Page 51 - FSTE A5 Handbook

Common Descriptors for AD/HD Programmes

Common descriptors are used for curriculum design pitched at a relevant level of learning
outcomes, that is, Qualifications Framework (QF) level. AD and HD as stand-alone sub-degrees
are both pitched at QF level 4. Although both AD and HD prepare students for further studies
and initial employment, they have different proportions in terms of generic and specialized
content in their curricula. For AD, at least 60% of the curriculum should consist of generic
content while it is 60% specialized content for HD. There is thus more room for GE courses
in the curriculum of AD programmes compared with the curriculum of Higher Diploma
programmes (Education Bureau, 2017).

GE Components in the Community College Sector

Based on information provided by self-financing post-secondary institutions, the actual
student intakes of self-financing sub-degree programmes for the 2015/16 academic year
were 19,555. Four institutions had an intake number of over 1,500 in 2015/16 (Table 2) and
together they account for over half of the sub-degree intake in 2015/16.

Table 2: Actual intake of full-time accredited self-financing sub-degree programmes run by four
leading institutions in 2015/16
Institution Actual Intake
Community College of City University (CCCU) 3,299
Hong Kong Baptist University – College of International
Education (CIE) 1,677
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Hong Kong 3,713
Community College (HKCC)
The University of Hong Kong – HKU School of Professional and
Continuing Education Community College (HKU SPACE CC) 2,719
Source: Annex in LCQ11 Financial situation of self-financing post-secondary institutions, HKSAR
Government Press Release, 1 June 2016.

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