1. Effective Staff Training to Make a Success
Mr. Patrick Pang, General Manager
Qualifications Framework Secretariat

2. Outline of Presentation
Why is QF of Value to the Watch & Clock (W&C) industry in Hong Kong?
What have been done so far in the context of QF implementation in the W&C industry?
How can the W&C industry can ride on QF to enhance its professionalism?
Where is the Way Forward?

3. Why is QF of Value to
the Watch & Clock
industry in Hong Kong?

4. Current situation of the Watch and Clock industry in Hong Kong
Global perspectives
Global economic downturn
European liquidity crisis
Local situation
Introduction of Individual Visit Scheme attracted 42 million Mainland tourists to Hong Kong in 2011; and
Hong Kong reached a record high of HKD 68.9 billion worth of watch and clock exports in 2011.

5. Current situation of the Watch and Clock industry in Hong Kong
Issues to be tackled:
Exploring emerging markets;
Development of new technologies; and
Quality manpower : efficient and effective staff training
is critical
Quality
workforce

6. Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF)
Provide a platform to promote and facilitate manpower development and upgrading through life long learning;
HKQF is established by HKSAR Government and formally launched in May 2008;
Qualifications Framework Secretariat (QFS) is the executive arm of the Education Bureau to implement HKQF.
Enhancing the competitiveness of the workforce

7. Objective Benchmark– QF Levels
HKQF is a 7-level hierarchy which covers qualifications from academic, vocational and continuing education sectors;
QF levels are measured against the Generic Level Descriptors (GLD) under HKQF;
QF levels define the relative complexity and depth of learning outcomes required of qualifications and their associated training programmes;
QF-recognised qualifications are quality assured

8. QF Levels QF level Level 7 Level 6 Level 5 Level 4 Level 3 Level 2
Academic
Doctoral Degree
Master Degree
Bachelor Degree
Associate Degree, Higher Diploma
S6, HKDSE, Diploma, (HKALE)
S5, Certificate ( S5, HKCEE)
S3, Certificate
Vocational & Continuing Education
QF level
Level 7
Level 6
Level 5
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
On-going
development
under HKQF
A 7-level hierarchy of qualifications, underpinned by a robust quality assurance (QA) mechanism
A platform to promote lifelong learning and facilitate articulation among academic, vocational and continuing education sectors
Underpinned by Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance (Cap.592) and formally launched in 2008

9. Legal Backing for QF
A new piece of legislation to underpin QF development : Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance, Cap 592 has been fully operational w.e.f. 5 May 2008;
The Ordinance empowers the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) as the Accreditation Authority and the Qualifications Register (QR) Authority;
All learning programmes have to be accredited by the HKCAAVQ before they can be registered in the QR and become QF recognised (except those offered by self-accrediting institutions e.g. those UGC-funded Universities).

10. Value-addedness of QF Quality
Primary Objectives : to foster Life Long Learning (LLL)
through articulated and quality-assured multiple learning pathways; and in particular, the VET sector can leverage on QF to enhance its development and provision in terms of : -
Quality
Transparency
Transferability
Articulation
Recognition
Transnationalisation

11. What have been done?

12. QF for the Industries HKQF is Industry-led
Education Bureau (EDB) implements QF for the vocational sector on industry basis;
It assists industries to establish Industry Training Advisory Committees (ITACs);
ITACs comprise key representatives of employers, employees, trade associations, trade unions, professional bodies and relevant government bodies of the industries;
So far, 18 industries, covering about 45% of total labour force, have set up ITACs; and
HKQF is
Industry-led

13. 18 ITACs ITACs includes employers, employees,
Watch and
Clock
Printing & Publishing
Chinese Catering
Property Management
Hairdressing
Electrical &
Mechanical
Services
Beauty
ITACs includes
employers, employees,
trade associations, workers’ unions,
professional/regulatory bodies
Automotive
Import & Export
Logistics
Testing,
Inspection & Certification
Banking
Jewellery
Elderly Care Service
Retail
Manufacturing Technology (Tooling, Metals & Plastics)
Information & Communications
Technology
Insurance 13

14. Terms of Reference for ITACs
The ITAC is primarily tasked :
to draw up Specification of Competency Standards (SCSs), which represents the competency requirements and outcome standards at various levels under different functional areas of an industry;
To develop the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism for the industry; and
To promote QF to various stakeholders of the industry.

15. Watch & Clock ITAC
Watch & Clock ITAC was established in 2004, comprising 20 members;
Majority of the members come from the supporting organizations below:
The Federation of HK Watch Trades & Industries Limited
HK Watch Manufacturers Association Limited
HK Department Stores & Commercial Staff General Union
HK & Kowloon Clock & Watch Trade Workers Union

16. How to ride on QF?

17. e.g. SCS-based courses, in-house training
Adoption of SCS
Major uses of SCS
Human
Resources
Development
& Management
e.g. in-house training,
job specifications,
recruitment
Vocational Education
& Training
e.g. SCS-based courses, in-house training
Basis for
Benchmarking
e.g. Recognition of Prior Learning, benchmarking initiated by professional bodies

18. SCS-based Courses
Education and Training providers are encouraged to develop SCS-based Courses;
Employers are also encouraged to develop SCS-based in-house training;
Government subsidies in programme accreditation and SCS-based course development (QF Subsidy Scheme).

19. Multiple Progression Pathways
We work closely with industries in developing progression pathways for various job roles and positions;
Education and training providers can make use of the information to produce training programmes relevant to the needs of the industries; and
They also provide informed choices to young people for learning articulation and career development.
QA Manager/Engineer
Assistant QA
Engineer
Quality Assurance
Technician

20. Recognition of Prior Learning
(RPL) Mechanism
RPL mechanism gives formal recognition to the knowledge, skill and experience previously acquired by practitioners in the workplace;
Experienced industry practitioners do not need to start from the scratch when they pursue further training;
RPL mechanism has been launched for 7 industries;
Watch and Clock industry is one of the first 3 industries which pilot-run RPL in 2008.
Recognition

21. Benefits to Employers Employers can make use of the QF to:
Design effective job descriptions and specifications for different job roles;
Help to recruit right person for the job;
Create a workforce development plan for your organisation;
Have your internal in-house training recognised; and
Assign the right person to the right job or task.

22. Benefits to Employees
With a clear learning and progression pathway, employees are more inclined to improve their skills and knowledge;
With the QF platform, employees can map out their own learning and career development plans; and
Through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism, experienced employees are given more opportunities to receive further education and training.

23. where is the way forward?

24. What are upcoming? Infrastructure
More ITACs and more Specification of Competency Standards (SCS)
Extension of RPL to more industries
Mapping out of Learning & Progression Pathways
Projects on QF Credit and Award Titles
Application
Promoting application SCS/SGC in learning programmes
Adoption of SCS/SGC in HR functions
Promotion of QF, QR and QFSS
Promotion of Recognition
Collaboration with overseas QF authorities (e.g. EQF, SCQF, AQF)*
Interface with the occupational qualifications system of the Mainland
(e.g. GD-OSTA)
______________________________________________________________
*EQF: European Qualifications Framework
SCQF : Scottish Credits and Qualifications Framework
AQF : Australian Qualifications Framework
GD-OSTA : Guangdong Occupational Skills Testing Authority

25. QF – International Perspective
There are over 130 countries which have developed or are developing its QF or qualifications systems;
Developed countries, such as the UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand have implemented QF for some 20 years. They have similar objective of promoting life-long learning;
The establishment of the QF facilitates workforce mobility and flexibility;
For employers, QF will make it easier to interpret qualifications of different regions/countries; and
As a leading country for the Watch and Clock Trade in
the world, Switzerland is also establishing its own QF.

26. QF – International Perspective
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework - Video Case Studies - Microsoft

27. QF – International Perspective
HKQF established solid relationships with overseas QF authorities and conducted a feasibility study on referencing HKQF with European Qualifications Framework (EQF);
A MOU with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQFP) was signed in March 2012; and
A Letter of Intent with Guangdong Occupational Skill Testing Authority (OSTA) was signed in 2010 to explore the flexibility of benchmarking competency standards between HK and Mainland China.

28. EFFECTIVE Staff Training
to make a sUCCESS
Human capital is the single most precious resource of Hong Kong and hence continuous skills enhancement and upgrading of the workforce is crucial;
Keep up with changes to face the fierce competition;
Qualifications Framework (QF) is a platform to assist the society to build up a workforce that meets the ever-changing world through continuous education and training of manpower.

29. THANK YOU