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The Qualifications Framework (QF) promotes lifelong learning and enables individuals to draw up their own learning roadmaps by providing a flexible and diversified mode of study, the Acting Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said today (May 29).
Speaking at the QF Stakeholders Forum, Mr Yeung said, "The QF systematically categorises qualifications in the academic, vocational and continuing education sectors into a hierarchy of levels, with a view to establishing an accessible articulation pathway.
"In this year's Budget, the Financial Secretary has announced the allocation of $10 million per year to support Industry Training Advisory Committees (ITACs) in launching new initiatives to promote the QF. This will further enhance the knowledge and skills of workers in the industries and their competitiveness in the labour market.
"The Government will work with ITACs, education and training providers and quality assurance agencies to implement the initiatives."
Since the launch of the QF five years ago, 19 ITACs have been set up, covering about 46 per cent of the workforce in Hong Kong. Among them, 12 ITACs have drawn up at least one set of Specification of Competency Standards (SCSs), which set out the skills and competency standards required of employees in the respective industries.
The Recognition of Prior Learning mechanism has also been implemented in eight industries to enable employees to obtain formal recognition for the competencies acquired at the workplace so that they can determine their starting point for learning and reduce duplication in training for the same skills. In October 2012, the Education Bureau (EDB) introduced the Award Titles Scheme (ATS) and the use of credit to assist learners in choosing suitable learning programmes.
To mark the fifth anniversary of the QF, the QF Stakeholders Forum was co-organised by the EDB and the QF Secretariat to provide an opportunity for stakeholders from different sectors such as employers, employees, professional bodies, training providers and post-secondary institutions to meet together and tap into their collective wisdom in promoting the QF's further development.
Around 180 people attended the forum which featured three discussion sessions on the themes "Cross-sector Collaboration to Promote Progression Pathways", "Accessible Articulation Pathway to Obtain Recognised Qualifications" and "Recognition of Qualifications and International Alignment".
Ends/Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:42
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