The HKCAAVQ provides assessment services for non-local higher and professional education courses, reimbursable courses under the Continuing Education Fund (CEF) scheme, continuing professional development (CPD) courses and qualifications of individuals.
Division of Assessment
Non-local Higher and Professional Education Courses
The HKCAAVQ offers independent, expert advice to the Non-local Courses Registry on the ability of a regulated course to meet the criteria for registration under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap 493). The HKCAAVQ also advises the Registry on the annual returns submitted by registered courses.
The HKCAAVQ has acted as the sole advisor to the Non-local Courses Registry since the Ordinance came into effect in 1997. The objective of the Ordinance is to give basic consumer protection to potential learners of the large number of non-local higher and professional courses conducted in Hong Kong.
A total of 35 new applications and 290 annual returns were assessed in the reporting year. Detailed information on the new applications by geographic origin, level of study and discipline of study is presented in the following charts.
Reimbursable Courses under the CEF
The aim of the CEF scheme is to encourage people with an aspiration to upgrade their qualifications to enrol in education and training programmes. Since the scheme commenced in 2002, the HKCAAVQ has advised the responsible government bureau on the possible registration of individual courses, to ensure that the courses meet sector-specific competencies.
The number of CEF courses assessed during the reporting year is indicated below:
Number of CEF Reimbursable Courses Assessed (August 2008 – July 2009)
Type of Courses
By Self-accrediting Institutions
By Non-self-accrediting Course Providers
Business Services
122
11
Creative Industries
29
0
Design (Product and Digital)
5
3
Financial Services
35
3
Language
10
5
Logistics
14
0
Tourism
9
0
Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills for the Workplace
0
0
SCS-Based
0
22
Total
224
44
With the launch of the Qualifications Framework (QF) on 5 May 2008, the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) has implemented the new policy of requiring new courses, run by non-self-accrediting institutions and intended to register under the CEF, to successfully undergo accreditation conducted by the HKCAAVQ and registered in the Qualifications Register (QR), before they can apply for registration under the CEF. Similarly, new courses run by the local self-accrediting universities and their continuing education sections must also be registered in the QR before registration under the CEF. During the reporting year, the HKCAAVQ gave professional guidance to the LWB in preparation of the new application form and notes for courses seeking registration under the new CEF scheme.
The HKCAAVQ also conducts audit visits of reimbursable courses subsequent to their registration. These audits ensure compliance with requirements of registered CEF courses and have enhanced quality assurance measures within the course providers. A total of 40 audit visits have been conducted in reporting period. Concomitant with the Government's decision in July 2009 to inject an additional HK$1.2 billion to support the CEF Scheme, the HKCAAVQ was invited by the LWB to conduct more audit visits to CEF course providers in the coming years.
CPD Scheme
The Insurance Authority has appointed the HKCAAVQ as the sole assessment authority for CPD courses. The objective of the CPD courses is to ensure that insurance intermediaries continue to possess up-to-date knowledge, professionalism and high standards when providing advice and service to existing and potential policyholders. The HKCAAVQ also provides a similar assessment service to the CPD Scheme launched by the Estate Agents Authority. All approved CPD activities of these two schemes are subject to re-assessment by the HKCAAVQ on an annual basis.
During the reporting period, a total of 266 CPD courses, of which 81 were new, were assessed for the Insurance Intermediaries Scheme; and 62 CPD courses, of which 2 were new, were assessed for the Estate Agents Authority.
Qualifications Assessment
Since 1995, the HKCAAVQ has been providing qualifications assessment service, offering a professional opinion on the comparability of qualifications obtained either partially or wholly from outside Hong Kong with local academic qualifications. The qualifications assessment service also assesses non-local teacher training qualifications of prospective teachers wishing to apply to the Education Bureau for teaching posts and for teacher registration purposes. Moreover, the HKCAAVQ has been entrusted by the Security Bureau to assess non-local qualifications held by individual applicants under the "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme".
With the advent of the outcome-based QF, the HKCAAVQ conducted a rigorous review of its qualifications assessment policy to align it with the prevailing education policy. We made reference to good, international practices in credential evaluation and recognition, and in consultation with relevant overseas quality assurance bodies. The new outcome-based qualifications assessment policy was implemented on 1 November 2008. While each application continues to be assessed independently, based on the totality of the applicant's educational qualifications, the assessment principally focuses on the integrated learning outcomes acquired by the applicant, taking due consideration of the QF and prevailing education system.
A total of 2,860 qualifications assessments were processed in the reporting period, an 18% increase from last year. The increasing service demand may be a direct reflection of the globalisation of education and mobility of the world's population. Details of these applications are shown in the tables below:
Breakdown of Qualifications Assessment Cases Handled (August 2008 – July 2009)
By Source of Application
Civil Service Bureau
92
Education Bureau
149
Individuals
2,144
Other Organisations
475
Total
2,860
By Source of Application
Australia
419
Canada
319
Hong Kong, China
55
India
67
Mainland China
640
New Zealand
74
Taiwan, China
149
UK
568
USA
305
Others
264
Total
2,860
By Level of Major Qualifications
Master's Degree
316
Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate
137
Bachelor's Degree
1,863
Sub-degree
183
Secondary School Level
156
Others
205
Total
2,860
Looking Forward
The demand for our assessment services will continue to grow as the local community places more emphasis on the pursuit of life-long learning. The HKCAAVQ has accumulated a wealth of professional knowledge and experience in assessment services, and endeavours to support the policy initiatives of the Government in promoting life-long learning and continuing education.
