The HKCAAVQ offers assessment services for the general public, organisations, and government bureaux/departments on qualifications awarded by granting bodies outside Hong Kong. The assessment is conducted on an individual basis to assess a person’s educational attainments in totality by comparing the learning outcomes achieved through their learning path against a particular level of qualification in Hong Kong. We are also engaged by the Education Bureau to provide qualifications assessment services for prospective teachers with overseas qualifications who wish to apply for teacher registration in Hong Kong.

In 2012/13, the HKCAAVQ processed 3,320 qualifications assessment cases, a 10% rise when compared to the figure in the previous reporting year. This year, more qualifications pitched at the Bachelor Degree or above level have been assessed. While the United Kingdom and Mainland China remained the two major sources of demand for assessment services, we also witnessed significant increase in applications for assessment of qualifications originating from Taiwan and India.







To gain a better understanding of international practices of qualifications assessment, staff of the qualifications assessment team visited two national credential evaluation agencies, the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition of Australian Education International (AEI-NOOSR) and the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation, Japan (NIAD-UE), during the reporting year. We also attended the UK NARIC Annual Conference held in London in November 2012 to learn about the latest developments in qualifications assessment in the international arena.

The exchange of knowledge and experience helped the HKCAAVQ benchmark its assessment models, policy and guiding principles in qualifications assessment with international standards and good practices. It also helped build a stronger network and partnership between the HKCAAVQ and the overseas qualifications assessment agencies to enhance mutual collaboration and support.

Internal Review The HKCAAVQ commenced an internal review in October 2012 with the aim to better align the qualifications assessment service with international best practice and to incorporate recent developments in the local educational system into the QA service, such as the Award Title Scheme (ATS) and the Use of Credits under the Qualifications Framework. Through this review the HKCAAVQ is also revisiting the current qualifications assessment model to make it more efficient and transparent.

To facilitate the determination of assessment outcomes, the HKCAAVQ will develop country profiles as the central components of the new qualifications assessment model. These country profiles will include background information of the education system, qualifications and articulation pathways in the home country. Reference will also be made to the NLP accreditation criteria in developing the new qualifications assessment model.

Initially eight profiles will be developed progressively from August 2013, which will cover 80% of all qualifications assessment cases. The new model will be tested and stakeholders consulted for continuous improvement of our assessment tools.