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Quality Assurance Council releases Audit Report on the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
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The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

     The Quality Assurance Council (QAC) released the Audit Report on the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today (June 9).

     The Audit Report presents the findings on the quality of the student learning experience at PolyU. The findings confirm that PolyU has a strong culture of quality assurance, with robust and well-embedded quality assurance processes.

     The Chairman of the QAC, Mr Philip Chen said, "The QAC is appreciative of PolyU's clear sense of vision and mission, and strong commitment to a practice-oriented profile which aligns with its positioning. I am confident that the University will build on its strengths and make continuous improvements to achieve greater success."

     The QAC noted the positive features identified in the Audit Report, including the University's deep relationship with the industry; the integration of professional practice in the design of its curricula and the emphasis given to work-integrated education; its well-grounded conceptual approaches and strategy to implementing outcomes-based education; the use of the Annual Quality Assurance Reports as a basis for workforce planning and development; the synergistic relationship between the Library and the Office of Information Technology Service in extending the pedagogical options for curriculum delivery; its student-centred, integrated support services; and the effectiveness of staff development activities.

     In the light of the findings of the Audit Report, PolyU has given an Institutional Response, which is attached to the report. The University will submit a progress report within 18 months on its follow-up actions.

Background of the quality audit on PolyU

     The quality audit on PolyU was undertaken by an Audit Panel appointed by the QAC. The Audit Panel was chaired by Professor Jan Thomas and comprised Dr Richard Armour, Dr Skip Fletcher, Professor John Spinks, Dr Don Westerheijden and Mr Wong Kwan-yu. The Panel reviewed the Institutional Submission that was prepared by PolyU following a period of self-review. The panel visited PolyU from October 11 to 14, 2010, to meet with staff and students from across the University. It also met with a number of external stakeholders such as local employers and graduates of PolyU. The full report (including PolyU's Institutional Response) can be found at www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/qac/index.htm .

Background of the QAC and its quality audits

     The QAC was established in April 2007 as a semi-autonomous non-statutory body under the aegis of the University Grants Committee (UGC). The QAC aims to assist the UGC in assuring the quality of programmes (however funded) at first-degree level and above offered by UGC-funded institutions. The QAC fulfils this task primarily by undertaking periodic quality audits of the institutions.

     The purpose of the QAC's quality audit is to encourage quality improvement through institutional self-review and improvement in areas identified in the Audit Report. The QAC expects the institution to implement the audit recommendations unless there are good reasons not to do so. As such, the Audit Reports are written primarily for providing feedback and guidance to the concerned institutions. The feedback is presented as Commendations of good practices, Affirmations that recognise improvements the institution is already making, and Recommendations for improvement (CARs). The QAC defines quality in terms of "Fitness for Purpose", and its quality audits do not attempt to rank institutions by the number of CARs given. The CARs are to be read with the substance of Audit Reports, which will provide useful information on an institution's endeavours in enhancing the quality of its educational provision.


Ends/Thursday, June 9, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:31

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