PDF Guidance Notes on Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes

Guidance Notes on Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes

Version 1.6 | February 2018

Abbreviations

Cap 493

Cap 592

EDB FASP GLD HKCAA HKCAAVQ

IE IR LPA NLP NLSPS

QF QR Re-LPA

Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance (AAVQO) Education Bureau Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students

Generic Level Descriptors Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Initial Evaluation Institutional Review Learning Programme Accreditation Non-local Learning Programme Non-means Tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students Qualifications Framework Qualifications Register Learning Programme Re-accreditation

Guidance Notes on Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes

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Table of Contents

Introduction

p.4

1. Reasons for Seeking Recognition under the HKQF

p.6

2. Stages in the Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes

p.7

3. Initial Evaluation for Collaborative Provision of Non-local Learning

p.8

Programmes

4. Learning Programme Accreditation and Re-accreditation of Non-local p.11 Learning Programmes

5. Timeline and Process

p.15

6. Accreditation Outcomes

p.18

7. Possible Follow-up after Accreditation

p.20

8. Accreditation Fees

p.21

9. Points to Note

p.22

Annex: The Preview Approach to the Facilitation Phase

p.23

Glossary

p.27

Guidance Notes on Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes

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Introduction

1.

The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) is

established under the HKCAAVQ Ordinance (Cap 1150) as a statutory body responsible for conducting

accreditation activities generally or as authorised under any other local enactment. HKCAAVQ has

statutory powers under the provisions of the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications

Ordinance (AAVQO) (Cap 592) to perform the roles of the Accreditation Authority and the Qualifications

Register (QR) Authority. Qualifications of learning programmes that have been granted accreditation

status by the Accreditation Authority may be entered into the QR for recognition under the Qualifications

Framework (QF) in Hong Kong.

2.

These Guidance Notes have been developed for use by educational institutions (Operators) planning to

apply for the accreditation of a non-local course (learning programme), registered or exempted from

registration under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap 493).

3.

Registration / exemption from registration under Cap 493 and accreditation of non-local learning

programmes (NLPs) under Cap 592 are conducted under different ordinances and administered by

different authorities. Registration / exemption is based on comparability of the standards of the non-local

course with the standards of the home course under the home country education system. Accreditation

benchmarks the learning programme against the Hong Kong education system including the QF.

Registration / exemption from registration is compulsory whereas accreditation of NLPs is voluntary.

The accreditation of NLPs will not affect their registration / exemption status.

4.

Provision of an NLP involves a Hong Kong Operator (local Operator) and a non-local Operator jointly

operating a learning programme in Hong Kong, which leads to a qualification awarded by the non-local

Operator. The local Operator and the non-local Operator are treated as acting in partnership as the

Operator of the NLP to be accredited.

5.

Accreditation of NLPs involves only the first two stages of HKCAAVQ's Four-stage Quality Assurance

Process, i.e. Initial Evaluation (IE), Learning Programme Accreditation (LPA) or Learning Programme

Re-accreditation (re-LPA). Stages Three and Four of the Four-stage Quality Assurance Process,

namely Programme Area Accreditation (PAA) and Periodic Review (PR), do not apply to accreditation

of NLPs.

6.

In recognition of partnerships' track records at both institutional and programme levels, accredited

partnerships with substantial track records of good performance applying for LPA / re-LPA may be

eligible for differentiated accreditation approaches, such as (a) paper-based review accreditation, (b)

customised accreditation or (c) variation in validity period or (d) some combination of the above. Upon

analysis of data on their track records, partnerships will be notified by HKCAAVQ if differentiation

approach is applicable in the accreditation exercise(s) concerned.

7.

These Guidance Notes also serve as a reference for the Accreditation Panel (Panel). Under the

principle of `peer review', the Panel will evaluate the quality of the partnership and the NLP by

exercising its professional judgement according to the principles laid down in these Guidance Notes.

Guidance Notes on Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes

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Policies Promulgated by the Education Bureau (EDB)

8.

Partnerships should make reference to the following policies when seeking accreditation:

HKQF Level

QF Credit

Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT)

Title of Programme / Qualification

The QF in Hong Kong is a 7-level hierarchy. The level of a programme / qualification is determined in accordance with a set of Generic Level Descriptors (GLD) which specifies, in four domains, the outcome standards expected of the qualifications at each level. The four domains are: (a) Knowledge and Intellectual Skills; (b) Processes; (c) Application, Autonomy and Accountability; and (d) Communications, IT and Numeracy. (.hk, click this Web link for further details)

All programmes on the QR at HKQF Levels 1-4 are required to have QF credits by 1 January 2016. This includes all exit awards at Level 4 or below nested within degree programmes at Level 5.

The ratios of contact to self-study hours published in the Operational Guidelines on Use of Credit issued by EDB are only indicative. Partnerships are required to justify how the ratios they have adopted fit the needs of respective modules and programmes. (.hk, click this Web link for further details)

Partnerships should refer to the Policy, Principles and Operational Guidelines for Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) under Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong issued by EDB.

Arrangements for CAT form part of the admission policy of partnerships and/or apply in regard to particular programmes. As part of the accreditation process, CAT arrangements are considered and noted in the accreditation report. (.hk, click this Web link for further details)

Effective from 1 January 2016, all programmes at HKQF Levels 1 to 7 should adopt titles which conform to the requirement of Award Titles Scheme (ATS) before they can continue to be registered in QR. (.hk, click this Web link for further details)

Guidance Notes on Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes

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1. Reasons for seeking recognition under the HKQF

1.1 Upon successful accreditation, the qualifications of NLPs may be entered into the QR for recognition under the HKQF. Such qualifications attained by individual students will be recognised as meeting the same standard of comparable qualifications at approved QF level(s) obtained in Hong Kong.

1.2 The Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students (FASP)

() and Non-means-tested Loan

Scheme

for

Post-secondary

Students

(NLSPS)

() extend to accredited full-time

NLPs at tertiary level, subject to the terms and conditions as stipulated by the Student Finance Office.

1.3 Government policy requires all new applications for Continuing Education Fund (CEF) registration, including those from regulated non-local courses, submitted after May 2008, to be on the QR with a valid QR registration number. To this end, non-local courses offered through CEF will also need to go through the NLP accreditation conducted by HKCAAVQ.

Guidance Notes on Accreditation of Non-local Learning Programmes

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