Education | 153
There were around 14 800 first-year-first-degree places in institutions funded by the UGC and the HKAPA in the 2011-12 school year. The same age group also enjoyed access to around 4 500 places in self-financing degree programmes. In addition, the UGC-funded institutions and the self-financing degree-awarding institutions provided around 2 000 senior year undergraduate places and 3 900 top-up degree places respectively for graduates of sub-degree programmes and students with other qualifications.
At the sub-degree level, there were around 24 200 self-financing intake places. These were in addition to some 7 400 publicly-funded intake places for sub-degree level courses offered by the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong Institute of Education, the VTC and the HKAPA.
The UGC is a non-statutory advisory body appointed by the Chief Executive to advise the Government on the development and funding of higher education and to administer public grants to the eight higher education institutions. It also plays a major role in quality assurance and in promoting research. The committee comprises local and non-local academics, professionals and community leaders.
Each of the eight higher education institutions funded through the UGC is an autonomous statutory body with its own ordinance and governing body. They enjoy a high degree of academic and institutional autonomy, and are free to manage their own affairs within the parameters of the law.
The eight UGC-funded institutions have distinctive and complementary roles that reflect their different origins, missions and the way they have responded to Hong Kong's evolving needs. The UGC is committed to taking a more strategic approach by developing an interlocking yet individually different higher education system, with each institution fulfilling a unique role based on its strengths.
Locally awarded degrees up to doctoral level are widely recognised by institutions of higher learning around the world. All UGC-funded institutions have self-accrediting status and well-established quality assurance mechanisms. In April 2007, the UGC set up a semi-autonomous Quality Assurance Council under its aegis. to provide third-party assurance of quality. The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) validates courses and programmes offered by higher education institutions that are not self-accrediting.
Qualifications Framework
Launched in May 2008, the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF) provides a transparent and accessible platform to promote lifelong learning and hence helps enhance the competitiveness of the workforce. It is a seven-level hierarchy that orders and supports qualifications of academic, vocational and continuing education.
The QF is underpinned by a
underpinned by a robust quality assurance mechanism. All qualifications recognised under the QF are locally accredited by HKCAAVQ or by the self-accrediting institutions in Hong Kong.