the standards of the ApL courses against related HKCEE/HKDSE subjects. The HKCAAVQ is responsible for the Stage 2 quality assurance process to examine the delivery aspects of the ApL courses. The HKEAA is responsible for moderating the assessments and students learning outcomes of the courses.

At the Stage 2 QA process, the HKCAAVQ professional staff and subject specialists conduct on-site visits to ascertain whether

• appropriate teaching plans are implemented to meet the planned course objectives of the ApL course,
• appropriate curriculum changes suggested by CDI in Stage 1 QA process are effected,
• appropriate resources and procedures are put in place for delivery of the ApL courses, particularly in the areas of personnel for staging the courses physical and learning resources for running the courses the teaching an learning activities for engaging students, and the assessment strategies of the course
• an appropriate QA mechanism is in place to assess whether the planned curriculum is being delivered and reviewed to reach the standard established in Stage 1.

From findings in the assessment visits, the HKCAAVQ has been providing constructive feedback to inform the Government on the support needed for the ApL courses so as to enable effective implementation of Applied Learning in the existing secondary and NSS curriculum.
As the ApL courses have been quality assured, students who have successfully completed an ApL course are recognized to have obtained one HKCEE subject pass for admission to Secondary Six, and for entry to Pre-Associate Degree Programmes and for civil service appointment purpose.

The HKCAAVQ is also represented on the EDB’s Preparatory ApL Committee to provide professional advice on the quality assurance mechanism for ApL. HKCAAVQ is also invited by the HKEAA to serve at a Steering Group to oversee the moderation of assessment issues to ensure standards of ApL courses are consistent across different areas of studies and years.

October 2007