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Quality Assurance of Non-local Learning Programmes As of 31 March 2010, there are over 1,100 non-local higher and professional courses (NLPs) listed on the Hong Kong Non-local Courses Registry website. To meet the legal requirements, the NLPs have to be registered / exempted from registration under the Non-local Higher and Professional Courses (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap 493). Upon the enactment of the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance (Cap 592) in 2008, the Government lays down a policy for quality assurance of regulated NLPs via accreditation by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ). Registration / exemption under Cap 493 is based on comparability with the home (the exporting country / area) course under the home country education system. Accreditation of NLPs under Cap 592 is to benchmark the learning programme against Hong Kong education system, including the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF). The accreditation of NLPs will not affect the registration / exemption status. Accreditation will not replace the registration / exemption process under Cap 493 in Hong Kong because the two processes are conducted under different ordinances and serve different purposes. Why Seek Accreditation? Upon successful accreditation, the qualifications of relevant non-local programmes may be entered into the Qualifications Register (QR) for recognition under the QF, in accordance with the terms and procedures stipulated by the QR Authority. Such qualifications attained by individual students will be recognised as meeting the standard of particular qualifications obtained in Hong Kong. The Government financial assistance scheme for post-secondary students (FASP) and non-means tested loan scheme for post-secondary students (NLSPS) extend to eligible full-time students enrolled in tertiary-level NLPs accredited by the HKCAAVQ. The Government's policy requires that all new applications for CEF registration, including those from regulated non-local courses, submitted after May 2008, must already be on the QR with a valid QR registration number. To this end, the pertinent non-local courses will need to go through the NLP accreditation conducted by the HKCAAVQ.
Pilot Exercise 2009 To prepare for quality assuring the non-local courses under Cap 592, the HKCAAVQ developed an NLP accreditation framework for pilot testing in 2009. Background information about the Pilot Exercise can be accessed here. The framework was developed on the basis of international good practices of quality assurance of transnational education, taking into account policy and legal intent of relevant ordinances in Hong Kong.
Briefing on NLP Accreditation The Pilot Exercise has been satisfactorily concluded and the finalised NLP accreditation framework was shared with local operators (i.e. those based in Hong Kong) in a briefing held in the afternoon of 18 May 2010. All local operators of the NLPs regulated under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap 493) were invited to the briefing. Powerpoint presentation shared at the briefing
NLP Accreditation NLP accreditation service will be provided to the sector by phase and by discipline. The first discipline identified for NLP accreditation is the Art and Design discipline. The on-site visit will be conducted in January / February 2011. Training Workshop
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