​The Education Bureau today promulgated the updated Revised Common Descriptors for Associate Degree (AD) & Higher Diploma (HD) Programmes.

It also announced an increase in the quotas for institutions to admit applicants on special considerations to sub-degree and degree programmes that are subject to accreditation by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ).

The bureau concluded the review of and updated the common descriptors, which serve as the guidelines for the development and operation of AD and HD programmes, so as to more sharply reflect the respective positioning of these two types of programmes, thereby enabling society to have clearer and more realistic expectations of them.

The HD qualification is more specialised and serves as a main pillar in the Vocational & Professional Education & Training pathway to provide graduates for either immediate employment at the para-professional level or articulation to specialised degrees.

The AD qualification is more generic, with the primary purpose of providing appropriate opportunities for articulation to general degrees for graduates with suitable capabilities and aspirations.

The updated Common Descriptors will come into effect in the 2024-25 academic year.

Major updates to the common descriptors include the differentiation in the positioning of AD and HD. For AD programmes, institutions are required to publish more specific information about articulation.

For HD programmes, institutions are encouraged to be more inclusive to allow in-service and experienced applicants to be admitted through Recognition of Prior Learning and credit accumulation and transfer arrangements.

Additionally, to encourage post-secondary institutions to admit students from more diverse backgrounds, including those who demonstrate non-academic achievements, the quota levels for institutions to admit applicants on special considerations to sub-degree and degree programmes that are subject to accreditation by the HKCAAVQ will be adjusted upwards with effect from the 2023-24 academic year.

For local programmes, the quota levels will be adjusted from 5% of the total intake on a programme basis and 3% on an institutional basis to 15% and 10%.

For non-local programmes, the quota level will be adjusted from 5% of the total intake on a programme basis to 10%.