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Education

In music, Hong Kong students won The Plateau A Award & The Presenter's Award at the International Barbershop Youth Chorus Festival, four first prizes and two second prizes in the 5th China National Arts Showcase for Primary and Secondary Students, three Champion prizes in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, one Champion prize and one Special Conductor Prize in the Singapore International Choral Festival, one Grand Prix in the International Youth Music Festival, two Gold Diplomas in the Orientale Concentus IX, one Grand Champion prize in the 13th China International Chorus Festival, and one Gold Medal in the 2nd Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong National Youth Music Competition in Guzheng.

In visual arts, Hong Kong students won four Hong Kong Grand Prizes in the International Students' Visual Arts Contest-cum-Exhibition of Hong Kong, a Best Individual prize in the Small Monmartre of Bitola 2016, two Gold Prizes in the World Children's Picture Contest, as well as a number of 1st Class Honours prizes in the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies Art and Design Competition.

In sports, Hong Kong students won the first runner-up prize in the Blackpool British Open. Ballroom Formation Dancing Championship 2015; one gold, three silver and one bronze medals in the 23rd Asian Junior Cycling Championship; two golds, two silvers and one bronze in the Japan Junior Open Squash Championships 2016; overall champion prize in the 2nd Asian. School Rugby Sevens Championships, and overall first runner-up prize with 10 golds, nine silvers and 11 bronzes in the 5th Asian Schools Swimming Championships. Young athletes won the overall champion prize with 27 golds, 27 silvers and 26 bronzes in the World Rope Skipping Championships cum Sweden Open Tournament; first place in the 2016 World Junior Tennis - Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying; two golds, one silver and one bronze in the 2016 Sydney International Rowing Regatta; and four golds and two silvers in the China National Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships 2015.

Qualifications and Quality Assurance

Qualifications Framework

The Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF), established under the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance, provides a transparent and accessible platform to promote lifelong learning and enhance workforce competitiveness. It covers academic, VPET and continuing education qualifications. The QF is underpinned by a robust quality assurance mechanism. All qualifications recognised under the framework are locally accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ), established under the HKCAAVQ Ordinance, or by self-accrediting institutions in Hong Kong. The government maintains a Qualifications Register, a web-based database that lists the qualifications and their associated learning programmes recognised under the framework.

As at October 2016, the government has helped 22 industries' set up Industry Training Advisory Committees under the QF, covering about 53 per cent of the labour force. A major task of each

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Printing and Publishing; Watch and Clock; Catering; Hairdressing; Property Management; Electrical and Mechanical Services; Jewellery; Information and Communications Technology; Automotive; Beauty; Logistics; Banking; Import and Export; Testing, Inspection and Certification; Retail; Insurance; Manufacturing Technology (Tooling, Metals and Plastics); Elderly Care Services; Security Services; Human Resources Management; Fashion and Arboriculture and Horticulture.

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