Government extends and enhances Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism
The Government announced today (November 1) the enhanced measures of the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism to enhance the support for students with suicidal risk. The Mechanism will be extended to December 31, 2025.
A Government spokesperson said, "Through interdepartmental collaboration of the Education Bureau (EDB), the Health Bureau and the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Government has implemented the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism in all secondary schools since December last year for early identification of and support for students with higher suicidal risk. After reviewing relevant circumstances and gauging the views of the sector, the Government announced to extend and enhance the Mechanism in "The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address" to reinforce support for the mental health of children and adolescents."
The major enhanced measures of the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism are as follows:
*First-tier mechanism: The Government will strengthen the training for school personnel and parent education to enhance their capability in identifying and supporting students with higher suicidal risk;
*Second-tier mechanism: Support services will cover new and existing cases of students with higher suicidal risk in all publicly funded secondary schools. Schools can contact the "off-campus support network" team in their district directly. The team will match and refer the students or their families to other community support services as needed, and strengthen communication with the schools' multidisciplinary teams to ensure continuous support for the cases; and
*Third-tier mechanism: The Government will provide clear guidelines for schools to clarify the criteria for considering cases that are suitable for referral to the psychiatric specialist services of the Hospital Authority, so that the needs of different students can be catered for in a more precise way. Students who are considered to be in stable condition after triage and screening may also receive first-tier in-school support and services from the second-tier "off-campus support network" arranged by their schools while waiting for psychiatric services.
The spokesperson said, "Responsible personnel at each tier will maintain close communication with school personnel and parents to enhance collaboration among the tiers for building a stronger safety net for students."
To strengthen school personnel's knowledge and skills of promoting students' mental health, the EDB will organise a number of thematic training courses this school year, provide lesson plans and short videos on students' mental health, and continue collaboration with the SWD to arrange non-governmental organisations to visit secondary schools in need to organise mental health activities and introduce different counselling methods, handling skills and intervention strategies.
To assist parents to further acquire the methods of fostering children's healthy development and protecting children's mental health, the EDB will regularly organise thematic parent education workshops and seminars. It will also hold the Positive Parent Education Film Gala Presentations this month and in December to promote the importance of positive parenting.
The EDB has issued a circular letter to inform all secondary schools of the above arrangements and measures. The Government will continue to strengthen interdepartmental collaboration, building an effective support network for students and fostering an accepting and caring culture in the community, to help students embrace the challenges of personal growth.
EDB announces Saint Francis University becomes university of applied sciences
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (November 1) announced that Saint Francis University (SFU), having successfully gone through a stringent institutional review by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) and fulfilled all relevant criteria as confirmed by the EDB, has become a university of applied sciences (UAS).
An EDB spokesman said, "The Government actively promotes the development of UASs to enhance the status of vocational and professional education and training (VPET) at the degree level and provide an alternative pathway to success for young people. The EDB is pleased that SFU has demonstrated its vision, commitment, capabilities and experience in providing high-level VPET programmes in close collaboration with relevant industries, and has successfully gone through the stringent review by the HKCAAVQ and met all of the relevant criteria, becoming the second UAS in Hong Kong."
In assessing SFU's application for becoming a UAS, the Government has taken into account relevant factors, including the outcome of the institutional review for UAS by the HKCAAVQ, and SFU's experience in operating applied degree programmes and other VPET programmes. The institutional review by the HKCAAVQ focuses on the commitment and competence of SFU to operate as a UAS at both institutional and programme levels, based on three domains, namely governance, management and quality assurance; learning environment and learner support; and industry collaboration and recognition.
SFU was founded as the Caritas Francis Hsu College. It began offering degree programmes and changed its name to the Caritas Institute of Higher Education in 2011, and was conferred a university title and was approved to change its name to SFU in January 2024. In the 2024/25 academic year, SFU offers two master's degree programmes, 13 bachelor's degree programmes (including two applied degree programmes) and four higher diploma programmes, with about 3800 full-time and 800 part-time students in total.
Similar to the Hong Kong Metropolitan University, the first UAS in Hong Kong, SFU is subject to ongoing reviews by the HKCAAVQ to ensure further development of its maturity and competency as a UAS. It is also required to submit annual progress reports to the EDB.
To bolster the UAS development, as announced in "The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address", the Government has allocated a start-up fund of $100 million to support UASs and aspiring institutions to establish a UAS alliance this year to embark on joint promotion with the industries and stakeholders, including organising international conferences, strengthening collaboration with applied sciences institutions from other places and initiating collaboration and research on applied education at the post-secondary level. Priority will be accorded to eligible programmes of a UAS for inclusion under the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors and eligible applications from UASs when considering applications for relevant support measures, including the EDB's Quality Enhancement Support Scheme and Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education.
Self-financing post-secondary institutions planning to apply for becoming a UAS should have a university title and possess the vision, commitment, capabilities and experience in operating an institution that embodies the key features of a UAS, including:
(a) the vision, maturity and capability in providing high-level VPET programmes ranging from Levels 5 to 7 under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework, blending theory and practice with substantial workplace learning and assessment, having flexibilities in curriculum design, admission and delivery mode, and having recognition and support from industries and professions; and
(b) the experience in providing (an) applied degree programme(s) in at least one area of applied sciences for which it has attained the programme area accreditation or self-accrediting status, and the commitment to developing and providing more applied degree programmes.
The relevant criteria and application procedures are set out in the Manual for Institutional Review for UAS on the HKCAAVQ website (www.hkcaavq.edu.hk/en/accreditation/institutional_review/). Applications are accepted all year round. Eligible institutions may apply for combining the institutional review for becoming a private university and that for a UAS, subject to the EDB's approval.
