Since the launch of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) in 2008, over 200 operators have been accredited and offering nearly 8,000 QF-recognised qualifications. Except for the self-accrediting institutions stipulated in the ordinance underpinning the HKQF, the Hong Kong Council for Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) is the accreditation authority to safeguard the quality of the qualifications on the Hong Kong Qualifications Register (HKQR). HKCAAVQ performs this function with the Four-stage Quality Assurance Process which is designed to progressively test the maturity and effectiveness of operators. By using information accumulated from accreditation and operation of QF-recognised programmes, maturity of operators in accreditation is assessed. To recognise the maturity, a form of differentiation in accreditation has been made available upon request of the operators since 2015. Following the implementation of the Quality Management System (QMS), an IT infrastructure capturing key information from accreditation exercises, in 2016, HKCAAVQ is moving towards a more data-driven process in determining appropriate approaches in accreditation basing on the track records of the operators in QMS. This paper discusses the analyses of data captured in QMS to support the assessment of operators’ maturity for implementation of the differentiated approaches.

Author Profile(s)
Ms Anne Lau is currently a Registrar in HKCAAVQ, and is involved in various projects including accreditation, training and research. Ms Anne Lau has been working in the education and training sector in Hong Kong for more than 20 years. Lately, Ms Anne Lau is devoted to the promotion of outcome-based programme design and enhancement of internal quality assurance to the sector through various training activities of HKCAAVQ.