I. Quality Enhancement Support Scheme (QESS)
To promote quality enhancement of the self-financing post-secondary sector, the Education Bureau (EDB) set up the Quality Enhancement Support Scheme (QESS) under the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund (SPEF) to support worthwhile non-works projects or initiatives that help enhance the quality of teaching and learning for students and teachers and the sector as a whole.
Non-profit-making education institutions offering full-time locally-accredited self-financing sub-degree or bachelor’s degree (including top-up degree) programmes are eligible to apply. Other related bodies such as the federations of these education institutions and quality assurance agencies may also apply.
The Scheme supports three types of projects, namely, Theme-based Projects, Open-ended Projects, and Industrial Attachment Projects. For details of the Scheme and the previous successful applications, please view the official site of Quality Enhancement Support Scheme.
EDB is now inviting applications for QESS 2023/24 exercise. Under each round of application, each institution can only submit a maximum of TWO applications each for Theme-based Projects and Open-ended Projects. Each institution may submit or be involved in only ONE application (individual or joint) for Industrial Attachment Project, for which the University will coordinate to prepare.
Interested colleagues are required to submit a 2-page preliminary proposal with a budget plan to the University Teaching and Learning Quality Committee (UTLQC) for consideration by Thursday, 30 November 2023. The application procedure and timeline are shown as follows:
Action | Timeline |
Applicants to submit a two-page preliminary proposal with a budget plan to the UTLQC Secretary (Ms Mabel Lai) * Template for preliminary proposal |
30 November 2023 (Thu) |
UTLQC meeting – project teams to present their proposals at the meeting – UTLQC to select and prioritise the proposals |
Early January 2024 |
Selected teams to prepare and submit full QESS proposals for submission to UTLQC for further comments | 8-29 January 2024 |
UTLQC to comment on the full proposals | 30 January to 6 February 2024 |
Project teams to finalise the proposal and prepare soft copies for submission | 7-20 February 2024 |
UTLQC to submit the finalised proposals to President for endorsement | By 23 February 2024 |
Deadline for submission to EDB | 29 February 2024 (Thu) |
- List of the QESS-funded projects of HSUHK
- Guidelines on Application and Management of Projects (as of September 2023)
- QESS Projects Approved in the 2022/23 Round of Application
II. HSUHK Teaching Development Grants (TDG)
The in-house Teaching Development Grants (TDG) is established to support teachers to conduct teaching and learning initiatives to enhance the quality of teaching and learning as well as students’ learning experience and their language proficiency at HSUHK.
Normally, up to five teaching development proposals may be funded in an academic year, depending on the number and quality of the applications submitted as well as the availability of funding. The amount of funding support for each proposal ranges from HK$50,000 to HK$100,000.
The duration of the projects should normally be no more than 24 months. The project start date must be 1 September and the end date be 31 August for alignment with the University fiscal year.
Funding Criteria
The TDG proposals should address issues in at least one of the following areas:
- Promoting and enhancing quality of teaching and learning
- Enriching the students’ learning experience
- Cultivating higher level of language proficiency of students
- Enhancing quality assurance methodologies, improving quality assurance process and quality control measures
- Adopting and developing innovative approaches of pedagogies and teaching practices, such as the development of assessment strategies and tools
Eligibility for Application
All full-time staff of HSUHK with the responsibilities related to teaching and learning are eligible for application.
Application Procedure
Applications are accepted on an annual basis. All proposals should be submitted to the University Teaching and Learning Quality Committee (UTLQC) for consideration and selection according to the following timeline:
Action | Timeline |
Please submit the application form, which should be commented on and endorsed by Department Head/ School Dean to UTLQC Secretary (Ms Mabel Lai) | 2 April 2024 (Tuesday) |
The UTLQC will invite applicants to present their proposals at the meeting and will then select the short-listed proposals. | April to May 2024 |
Announcement of results | May 2024 |