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The Education Bureau today (October 20) launched a new round of applications for the Quality Enhancement Support Scheme (QESS) under the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund.
Building on the success of the Quality Enhancement Grant Scheme and as one of the major support measures of the Government in promoting the healthy and sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary sector, the QESS was launched in November 2012 with the aim of enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in the sector. The scheme supports two project categories, namely theme-based and open-ended projects. Theme-based projects should normally be joint initiatives developed by multiple institutions that foster closer collaboration among different institutions and benefit the sector as widely as possible.
In the 2013/14 round of applications, 11 projects were approved mainly covering those which aim to enhance students' language proficiency, the quality assurance of programmes, support services in career guidance and support for students with special educational needs.
To keep up with the latest development of the sector, the themes for the 2014/15 round of applications are:
(a) Joint institutions' platforms/initiatives for improving teaching methodology and learning environment for students with special educational needs or non-Chinese speaking students;
(b) Joint institutions' platforms/initiatives for facilitating closer alignment between the self-financing post-secondary education and industry sectors, as well as enhancing vocational education and employment support; and
(c) Joint institutions' platforms/initiatives for developing common systems which facilitate accessibility, synergy and enhancement of the sector (e.g. e-portfolio system for students, common curriculums and recognition/transfer of credits).
For open-ended projects, applicants may submit applications within the scope of the QESS which mainly include the following:
(a) improving the overall learning experience and language proficiency of students;
(b) developing and improving teaching methodology and practices, including development of assessment strategies;
(c) strengthening and improving quality assurance and related measures; and
(d) enhancing student support and career guidance services, including support for students with special educational needs or non-Chinese speaking students.
Applications are invited until February 27, 2015. Non-profit-making education institutions offering full-time locally accredited self-financing sub-degree or bachelor's degree (including top-up degree) programmes are eligible to apply. Other related bodies such as the federations of these education institutions and quality assurance agencies may also apply.
Further details about the QESS are available at the Concourse for Self-financing Post-secondary Education at www.cspe.edu.hk/content/Overview-Measures-Fund-QESS.
Ends/Monday, October 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:26
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