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Education

and programmes except the UGC-funded universities, which are self-accredited. The Quality Assurance Council (QAC), a semi-autonomous non-statutory body under the UGC's aegis, conducts quality audits of the UGC-funded universities to assure that the quality of educational experience in all their programmes at the levels of sub-degree, first degree and above, however funded, is sustained, improved and internationally competitive.

In November, the government set up the Sub-committee on Quality Assurance under the revamped Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education to explore how to enhance the quality of the self-financing post-secondary sector. The sub-committee replaced the Liaison. Committee on Quality Assurance, which served a similar purpose.

Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance

This ordinance regulates non-local courses of higher and professional education conducted in Hong Kong through a system of registration to ensure the standards of the courses and qualifications are comparable with those in their home countries. It protects consumers by guarding against the marketing of non-local courses which do not fulfil the registration criteria. As at end-September, 1,163 non-local courses were registered or exempted from registration under the ordinance.

More Funding Resources

Quality Education Fund

This fund seeks to raise the quality of school education and promote quality school education. As at end-August, it had approved about 10,645 projects involving about $4.9 billion.

Life Planning Education

A recurrent Career and Life Planning Grant at the mid-point salary of the Graduate Master pay scale is disbursed to public-sector and DSS schools providing senior secondary education to implement life planning education that prepares students for the transition from school to post-secondary education, including VPET, or the workplace and to make the best of opportunities ahead. Schools may opt for regular teaching posts instead of the grant to further consolidate their experiences with more stable teaching manpower.

The bureau encourages close collaboration between schools and various sectors in organising activities for secondary students to enhance their exposure to the corporate world and provide first-hand experience in different trades and careers. It implements the Business-School Partnership Programme, conducting activities with over 190 business partners in 2018-19 that benefited more than 180,000 students.

Support for Needy Students

School-based After-school Learning and Support Programmes subsidise activities that help eligible needy students improve their learning effectiveness, broaden their learning experiences outside the classroom and raise their understanding of the community and sense of belonging. In 2019-20, a total of 901 schools and 169 NGOs received the subsidies, helping about 170,000 students.

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