On 1 October 2007 the HKCAAVQ Ordinance (Cap 1150), which established the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications as a statutory body, came into effect. The new Council was formally established on the same date. The following are appointed as members of the Council for the period 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2009.

Inaugural Ceremony

Group Photo of Council Members in January 2008 Back row from left: Professor Chan Tsang Sing; Mr Kevin A Power, AM; Dr Achim Hopbach; Professor Gordon Stanley; Professor John Lee Chi Kin, JP; Mr Michael Wong Wai Lun, JP (Deputy Secretary for Education) Mid row from left: Mr Charles Lo Chi Hong, MH; The Honourable Kwong Chi Kin; Ms Winnie Cheung Chi Woon; Mrs Agnes Mak Tang Pik Yee, MH, JP; Professor Edmond Ko; JP; Ir Roger Lai Sze Hoi, SBS, JP; Dr David B Wolf Front row from left: Mr Peter P T Cheung; Mr Raymond Tang Chiu Ping; Dr York Liao, SBS, JP (Chairman); Mr Michael M Y Suen, GBS, JP (Secretary for Education); Dr Herbert Hui Ho Ming, JP (Vice-Chairman); Dr Chan Wai Kwan, JP

Group Photo of Council Members in July 2008 Back row from left: Mr Charles Lo Chi Hong, MH; Professor Gordon Stanley; Dr Achim Hopbach; Professor David Dunkerley; Professor John Lee Chi Kin, JP; *Mr Anthony Chan Tung Shan (Project Coordinator (Further Education), Education Bureau) Mid row from left: Dr David B WOLF; Mrs Agnes MAK TANG Pik Yee, MH, JP; Ir Roger LAI Sze Hoi, SBS, JP; Professor CHAN Tsang Sing; Professor Edmond KO; Mr Kevin A Power, AM Front row from left: Professor FAN Yiu Kwan, BBS, JP; Mr Martin LIAO Cheung Kong, JP; Dr York LIAO, SBS, JP (Chairman); Dr Herbert HUI Ho Ming, JP (Vice-Chairman); Dr Chan Wai Kwan, JP; **Mr. Daniel Cheng Chung Wai (Principal Assistant Secretary, Education Bureau) * Attending the Council Meeting in July 2008 ** Representing the Permanent Secretary for Education

An increase in the number of Council members taken broadly from the education and training sectors as well as industry, reflects the HKCAAVQ's expanded role and its growing links to the vocational education sector and the relevant industries and associated bodies. Furthermore the Permanent Secretary for Education is an Ex-officio member of the Council, reflecting the necessary link with the Education Bureau as an effect of the Council's legal role as Accreditation Authority and QR Authority. Last, but not least the five non-local members emphasise that the Council works not only in the local context but in a global environment where close ties to sister organisations are important for international inspiration, alignment, and benchmarking.

The new HKCAAVQ Ordinance has introduced a review mechanism for those organisations or individuals who may see a need to challenge decisions made by the HKCAAVQ related to the services. The review mechanism is in addition to the appeals mechanism provided for in the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance. Upon receipt of a review application, the HKCAAVQ will set up an independent review committee to conduct the review. The review committee will make recommendations to the Council which makes the final decision on the application. This new review mechanism thus operates as both an additional service for applicants as well as an ongoing self-assessment tool for the Council's work.

Pursuant to the Ordinance the HKCAAVQ can conduct services for clients outside Hong Kong subject to the approval of the Secretary for Education. This would allow the Council to play a greater role in assisting other jurisdictions within the region to develop their quality assurance mechanisms through the sharing of good practices and experiences.

In response to greater demands for transparency by the public, the Ordinance grants the Council discretion to authorise the publication and distribution of materials, including accreditation reports. This increase in transparency is beneficial to the public and also serves to increase the overall quality of those programmes accredited by the HKCAAVQ.

Secretariat

The past year has seen organisational changes to the Secretariat. To prepare for the launch of the Qualifications Framework (QF) in May 2008, a period which required project work to underpin the new responsibilities, the Secretariat was organised in such a way that staff could flexibly assume different types of responsibilities. The arrangement was not only beneficial for the developmental work of the Council but it also resulted in staff learning more about the broad nature of the Council's work.

With the official launch of the QF, however, this arrangement was replaced by an organisational structure based on functional teams. Under the new structure, three operational divisions – the Division of Academic Accreditation, the Division of Vocational Accreditation and the Division of Assessment – were created. Each division is responsible for carrying out its particular core functions within the Secretariat. With regard to policy development and research, the QF & QR Unit and the Unit of Research, Development and Training were formed. Two supporting offices – namely the Office of Corporate Communications and the Office of Corporate Services – were created to support the Secretariat. This new arrangement allows the Secretariat staff to focus on the tasks in a particular function, which will allow them to build up expertise in areas of specialisation with the possibility to move to and from different areas over time.

Council Members and Secretariat Staff at Inaugural Ceremony

Provide staff training and development