The HKCAAVQ conducts research to inform practice and to support policy development. It also runs training events to build up the capacity of programme providers, specialists / panel members and staff in preparation for accreditation processes. As a leading quality assurance agency in the region, it maintains best practice in quality enhancement through internal review and monitoring of its services as well as dissemination of research findings and practices locally and overseas.

Four-stage QA Process Review

In March 2011, the HKCAAVQ embarked on a review of the Four-stage Quality Assurance (QA) Process, an accreditation model introduced in May 2008 to underpin the Qualifications Framework (QF). The purpose of the Review is to evaluate the effectiveness of the current approach, particularly in vocational accreditation, taking into account local quality requirements, the current situation in the education and training sector in Hong Kong and international developments in quality assurance.

The Review is conducted under the leadership of a Steering Committee, which comprises local and non-local HKCAAVQ Council Members, expert members as well as representatives from the Education Bureau (EDB) and the QF Secretariat. The Review has five phases: fact finding, data analysis and development , consultation, pilot test and implementation.

In the reporting period, the HKCAAVQ conducted a wide range of activities for the first phase of the Review. A total of 19 focus group meetings were arranged, involving 126 stakeholders including programme providers, panel and staff members of the HKCAAVQ. Apart from face-to-face consultation, we also conducted an online survey to gather views from overseas panel members and invited members of the Steering Committee to observe some of our accreditation exercises. The findings were supplemented by internal analysis of the accreditation reports, review of international practices, as well as proposals received from two groups of local higher education institutions.

The data analysis and process development will be presented to the HKCAAVQ Council for consideration in the third quarter of 2012, and further consultation is expected to take place in the last quarter of 2012 followed by a pilot programme.

Focus groups meeting for Four-stage QA Process Review organised in 2011/12

Continuous Support to Non-local Programme (NLP) Accreditation Services

The HKCAAVQ conducted a seminar in London in April 2011 with the support of the British Council to inform non-local programme providers about the latest developments in our Non-local Programme (NLP) Accreditation Services. Issues such as the implications and cost benefits and lessons learnt from the NLP exercises in 2009 and 2010 were shared with participants from 19 universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.

At the overseas NLP seminar in April 2011 and in two local workshops held in September 2011 and February 2012, the HKCAAVQ conducted demand forecast surveys with participants so as to plan the forthcoming accreditation schedule. The surveys covered non-local learning programmes in the Accounting and Finance Discipline, the Hotel / Tourism Management Discipline, the Supply Chain Management Disciplines and the other remaining disciplines that were not covered in 2009 and 2010. It is anticipated that the first NLP accreditation cycle will come to an end in 2013.

Gauging Feedback for Continuous Enhancement of Services

The HKCAAVQ collects feedback from panel members and programme providers on our accreditation services, as well as from individuals and institutions using other HKCAAVQ services. The surveys, conducted primarily through an online platform, form part of our internal quality assurance process for continuous enhancement.

Reports of the surveys are reviewed by the Council; findings and follow-up actions are shared with respondents during activities such as training workshops or through written reports circulated to respondents. In 2012, we have commissioned a professional agency to undertake the annual Operators’ Survey. Data collected from the surveys are kept in strictest confidence and are used for improvement purposes only. The findings have also been considered by the Steering Committee when reviewing the Four-stage QA Process.

Consultancy Services

The HKCAAVQ has been commissioned by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to conduct a three-year Comparative Study of Veterinary Qualifications. In the reporting period, the HKCAAVQ conducted three on-site visits to the China Agricultural University in November 2011, the Huazhong Agricultural University in December 2011 and the Nanjing Agricultural University in January 2012. The remaining visits to other selected universities in Mainland China, Taiwan and Europe have been scheduled for 2012/13.

Training and Capacity Building

As of February 2012, there were 1,315 Specialists on the specialists register. The range of Specialists is indicated in the following figures.

The HKCAAVQ offers various types of capacity building activities to prepare programme providers, specialists and staff for accreditation exercises. These include training workshops, briefings, seminars and the production of information documents such as the Training Manual and e-newsletter QALink for its Specialists. Apart from the bi-monthly training workshops for operators, the HKCAAVQ also runs tailor-made in-house training for programme providers. In the reporting year, three workshops of this kind were arranged, involving 97 participants.

To provide better support to panel members, especially those not residing in Hong Kong, to participate in training workshops prior to the on-site visit, the HKCAAVQ initiated a pilot test of online training in December 2011. The training module comprises 12 sessions on questioning techniques at on-site visit meetings with operator representatives. The outcome from the pilot will form part of the review for further development of the online training platform.

Breakdown of briefings and workshops (1 April 2011 - 31 March 2012)

In addition to the above training activities, the HKCAAVQ also held another 14 specific workshops and briefings for operators in the vocational sector to introduce them to the procedures for collective accreditation and accreditation criteria and processes. The events were well attended by organisations and operators from the following industries and associations:

• Automotive
  
• Chinese Catering
  
• Dairy Farm Group
  
• Hong Kong Productivity Council
  
• Jewellery
  
• Logistics
  
• Property Management Sector
  
• Retail
  
• Scout Association of Hong Kong

Looking Forward

The HKCAAVQ will continue to explore ways to better meet the needs and expectations of the education sector, and to work closely with our stakeholders to enhance their quality assurance capacities. The HKCAAVQ will begin the consultation and pilot tests of the Refined Model of the Four-stage QA Process Review in the last quarter of 2012. For continuous enhancement of our quality assurance work and services, we will also embark on an external review in 2014.