HKQF: Development, Milestones and Collaboration with EQF

Background

• Knowledge-based economy; importance of life-long learning to enhance competitiveness of local workforce

• Proliferation of various qualifications

• Need for:

* quality

* recognition

* progression pathways

HKQF: Objectives • Policy initiative of Education Bureau, Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government

• Official launch in 2008

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• Dual objectives - • Establish an effective platform to

support lifelong learning • Enhance quality, capability and

competitiveness of local workforce

HKQF: Main Features

• A unitary framework covering academic, vocational, continuing education sectors

• Characteristics of HKQF : • 7 levels defined by Generic Level Descriptors (GLD) • Outcome-based approach • Qualifications with standardised award titles • Indication of QF credit values • All qualifications are quality assured • HKQF-recognized qualifications on Qualifications Register

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HKQF: Development

2004

2005 - 2007

2008

2010 - 2012

2014

Introduction of Award Titles Scheme , QF Credit unit, and QF Support Schemes

Introduction of Credit and Accumulation Transfer Policy and Principles

Introduction of Recognition of Prior Learning mechanism and Qualifications Register

Official launch of HKQF

Establishment of Industry Training Advisory Committees

Establishment of the Accreditation Authority (Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications)

Enactment of Ordinance for establishing HKQF

Announcement of the HKSAR Government to establish HKQF

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HKQF: 10 Milestones

1. QF levels and Generic Level Descriptors (GLD) 2. Industry Training Advisory Committees (ITACs) &

Specifications of Competency Standards 3. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism 4. Quality assurance mechanism & Qualifications Register 5. Award Titles Scheme 6. QF credit 7. Credit Accumulation & Transfer (CAT) policy and principles 8. QF Fund 9. International collaboration 10. Collaboration with European Commission on technical

alignment with EQF

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QF Level & GLD

• Qualifications/programmes ordered in 7 levels according to Generic Level Descriptors (GLD)

• GLD described in terms of learning outcomes • GLD covering four domains :

• Knowledge and intellectual skills • Processes • Application, autonomy and accountability • Communication, IT and numeracy

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Industry-led Framework • Industry Training Advisory Committees (ITAC)

set up for 20 industries, covering about 48% of total labour force

• Composition: representatives from employers, employees, professional bodies of the relevant industries, government departments

• ITACs to define competency requirements and standards for different job tasks, and draw up the Specification of Competency Standards (SCS)

• Linkage of SCS with manpower training for industries

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Industry Participation

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Printing & Publishing

Watch & Clock

Chinese Catering Hairdressing Property

Management

Electrical & Mechanical Services

Jewellery

Information & Communications

Technology

Automotive

Beauty

Logistics

Banking Import &

Export Testing, Inspection &

Certification

Retail

Insurance

Elderly Care Service

Manufacturing Technology

Employers

Employees

Professional Bodies

Security Services

Human Resources Management

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Uses of SCS Major Uses of SCS

Human Resources Development

& Management

e.g. Job specifications, Recruitment, Performance

appraisal

Registration/

Licensing/ Benchmarking e.g. Registration and licensing by

professional bodies, RPL,

referencing with other jurisdictions

Industrial Training &

Skill Enhancement

e.g. SCS-based courses, in-house

training

Recognition of Prior Learning • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism set up for

industries – to validate and recognise non-formal and informal

learning, including skills, knowledge and experience of in-service workers, based on SCS

– to facilitate continuous learning of workers • Exploring extension of RPL mechanism to cover other forms of

non-formal and informal learning (NFIL)

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QA Mechanism • HKQF underpinned by a robust quality assurance (QA) mechanism Non self-accrediting providers: • Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational

Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) • Independent statutory body for QA

Self-accrediting universities: • Academic Boards/Senates of universities • Quality Assurance Council under University Grants Committee

• A centralised QA body in higher education sector • Joint Quality Review Committee

• A centralised QA body for self-financed sub-degree programmes offered by UGC-funded institutions

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HKCAAVQ • Established in 1990 and reconstituted in 2007 as an independent

statutory body under the HKCAAVQ Ordinance

• Accreditation Authority and QR Authority under HKQF, embracing academic and vocational qualifications in Hong Kong as stipulated under the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance

• The Council is appointed by Secretary for Education

• Membership comprises local and overseas experts in QF and QA authorities

• Conduct professional accreditation of providers, learning programmes and qualifications under HKQF

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Qualifications Register

• Qualifications Register (QR) is web-based, containing information on QF-recognised qualifications and training courses for public access – Level & credit-rated – Standardised award titles – Validity period – Quality-assured

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www.hkqr.gov.hk

• Over 8 000 programmes listed on QR now

Award Titles Scheme

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QF Credit

• 1 QF credit = 10 notional learning hours • Notional learning hours covering all modes of learning (e.g.

attendance in class, self-study, practical assessment, experiments, on-line learning, etc.)

• Indication of QF credit values on Qualifications Register (QR)

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CAT Policy & Principles • Promulgation of Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) policy

and principles in July 2014 • Ultimate goals :

– to minimize duplication of learning – to recognize validated learning – to support learning progression of learners – to use public resources effectively

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QF Fund

• Enactment of legislation to support QF development • Recognising the importance of QF in maintaining a quality

workforce, the Chief Executive of HKSAR Government announced in the 2014 Policy Address to establish a dedicated fund of HK$1 billion, namely the QF Fund, to provide a steady source of income to support the sustainable development and implementation of QF

• The Fund was established on 1 September 2014

International Collaboration

International Collaboration

• China 2011 – Letter of Intent signed with Guangdong Occupational Skill Testing Authority on benchmarking occupational standards

• Scotland 2012 - Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership for cooperation on QF development

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International Collaboration

• New Zealand 2014 - Cooperation Arrangement on Development of QF signed with New Zealand Qualifications Authority

• Association of South East Asian Nations

(ASEAN) Participation in the development of ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework

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Technical Alignment with EQF • A feasibility study conducted in 2012 to assess HKQF’s readiness for

referencing with European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and other regional QFs

• Findings: – HKQF with sound architecture and effective implementation – HKQF is sufficiently well established and will benefit from

international referencing/alignment – Common features of HKQF and EQF:

• A tool to support lifelong learning • Use of learning outcomes approach • QA as a cornerstone underpinning both HKQF and EQF • Recognition of non-formal and informal learning

Importance of Technical Alignment with EQF

• Promote transparency and comparability of qualifications between the two regions

• Signify an important development of HKQF in international context

• Strengthen HKSAR’s position as a leading business and education hub in the region

• Facilitate mobility of people

Technical Alignment with EQF

• HKQF Conference to mark the commencement of the HKQF-EQF technical alignment project

• Education Bureau (EDB) to serve as central co-ordination point for the project

• Formation of Joint Technical Group • Members: representatives from EQF Advisory Group and EDB/QF

Secretariat • Formation of Local Expert Group

• To steer and oversee the project • Members: Local stakeholders of HKQF

• Identification of technical consultant to assist EDB in the project • Plan to complete the collaboration project in 12 months’ time

HKQF: Forward Plan

• Closer collaboration (eg., Europe, ASEAN, Mainland China, New Zealand)

• Wide participation in HKQF by all sectors of providers

• Recognition of all quality-assured learning (e.g. NFIL, professional qualifications)

• HKQF brand building