The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications

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The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications

The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) is an independent statutory body responsible for overseeing academic standards of degree programmes in higher education and the vocational sector.

The academic standards of degree programmes are set out in the Qualifications Framework (QF) by the Education Bureau (EDB), which prescribes standards for seven levels of education using Generic Level Descriptors (GLDs) The HKCAAVQ supports the Qualifications Framework with a Four-stage Quality Assurance Process to ensure GLDs are met.

The first two stages of the Quality Assurance Process are Initial Evaluation and Programme Validation. The HKCAAVQ provides Guidelines on Initial Evaluation and Programme Validation at QF levels 4-7.

Substantial changes to programmes, including admissions policies, assessment criteria, structure and content, must be approved by the HKCAAVQ. Guidelines on changes that are considered substantial and the HKCAAVQ process for handling such changes are outlined in the HKCAAVQ Guidelines on Substantial Change to Accreditation Status.

HKCAAVQ - GLDs of the Qualifications Framework

The Qualifications Framework (QF) was officially launched on 5 May 2008. It aims to help Hong Kong people set clear goals and directions for continuous learning to obtain quality-assured qualifications. In the long run, it will help enhance the overall quality and competitiveness of the local workforce.

The QF is a hierarchy of qualifications. By clearly outlining what a holder of a certain qualification knows and can do, the QF not only helps learners and employers set their targets for learning and training, but also provides the pathways between qualifications for learners to reach their targets.

The QF is designed to be applicable to all sectors to facilitate the interface between academic, vocational and continuing education. Each of the seven levels is characterized by outcome-based generic level descriptors which describe the common features of qualifications at the same level. These level descriptors are not an exact science, but are used comparatively to locate a qualification at a particular level on the framework. In proposing a seven-level QF, the government have taken into account local qualifications and overseas experience. The QF is broadly comparable to qualifications systems in other countries.

The generic level descriptors (GLDs) describe the requirements of each level in four aspects - "Knowledge and Intellectual Skills", "Processes", "Application, Autonomy and Accountability" and "Communications, IT and Numeracy". Different industries may draw up their own competency requirements and standards, known as "Specification of Competency Standards" (SCSs), by making reference to the GLDs.

Note that QF Level 5 corresponds to undergraduate Bachelor degrees and QF Level 6 corresponds to postgraduate or Master degrees.

Generic Level Descriptors (GLD)

The QF in Hong Kong (HKQF) is a 7-level hierarchy. Each qualification is assigned a level 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.

To enhance the clarity and user-friendliness of the GLD, the Education Bureau (EDB) conducted a review on GLD in 2017. A set of Explanatory Notes, Reference and Practical Guides were also developed for easy reference of employers, operators and standard setters and evaluators.

The revised GLD remains to cover four domains which are:

(a) Knowledge and Intellectual Skills;

(b) Processes;

(c) Autonomy and Accountability; and

(d) Communication, ICT and Numeracy.

Revised GLD and Practical Tools

Revised GLD and Explanatory Notes (2018 version)
Reference for Employers
Practical Guide for Operators
Practical Guide for Standard Setters and Evaluators
GLD (2008 version)

Use of Revised GLD

Operators seeking HKQF-related accreditation services of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications with the date of submission of accreditation documents on or after 1 April 2019 should adopt the revised GLD and Explanatory Notes (i.e. 2018 version). Please contact HKCAAVQ for further enquiry.

Other stakeholders are encouraged to adopt the revised GLD at a pace suitable to their own context.

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The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications