HKU SPACE welcomes the Report on the third institutional Quality Audit of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) by the Quality Assurance Council (QAC) of the University Grants Committee (UGC), which was released on 17 September 2024. The Audit Visit was conducted in December 2023 and covered all HKU programmes at various levels including those programmes and courses offered by HKU SPACE and awarded within the HKU System. The Audit Panel commends HKU SPACE for its unwavering commitment to excellence in teaching and learning (T&L), and the School was pleased to have received numerous positive commendations and affirmations of its efforts.

The Report highlighted the School’s robust and systematic processes for programme development, approval, monitoring and review. The Panel noted that HKU SPACE has its own comprehensive Quality Assurance and Enhancement (QAE) Manual with oversight and approval provided by the University’s governance framework, ensuring clear lines of responsibility and oversight within both the University and HKU SPACE. Of particular note is the Audit Panel's recognition of the clear academic governance frameworks at the University and HKU SPACE, emphasising the clarity in levels of authority, accountability and responsibility across the institutions. The Panel also acknowledged the School’s adoption of an outcomes-based learning approach with intended learning outcomes in curriculum design leading to consistency in programme design and supporting student learning.

The Audit Panel recognised that effective systems are in place for managing academic standards and the quality, which are comprehensively described in the School’s QAE Manual. The Panel learned that HKU SPACE has adopted the University’s Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Strategy for its full-time sub-degree students. Additionally, the robust regulatory processes of HKU and HKU SPACE, including external examining systems, academic regulations and assessment processes, were recognised. 

The Audit Panel also complimented the School’s Maisy Ho Centre for Teaching and Learning and eLearning unit on providing assessment enhancement support for the School which is committed to outcomes-based T&L. 

Furthermore, the Audit Panel acknowledged the effectiveness of the student support provided by the School. The Panel noted that HKU SPACE uses surveys to monitor student satisfaction with the level of support they receive and has identified student support as a priority by introducing student relationship management as a key performance indicator. The Panel also noted that HKU SPACE has established Career SPACE, a one-stop online career platform for HKU SPACE students and alumni to support their career and professional development.

The School is appreciative of the Audit Panel’s acknowledgment that the University and HKU SPACE make systematic and constructive use of benchmarks in quality assurance (QA) and quality enhancement (QE) processes. At HKU SPACE, data collection and analysis are integral to HKU SPACE’s management of QA and QE, and the Audit Panel recognised that the establishment of a Quality Analytics Team has led to the development of a more efficient student survey platform and reporting system.

Professor William K.M. Lee, Director of HKU SPACE, said, “Our recognition by the QAC is a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality education and support to our students. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the teaching and administrative staff for their hard work and unwavering commitment. The positive comments in the report are very encouraging and affirm our academic excellence. As we move forward, we aspire to continuously enhance our teaching and learning practices, ensuring we meet the evolving needs of our community and uphold the highest academic standards. Together, we will strive to create a more enriching and supportive environment for all our students.”