HKCAAVQ Consultation Session – Generic Level Descriptors (GLD) and the Practical Tools

The Consultation Session entitled “Review of the Generic Level Descriptors (GLD) and the draft Practical Tools under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework commissioned by the Education Bureau” was organized by Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) on 5^th Sep 2017.  The review of GLD and the PTs had completed and the session aimed to share the result as well as starting the final consultation in one month period. 

In the beginning, Ms. Elaine Mak (Principal Assistant Secretary (Further Education), Education Bureau) gave opening remarks.  She introduced some background information about SCS of 22 industries under HKQF, Generic Level Descriptors and Guidelines draft.  The consultation period was from 5^th Sep 2017 to 4^th Oct 2017.

Then Ms. Susanna Lee (co-Principal Investigator and Project Manager, HKCAAVQ) briefed the “Presentation on the refined GLD”.  Firstly, she mentioned the scope of project included “To revise GLD” and “To develop practical tools”.  She reviewed the history that HKQF operated for 10 years with about 8000 qualifications on the QR and performed a comparability study of HKQF with EQF.

Then she stated the project team included project supervisor, co-Principal Investigators and project officers; totally had 7 people.  Focus group studies were performed with different participants and showed as follow table.

Five types of key findings were identified and discussed. 

1.      GLD effectiveness

2.      Provide GLD explanatory notes

3.      Practical Guide for Operators

4.      Practical Guide for Standard Setters and Evaluators

5.      Reference for Employers

Applications

-          Competency-based job specification

-          Recruitment

-          Performance appraisal

-          In-house training

After that Ms. Lee said the modification of GLD in which 7 levels and 4 domains were not changed but relocated some session to make it more logic and reduce confusion.  New elements for Autonomy and Accountability were added from Level 5 to Level 7 on dealing with ethical issues.  Levels 1 to 4 were working interactively with others to achieve common goals and contribute to group performance.  

Finally, Mr. Lee discussed the GLD Explanatory Notes as follows.

1.      Background: GLD and other key features of HKQF

2.      Intended application

3.      Conceptual framework and guiding principles

4.      Key features of QF levels and domains

5.      Progression of Knowledge and Progression of Problem Solving

Q&A Session

Mr. Sam Ho (Project Officer, HKCAAVQ) was next speaker and he introduced the draft Practical Tools.  The Guiding Principles for Developing Practical Tools had posted into the HKQF website.  

Mr. Ho briefed the Practical Guide for Employers, for Operators and for Standard Setters and Evaluators with different requirement.  For employers, they needed to be simple for use. Therefore, some diagram presentation of the levels and competence in different industries were used.  For operators, constructive alignment for outcome-based programmes was considered with practical examples.  For standard setters and evaluators, determination mechanism of QF level of a qualification should be employed.

Sharing by User Group Representatives

(Left: Ms. Angie Chow (A.S. Watson (HK)), Dr. Dennis Law (Caritas Institute of Higher Education), Mr. Raymond Wan (Construction Industry Council), and Dr. Julianne Wong (Project Officer, HKCAAVQ))

Ms. Angie Chow said HR considered Skill, Knowledge and Attitude.  They considered staff problem solving ability.  However, promotion was not necessary based on competence but also attitude and communication skill. 

Dr. Dennis Law said that it was different to design a degree course (4 years) based on GLD because of more than 40 subjects in each degree course.  They needed to prepare many matching tables.  

Mr. Raymond Wan said GLD, Explanatory Notes and Practical Guide should be used together.  They were complementary.  He prepared three slides to us. The first one explained the similar structure between Learning Programme and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to determining the QF level.

The second slide showed the relationship among SCS, Skill sets, GLD level 1/2/3 and Learning Outcomes, as well as, Profile of Home Carers (as example).   

The last slide was traditional requirements among knowledge, skill and attitude for assessment to attaining claimed QF level.  

At the end, Ms. Dorte Kristoffersen (Executive Director, HKCAAVQ) gave closing remarks.  She thanked all participants for this review and revised works and reminded us to give future opinions within one month final consultation period.  

Reference:

Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) - http://www.hkqf.gov.hk/guie/home.asp

HKCAAVQ - http://www.hkcaavq.edu.hk/

20160106: HKCAAVQ 25th Anniversary Seminar – Meeting Industry Training Needs – The New Zealand Experience - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/01/hkcaavq-25th-anniversary-seminar_6.html

20150804: The 1st Focus Group Meeting on Evaluating Impact of HKQF - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2015/08/the-1st-focus-group-meeting-on.html

20150302: Focus Group Meeting for alignment of HKQF & EQF - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2015/03/focus-group-meeting-for-alignment-of.html