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SED's speech at Hong Kong Qualifications Framework Conference (English only)
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     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, at the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework Conference today (November 26):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. I am delighted to welcome you all to this Conference, especially those who have travelled all the way to Hong Kong from different parts of the world. The event today is organised by the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and we are privileged to have the European Commission as the supporting organisation of this Conference. The theme of this Conference, "Qualifications Across Boundaries: Perspectives of Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF)", rightly highlights the significance of enhancing transferability and collaboration among different QF systems, and, in this particular context, between the HKQF and the EQF.

     The Conference today provides a valuable opportunity for us to share best practices and practical experiences in the perspectives of developing national and regional QFs as well as alignment of QFs among different countries. It also marks a very important milestone in our move for internationalisation of the HKQF, and signifies the commencement of our collaboration with the European Commission on the technical alignment and synergy between the HKQF and the EQF. Apart from our local experts in the education sector, we are most delighted to have prominent speakers from the European Commission as well as different parts of the world including Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. I am very grateful for their participation and extend our warmest welcome to them.

     The Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government has all along thrived on the grooming of human talents.  We therefore launched the HKQF in May 2008, with the objective of providing an effective platform to support lifelong learning so as to sustain and elevate the capability and competitiveness of our workforce in the long run. Over the past years, we have concentrated our efforts on building up key infrastructure for the HKQF and its underpinning quality assurance mechanism, including, among others, the setting up of Industry Training Advisory Committees, the implementation of a Recognition of Prior Learning mechanism, the adoption of standardised award titles and QF credit. More recently, we have promulgated the policies and principles for credit accumulation and transfer.

     Recognising the importance of the HKQF in maintaining a quality workforce, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government announced in his 2014 Policy Address the establishment of a dedicated fund of $1 billion, namely the QF Fund, to provide a steady source of income to support the sustainable development and implementation of the HKQF. Looking ahead, the HKQF will play a pivotal role in facilitating seamless transition among education, training and employment. We shall continue working closely with our various stakeholders to strengthen and expand the HKQF.

     Ladies and gentlemen, implementing QF is an arduous task. We hope that through our collaboration with the European Commission, we can further enhance learners' mobility and articulation between the two regions. I am sure the Conference today will offer us insights into the process and accomplishments to come.

     In closing, may I wish all participants a fruitful and rewarding event, and all visitors a pleasant stay in Asia's world city. Thank you.

Ends/Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 09:54

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