Quality-assured qualifications: Secretary for Education Michael Suen (second right) officiates at the framework launch ceremony.

The Qualifications Framework and the related legislation will be launched on May 5 to systematically categorise qualifications obtainable from education, vocational training and continuing education sectors, Secretary for Education Michael Suen says.

Speaking at the launch ceremony today, Mr Suen said only locally accredited qualifications which are quality-assured can be recognised by the framework.

With the implementation of the framework, people can search for courses of different study areas on the Qualifications Register website to select the appropriate study courses for them. Only quality-assured qualifications listed in the register are recognised by the framework.

Continuing education fund

Improvement measures to enhance the operation of the Continuing Education Fund will also be implemented, to dovetail with the framework's launch.

All new CEF courses must undergo a formal accreditation exercise conducted by the Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications and be registered under the register before their registration under the fund.

New courses falling outside the fund's eight specified domains may also be considered for registration under the fund upon the launch of the register. They would have to be designed in accordance with the Specifications of Competency Standards drawn up by the respective Industry Training Advisory Committees.

The eight specified domains are business services, financial services, logistics, tourism, creative industry, design, language, and interpersonal and intrapersonal skills for the workplace.

Publicity drive

A television programme on the framework will be broadcast on ATV-Home from May 5 to 17. The first roving exhibition on the topic will be held at Olympic City 2 from April 26 to 30. The roving exhibitions will be staged at seven MTR stations in the following two months.

For more details, click here.