The Quality Assurance Council (QAC) is conducting the third cycle of quality audits on the eight UGC-funded universities in 2023 and 2024. All audit meetings will be conducted virtually, and those with HKU will take place on December 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 13, 2023 (from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.). Unlike the first two cycles where sub-degree provision was separately audited, the third audit cycle covers all programmes at the levels of sub-degree, first degree and above, including programmes offered outside Hong Kong, however funded, leading to a qualification wholly or partly awarded by UGC-funded universities. 

The focus of the third audit cycle is on quality enhancement and sector-wide improvement. Reflecting the increasing maturity of the UGC sector in Hong Kong, the audit is less on description and evaluation of how the university concerned manages academic standards and academic quality, but more about how it has reviewed and enhanced its approach since the last audit. The audit theme for this cycle is the collection, analysis and usage of data. 

In reaching conclusions about universities’ assurance of academic standards and academic quality, Audit Panels will refer to the following five audit criteria: 

• How effectively does the university review and enhance its framework for managing academic standards and academic quality?
• How effectively does the university review and enhance its arrangements for programme development and approval, monitoring and review?
• How effectively does the university review and enhance teaching and learning?
• How effectively does the university review and enhance student learning assessment?
• How effectively does the university review and enhance its arrangement for supporting students?