The training courses of the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) are conducted by appointed Training Bodies listed in Schedule 2 of the Employees Retraining Ordinance. Appointed Training Bodies are well experienced in vocational training or adult education, and possess employers' network to support trainees in seeking employment and career development. Currently, there are around 700 courses being offered through a network of around 80 Training Bodies at around 370 centres across the territory. Training Bodies also provide placement follow-up services for graduate trainees of the placement-tied courses. In response to the launch of “Qualifications Register” in 2008, designated ERB courses have been accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) and uploaded onto the “Qualifications Register”. To ensure that new Training Bodies possess the abilities to provide quality training and meet the quality assurance requirements under the “Qualifications Framework”, ERB requires all organisations interested to become appointed Training Bodies to go through the “Initial Evaluation” process conducted by the HKCAAVQ prior to the submission of applications to ERB (Please contact HKCAAVQ for the details of the applications for “Initial Evaluation”). Organisations are required to supply a copy of the “Summary Statement of Accreditation Approval” indicating that they have passed the “Initial Evaluation” when submitting their applications to become ERB's appointed Training Bodies.
Applications for becoming appointed Training Bodies will be vetted by the Quality Assurance and Review Committee of ERB according to the prescribed criteria. Applicants may at the same time submit new course proposals which will duly be vetted by the Course Development and Vetting Committee if their applications to become Training Bodies are successful. After the applications are approved by the Quality Assurance and Review Committee, the applications will be submitted to the Board for endorsement. Once the applications have been endorsed, the Executive Office will initiate the preparation work for amending Schedule 2 of the Employees Retraining Ordinance. Organisations can only commence the offering of ERB courses after the completion of the legal procedures and signing of the Service Agreements.
Training Bodies are partners of ERB. Through the signing of a Service Agreement, the Training Bodies will acquire an understanding of ERB's expectation, requirements, mutual responsibilities, and various guidelines, etc. The first Service Agreement period of newly appointed Training Bodies generally last for 2 years. During the period of Service Agreement, appointed Training Bodies will be invited to participate in the tendering exercise of training places allocation. ERB will review the performance of Training Bodies regularly to ensure its quality. When the Service Agreements of Training Bodies are about to expire, ERB will review the performance of Training Bodies in terms of various key performance indicators, as well as their governance and financial status, etc, in order to determine whether or not to renew the Service Agreement, the renewal period and the need for inclusion of restrictive clauses, etc. If the performance of any Training Body is found to be unsatisfactory and without improvements, ERB reserves the right to suspend or to terminate the provision of funding to them.
1. Pass the Initial Evaluation conducted by HKCAAVQ.
2. Background of Establishment, Objectives, Governance, Training Strategy and Development, and Financial Status
3. Experience in Adult / Youth Education and Vocational Training
4. Employers' Network and Experience in Placement Services
5. Contribution to the Development of ERB
6. Other Relevant Factors for Consideration
Remark:
The criteria set out above are not exclusive. They only serve as references for the Quality Assurance and Review Committee in vetting the applications from organisations interested to become appointed ERB Training Bodies. ERB may request for further information from the organisations to support the application and may amend the above criteria from time to time in the light of the development of ERB and comments by the Quality Assurance and Review Committee.
Organisations interested in submitting application could review the following Application Guidelines and complete the application form (documents available in Chinese) :
For any enquiries, please contact the Quality Assurance Division at (852) 3129 1494.
