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Education

schools, teachers and managers, health and safety requirements, fees and charges, and teacher qualifications.

With the first cohort of students taking the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education. (HKDSE) Examination in 2012, the Education Regulations have been amended to accept the HKDSE Examination as one of the qualifications for permitted teachers.

Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance

The Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance governs institutions offering post-secondary courses. As at December 2012, there were six approved post-secondary institutions registered under the ordinance Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Chu Hai College of Higher Education, Hang Seng Management College, Tung Wah College and Centennial College.

Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance

The Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance regulates non-local courses conducted in Hong Kong through a system of registration to ensure that the standard of the courses and qualifications are comparable to those of their home countries. It protects Hong Kong consumers by guarding against the marketing of sub-standard courses.

Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Legislation

The Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance provides a legal framework for the establishment of the Qualifications Framework (QF) and the Qualifications Register, and the underpinning quality assurance mechanism. The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) Ordinance provides for the establishment, functions and management of the council, which is responsible for quality assurance of the qualifications recognised under the QF.

Governance of Tertiary Institutions

Each tertiary institution has its own structure of governance, including a governing body, called the council or board of governors, and a body to regulate academic affairs, called the senate or the academic board.

Quality Assurance of Higher and Further Education

There are three quality assurance bodies in Hong Kong to monitor the quality of the post- secondary education sector. The HKCAAVQ is a statutory body responsible for the quality assurance of all operators and programmes except the UGC-funded institutions which enjoy self-accrediting status. The Quality Assurance Council (QAC), a semi-autonomous non-statutory body under the aegis of the UGC, conducts quality audits of the UGC-funded institutions and programmes offered at degree level and above, however funded. The Joint Quality Review Committee (JQRC), established by the Heads of Universities Committees, provides peer review of the quality assurance processes of self-financing sub-degree programmes offered by the UGC-funded institutions.

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