HKU SPACE is pleased to announce that it has undergone an International Quality Review (IQR) against the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) in October 2021. The School was delighted to learn that it has fulfilled all 10 ESG criteria, and is commended by the panel that “HKU SPACE presents a well-articulated and compelling Vision, Mission and Values Statement (VMV)” and “its societal relevance cannot be underestimated and has to be highly commended”. Also, “the Panel commends the School for being an inclusive educational institution with fair and transparent admission criteria, striving to provide multiple qualification channels to students from various educational backgrounds”.

Following the UGC review report on the University of Hong Kong’s sub-degree programmes published in 2019, HKU SPACE was encouraged to engage in more systematic international benchmarking in order to support its aspiration to be a world class centre for professional and continuing education and lifelong learning. As part of its response, the School decided to undergo an International Quality Review (IQR). The Expert Panel endorsed an Assessment Framework which was derived broadly from the ESG and fitted the purpose of HKU SPACE. The IQR was supported by a German Agency, the Accreditation Agency for Study Programmes in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics (ASIIN).

The review meetings were conducted between 11 and 15 October 2021. The Panel met over 90 people, including the HKU SPACE Board of Directors, University colleagues, School staff, part-time teachers, students, graduates, employers, professional bodies and external examiners.

Professor William K.M. Lee, the Director of HKU SPACE, said, “I am very happy with the positive report which demonstrates our quality assurance receiving global recognition. The Panel was impressed with our work and our commitment to professional and continuing education and lifelong learning. Our vision, mission and strategic direction are sound; and these are supported by an equally sound governance structure; committed leadership and a well established and proven quality assurance system.”

Professor Lee further stated that “I am proud to be a member of the School; and honoured to be working with such esteemed colleagues. The road ahead will be challenging; but I know, with such committed and professional colleagues, the School will overcome these and excel in our mission.”

The Panel concluded that the School has fulfilled the 10 ESG criteria of standards and guidelines for internal quality assurance. The 10 criteria include policy for quality assurance, design and approval of programmes, student-centred learning, teaching and assessment, student admission, progression, recognition and certification, teaching staff, learning resources and student support, information management, public information, on-going monitoring and periodic review of programmes and cyclical external quality assurance.

Finally the Panel concluded that HKU SPACE has a strong base to build on and promising potential of further developing into a World Class Centre of Excellence in Continuing Education, Lifelong Learning and Transnational Education, it has compiled its recommendations to assist the School in this endeavour.

The link to the report can be found  here.