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Hong Kong Qualification Framework (HKQF)

[What is Qualifications Framework?]

The approval and recognition of a qualifications framework usually involve the participation of multiple parties, including local education authorities, accreditation bodies, or relevant government agencies. However, the specific procedures and processes may vary from country to country and region to region.
Generally, the development of a qualifications framework should be a collaborative process involving a wide range of stakeholders, including industry experts, educational institutions, employers, government agencies, and more. These entities work together to establish standards ensuring that the qualifications framework covers the necessary skills, knowledge, and training.
Once formulated, the qualifications framework typically needs to be submitted to the relevant authorities for review and approval. This may include local education authorities, accreditation bodies, occupational licensing agencies, or other relevant government entities. These organizations examine whether the qualifications framework meets standards, complies with regulations, and aligns with local occupational development needs.
If the qualifications framework undergoes review and receives approval, it may be considered a reference standard to guide education, training, and professional development in the respective field. Approved qualifications frameworks often enhance recognition within the industry or profession and help ensure that talent development meets actual needs.

[What is Recognition of Qualifications Framework?]

The recognition of a qualifications framework refers to whether the framework has undergone review and approval by relevant organizations and is widely accepted and acknowledged. This is often determined by several factors:

1. Government Recognition: Whether the qualifications framework has received formal approval from local education authorities, accreditation bodies, or other relevant government agencies. Government recognition is typically a prerequisite for widespread acceptance of a qualifications framework within a country or region.

2. Industry Professional Involvement: The participation and support of industry professional organizations in the development process of the qualifications framework. This helps ensure that the framework aligns with the actual needs of the industry, increasing its recognition.

3. Employer and Business Recognition: Whether the qualifications framework is widely acknowledged by employers and businesses as a reference standard for evaluating and recruiting talent.

4. Involvement of Professional Certification Bodies: Some qualifications frameworks may require support and recognition from relevant professional certification bodies to enhance their professionalism and credibility.

5. Adoption by Training and Educational Institutions: Whether training and educational institutions adopt the qualifications framework and incorporate it into relevant courses and training programs.

In summary, a qualifications framework that has been recognized by government agencies, industry professional organizations, employers, and educational institutions tends to have higher recognition and credibility. This helps ensure that the framework effectively guides professional development and training in the respective field.

Objectives of HKQF

The primary objective of establishing the QF is to promote lifelong learning with a view to continuously enhancing the
quality, professionalism and competitiveness of our workforce in an increasingly globalised and knowledge-oriented economic environment.

These goals are to be achieved through:

Setting objective and well-defined standards for qualifications in the academic, vocational and professional, and continuing education and training sectors;
Assuring the quality of qualifications and the associated learning programmes available to learners; and
Increasing the relevance of learning to the needs of industries.

Legal Framework

Enacted by the Legislative Council in 2007, the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance (AAVQO)
(Chapter 592 of the Laws of Hong Kong) provides the legal framework for the establishment of the QF and its underpinning quality assurance mechanism. The QF was officially launched on 5 May 2008, when the AAVQO came into full operation.

Governance and Administration

The formulation of policy, strategy and direction on the development of the QF is under the ambit of the Education Bureau (EDB) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Qualifications Framework Secretariat, set up by the EDB in June 2009, serves as the EDB's executive arm for the development, implementation and promotion of the QF.

QF Level

Under the QF, each qualification is assigned to a level to indicate its hierarchical position in relation to others. The QF level of a
qualification is determined in accordance with a set of Generic Level Descriptors (GLD), which specify, in four domains, the outcome standards expected of each QF level from 1 to 7. The

four domains are:
(a) Knowledge and Intellectual Skills;
(b) Processes;
(c) Autonomy and Accountability; and
(d) Communication, Information and Communications Technology, and Numeracy.

To make the GLD more reader- and user-friendly, the EDB conducted a review in 2017 and developed a practical guide for the reference of employers, education and training providers, human resource managers and benchmarking organisations.

QF Credit

QF credit measures the amount of learning needed for a qualification. As a common currency under the QF, it gives
learners an idea of the amount of effort and time required to complete the learning process and attain the learning outcomes associated with a qualification.

QF credit is expressed in notional learning hour. Under the QF, one QF credit consists of 10 notional learning hours. It takes into account the total time likely to be spent by an average learner in all modes of learning, including classroom learning, tutorials, laboratory experiments, workshop practice, self-study in the library or at home, as well as assessments or examinations. Further information about the concept and principles of QF credit and a practical guide to credit assignment and assessment are available on the QF website. Please refer to the Operational Guidelines on Use of Credit.

Learning-hour-attendance-in-classes-on-line-learning-examination-self-study-practical-learning

QF Award Titles

To enhance transparency and reflect the QF levels of qualifications, the Award Titles Scheme is introduced to regulate
the use of titles for qualifications recognised under the QF. Award titles enable the differentiation between programmes and qualifications by indicating their corresponding QF levels and credit sizes, as shown in the diagram below.

QF-LEVEL-CHOICE-OF-AWARD-TITLES-FOR-DIFFERENT-LEVELS

Credit Accumulation and Transfer

To further assist learners in mapping out progression pathways, the EDB actively encourages education and training providers to develop their own Credit Accumulation and Transfer systems. A booklet titled “Policy, Principles and Operational Guidelines for Credit Accumulation and Transfer” has been published for the reference of interested parties.

Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) and International Cooperation [Recognition of HKQF]

European Countries: The HKQF has established connections with the qualifications frameworks of several European countries, including Ireland, Scotland, and New Zealand. These collaborations aim to promote mutual recognition and alignment of qualifications, providing more international opportunities for learners in Hong Kong.

Australia, South Korea, and Singapore: In 2019, the HKQF deepened its cooperation with these countries, particularly forming a joint working group with Singapore to explore how to align the qualification levels of both regions, further promoting mutual recognition of qualifications.

Qualifications Framework Secretariat and HKCAVVQ: Quality assurance mechanisms are the cornerstone of the qualifications framework. QF and QA are advancing towards internationalization together.

Guangdong Province: The HKQF serves as a reference framework to assist Guangdong Province in establishing its local qualification levels. This demonstrates the potential for cooperation between Hong Kong and mainland China in terms of qualification recognition, especially regarding talent mobility in the Greater Bay Area.

Update: 11JAN2025