Partners in the Quality Journey


  
 

Over the past two decades, HKCAAVQ has been playing an active role as both gate-keeper and gate-opener in education quality assurance in Hong Kong. The success of the HKCAAVQ depends on support from our close partnerships with the Government, operators, academics, industry and the community at large. We also foster cross-sectoral collaboration to bring together the wisdom, resources and expertise of all for the well being of local learners.

In this chapter, we have the pleasure to share some of the stories of our close collaborators on how we have worked together to strive for quality education in Hong Kong. The HKCAAVQ is grateful for the concerted efforts and continued support from these as well as many other partners with whom we are fortunate to work in our quality journey.
 








The HKCAAVQ solicits the services of distinguished specialists in its panel both locally and from overseas. The panel is indeed very authoritative and increases our confidence about the accreditation result.


 
Dr Irene Wong
Head of School, Hong Kong Sanatorium &
Hospital School of Nursing

 

 
The School of Nursing, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (HKSH) was established in 1927 to provide a constant supply of high quality nurses to work in the health care industry. In 2004, HKSH Nursing School resumed the enrolled nursing (EN) programme. In 2010, it acquired the HKCAAVQ¡¦s accreditation status and became the first EN programme in Hong Kong with a higher diploma qualification. Dr Irene Wong, Head of HKSH Nursing School, says, ¡§The accreditation enhances the professional profile of the enrolled nurses. The EN training was once suspended, now the accreditation recognises its contributions to, and its important role in, the nursing profession.¡¨

Dr Wong admits that the accreditation process and the requirements for submission of documents were not at all easy, but she also commends the Council for the clear guidelines and professional support it provided. She adds, ¡§The HKCAAVQ solicits the services of distinguished specialists in its panel both locally and from overseas. The panel is indeed very authoritative and increases our confidence about the accreditation result. But what¡¦s more important is that the accreditation is not an once-and-for-all decision, it requires constant monitoring for continuous quality improvement.¡¨ Sharing the same commitment as the HKSH Nursing School to serving the community with excellence, the HKCAAVQ will continue our close cooperation with the HKSH to provide quality training to the nursing profession.
 



 




The professional accreditation services of HKCAAVQ¡Kenhances the confidence of employers in the quality of ERB courses in general, and boosts the employment opportunities of its graduate trainees in particular.


 
Dr Ng Tat-lun, BBS, JP
Chairman, Employees Retraining Board


 
To enhance the knowledge and skills of local workforce and help them map out their progression ladders, the HKCAAVQ works hand in hand with the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) to uphold the quality of its extensive variety of training courses. ¡§Through the professional accreditation services of HKCAAVQ, the majority of ERB courses are now included in the Government¡¦s Qualifications Register and recognised by the Qualifications Framework,¡¨ remarks Dr Ng Tat-lun, Chairman of ERB. ¡§This enhances the confidence of employers in the quality of ERB courses in general, and boosts the employment opportunities of its graduate trainees in particular.¡¨

With the changing landscape of education and the growth of private universities in Hong Kong, ERB envisages corresponding changes in both the supply and demand sides of the employment market. Dr Ng continues: ¡§ERB has to respond aptly to these changes and suitably adjust its training mix and strengthen its quality assurance work. In this vein, ERB looks forward to the continued advice and assistance of HKCAAVQ in ensuring the quality of its courses and fostering the recognition and support of employers.¡¨
 








The accreditation and recognition of racing training in the local education system is of paramount importance to the future development of the horse racing industry.


 
Ms Amy Chan
Manager, Racing Development Board and Headmistress,
Apprentice Jockeys¡¦ School

 

 
Horse racing is one of the world¡¦s oldest sports, with a history that dates back hundreds of years. In the past, racing skills were passed on through an apprenticeship system. As racing is now a major industry, the training has become more systematic and organised. In 2010, the HKCAAVQ gave accreditation to six training courses offered by the Apprentice Jockeys¡¦ School of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). By entering into the Qualifications Framework (QF), racing training was formally integrated into the local vocational education system. Not only is the accreditation helpful to the trainees¡¦ further study and career development, it also enables the local racing industry to reach out to the world.

Ms Amy Chan, Headmistress of the Apprentice Jockeys¡¦ School, says, ¡§The first and foremost goal of the Racing Development Board is to be a role model in the racing industry and to lead other countries to achieve a certain standard. Therefore the accreditation and recognition of racing training in the local education system is of paramount importance to the future development of the horse racing industry.¡¨ After the Guangzhou Asian Games, HKJC began to develop a satellite training base in Conghua. This set of accredited racing training programmes recognised under the QF will also be introduced to the Mainland for the first time, which marks an important milestone for the local racing industry training to go global.
 



 




Alongside the Council¡¦s self-maturity, there has been an enabling of partner institutions to mature in terms of their academic strengths and quality assurance experience.


 
Prof Kevin Thompson, OBE
Director, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

 
From his earlier experience with the HKCAAVQ as a panel chairman in its validation exercises to his present appointment as Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), Prof Kevin Thompson has witnessed the growth of the Council. ¡§Alongside the Council¡¦s self-maturity, there has been an enabling of partner institutions to mature in terms of their academic strengths and quality assurance experience,¡¨ he notes. ¡§Through its partnerships, the Council has enabled institutions to have a degree of, if you were, ¡¥devolved autonomy¡¦, with regard to awarding their own bachelor and taught degrees. I think it is a symbol of the confidence and trust, which make for the mutually productive and conducive partnerships we enjoy.¡¨

With aspirations to build a more inclusive and out-reaching academy, the HKAPA is galvanising its local Hong Kong and regional partnerships and, through its partnership overseas, its global and intercontinental links. ¡§The HKAPA has a vital role to play in the cultural ecology and artistic milieu of Hong Kong, in terms of developing cultural software, the all-important ¡¥people-ware¡¦, the skills, aptitudes and attitudinal qualities to create work, and to disseminate not passively but through interactive engagement with our audiences. There will be many kinds of opportunities in the future. We can¡¦t always predict very accurately what they will be. But we can prepare students to be aware of the opportunities, to go where the action is and will be, to be constant learners, and to realise the potential in lifelong education, to retool and sharpen their skills throughout their careers.¡¨
 








The HKCAAVQ provides the beauty industry with very clear and detailed accreditation guidelines ... students are able to choose the courses that best suit their level and needs.


 
Prof Cheng Ming Ming
Chairperson, CMM International Group

  

 
The beauty industry in Hong Kong has undergone rapid development in recent years. As Hong Kong transforms into a knowledgebased economy, society today has higher expectations of the professionalism of beauty practitioners. Since the establishment of the Beauty Industry Training Advisory Committee (ITAC) under the Qualifications Framework (QF) in 2006, the HKCAAVQ has maintained close liaison with the beauty industry to help them develop professional training programmes that conform to the relevant Specification of Competency Standards.

Prof Cheng Ming Ming, Chairperson of CMM International Group and the Beauty ITAC, says, ¡§The HKCAAVQ provides the beauty industry with very clear and detailed accreditation guidelines. Based on these guidelines, schools can develop the course curriculum at the corresponding QF levels; and students are able to choose the courses that best suit their level and needs, so as to set a clear progression pathway for themselves. This is very helpful for enhancing the service quality and competitiveness of the beauty industry.¡¨ As beauty services become more diversified, the HKCAAVQ will continue to work closely with the industry to develop a unified training standard and to support the professionalisation of the beauty industry.
 



 




The process is also an opportunity for Hong Kong institutions to show external academics from Hong Kong and internationally how well they are deliveringhigher education programmes.



 
Prof Barbara van Ernst, AM
Education Consultant

 
Australia based Education Consultant Prof Barbara van Ernst is a quality auditor for the HKCAAVQ and other quality assurance agencies worldwide, such as the Australian Universities Quality Agency, the Singapore Higher Education Accreditation Council and the New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit. Through her participation in our accreditation exercises involving higher education institutions like the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Tung Wah College and Savannah College of Art & Design, she has observed that ¡§Hong Kong is certainly striving to take a leadership role in the creative industries.¡¨

¡§I think in each case, the educational institution has appreciated the opportunity to have their programmes scrutinised by external experts and although the process indeed creates a lot of work, most seem to feel that the process was beneficial.¡¨ She comments, ¡§The process is also an opportunity for Hong Kong institutions to show external academics from Hong Kong and internationally how well they are delivering higher education programmes. This is especially important for academics from public universities to learn more about the private sector.¡¨