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In the Computing and Information Technology (CIT) Discipline The Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) came into effect on 5 May 2008 upon the enactment of the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance (AAVQO) (Cap 592). Qualifications obtained from learning programmes which are accessible to learners of Hong Kong and quality assured by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) or a self-accrediting operator may be entered into the Qualifications Register (QR), for recognition under the QF. The HKCAAVQ is the named Accreditation Authority and the QR Authority under Cap 592. Non-local programmes under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap 493) and their operators have to be quality assured by the HKCAAVQ if their qualifications are to be entered into the QR for QF recognition. Accreditation services will only be provided to registered and exempted courses required to be regulated under Cap 493. Participation in the HKQF is voluntary. Accreditation exercise that underpins the HKQF will not replace the registration/ exemption process as provided for under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap 493) in Hong Kong. This is because accreditation and registration (including exemption from registration) are conducted under different ordinances and serve different purposes. The HKCAAVQ has developed a Quality Assurance (QA) process and associated guidelines for the accreditation of non-local learning programmes. In order to ascertain the effectiveness of the QA process and the associated guidelines, the HKCAAVQ will conduct a pilot accreditation exercise for programmes in the discipline of Computing and Information Technology between April 2009 and February 2010. Despite the pilot nature of the exercise, programmes which undergo the pilot accreditation exercise will lead to a full accreditation outcome. An accreditation fee will be levied which is set on the basis of the fee schedule for accreditation services under the Four-stage Quality Assurance model. The HKCAAVQ may consider a fee discount for validation exercises undertaken concurrently in the pilot study for programmes offered by the same local and non-local partners. For the purpose of the accreditation of non-local learning programmes, both the local and non-local partners of the relevant regulated non-local courses are considered as operators and hence have to successfully undergo Stage 1 Initial Evaluation for collaborative provision under the QA process. All learning programmes covered under the Initial Evaluation have to have successfully undergone Stage 2 Programme Validation before they are eligible for entry into the QR. The pilot accreditation exercise will be concluded in early 2010. Learning from the experience of the Pilot Exercise, the HKCAAVQ will refine the accreditation process as appropriate for the release of final Guidelines on Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes. The schedule for future accreditation exercises of non-local learning programmes by discipline will also be announced then.
Briefing Seminar to Operators of Non-local Learning Programmes in the CIT Discipline on the Pilot Accreditation Exercise
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