ASQA and Hong Kong VET regulator sign MoU
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) have today signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at further enhancing the quality of vocational education and training (VET) in each jurisdiction.
ASQA Chief Commissioner Chris Robinson said both Australia and Hong Kong recognised the value of VET and the need to ensure the training and assessment being offered were of high quality.
“This memorandum of understanding will establish a collaborative relationship to improve the quality of VET in Australia and Hong Kong by exchanging information and enhancing regulation and quality assurance in both jurisdictions,” Mr Robinson said.
“Both agencies will share information to inform risk assessments of applications by Australian-regulated registered training organisations (RTOs) and their partners that deliver VET provision in Hong Kong.
“ASQA will also share information about its regulatory and quality assurance actions and results relating to RTOs that deliver VET in Hong Kong.”
HKCAAVQ Executive Director Dorte Kristoffersen said the MoU also encouraged a collaborative approach to performing regulatory and quality assurance functions in Hong Kong.
“The MoU includes a commitment to explore the feasibility of both agencies cooperating in quality assurance and regulation of Hong Kong-Australian cooperative institutions or programs,” Ms Kristoffersen said.
“There is also the option of arranging hosting staff attachments to each other’s offices for professional developmental purposes as well as a commitment to share information on good practices in regulation and quality assurance of VET providers.”
The signing of the MoU today comes as ASQA prepares to undertake a series of audits of Australian VET providers in Hong Kong over the coming weeks. This would be ASQA’s second round of international audits. The first round – of providers operating in China – was undertaken in 2015.
Dorte Kristoffersen, Executive Director, HKCAAVQ, and Mark Paterson, Commissioner, Regulatory Operations, ASQA