Page 70 - FSTE A5 Handbook

Chapter Four
Credit Transfer Practices for
Senior Year Admission

Recommendations for Facilitation of GE Credit Transfer from Sub-degree to
Degree Sectors

To facilitate GE credit transfer from sub-degree to degree sectors, there must be a regular and
concerted effort between the eight UGC-funded universities and the AD/HD providers. Having
identified good practices, the Research Team recommends the establishment of a centralized
database as an open system accessible to all the various stakeholders.

Such a centralized cross-institution wide database will contain information on recognized
and transferable sub-degree GE courses criteria on granting credit transfer to sub-degree GE
courses and transparent process with clear guidelines/GE handbook/GE programme websites.
To facilitate decision-making, the public should have easy access to this database as well. To
summarize, the suggested components in the centralized database are as follows:
(1) GE curricula and provision of GE courses;
(2) GE credit recognition policy and guidelines;
(3) Record of the transferrable courses;
(4) Procedure for application for credit transfer; and
(5) Study simulation for users.

Summary

Over the past ten years, the eight UGC-funded universities have been developing a stronger
system in assessing the applications for GE credit transfer for AD/HD graduates, thus
facilitating the AD/HD graduates to continue their studies at their institutions. This Chapter has
highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration between the sub-degree sector and the
UGC counterpart as a success factor for smooth articulation for senior year entrants in terms of
recognising student’s learning in GE in their sub-degree studies. Various mechanisms on credit
transfer concerning “course” and “block” transfers were illustrated. Our recommendations
focus on transparency and clarity of communication between all the stakeholders and how the
facilitation of the system might be enhanced.

As UGC-funded places are limited for study transfer, sub-degree graduates in Hong Kong need
to consider pursuing further studies with self-financing institutions. To complete the credit
transfer practices between the sub-degree sector and the degree sector, it would also be
necessary to understand the credit transfer practices of self-financing institutions, which is
summarized in Appendix 2.

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