Prospectus 2020-22 e-version

Questions and Answers on Applied Learning
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How can students enrol in Applied Learning (ApL)
courses?
Students interested in choosing ApL courses as elective
subjects must apply through their respective secondary
schools, and participate in the student selection arranged by
course providers.
How many ApL courses can each student take?
The rationale of the senior secondary curriculum is to
provide students with an opportunity to expose to broad and
balanced learning experiences for promoting whole person
development. Hence, students are not encouraged to take
more than two ApL courses as elective subjects, excluding
Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking
students) (ApL(C)).
When and where will ApL courses be conducted?
There are two modes of implementation for ApL courses:
Mode 1 and Mode 2. For schools opting Mode 1, lessons are
usually conducted on Saturdays at the venues of the course
providers, whereas for schools opting Mode 2, lessons take
place mainly in the students’ own schools with timetables
arranged by the course providers and schools.
Do students need to pay for ApL courses?
All students in aided, government and caput secondary
schools, as well as secondary schools under the Direct
Subsidy Scheme and special schools with senior secondary
classes following the senior secondary curriculum
recommended by the Curriculum Development Council will
be fully subsidised by the Education Bureau to take ApL
courses.
How to assess the performance of students in ApL?
Assessment of student performance in ApL courses,
including both formative and summative assessments, are
undertaken by course providers and administered mainly by
the respective course tutors. To ensure the consistency of
assessment standards, the Hong Kong Examinations and
Assessment Authority is responsible for the moderation of
the assessment results submitted by course providers.
How will the results of student performance in ApL be
reported?
The ApL results are recorded in the Hong Kong Diploma
of Secondary Education (HKDSE). Effective from the 2018
HKDSE Examination, the reporting of student performance in
ApL courses is refined to “Attained”, “Attained with Distinction
(I)” and “Attained with Distinction (II)”. Performance of
“Attained with Distinction (I)” is comparable to Level 3 while
“Attained with Distinction (II)” is comparable to Level 4 or
above of Category A subjects of the HKDSE Examination.
For ApL(C), “Attained” and “Attained with Distinction” will
continue to be used, and refinement of these levels would
be considered when more data is collected. Candidates with
performance below the standard of “Attained”, or attendance
rates below 80%, will be designated as “Unattained”, which
will not be reported on the certificate.
What other qualifications will students obtain apart from
the HKDSE?
Most ApL courses are registered in the Qualifications
Register as certificate programmes at Qualifications
Framework (QF) Level 3. Students will obtain a QF Level
3 certificate issued by course providers in addition to the
HKDSE qualification upon successful completion of these
ApL courses. ApL(C) is pegged at the QF Levels 1-3. In
addition to the HKDSE qualification, students will obtain QF
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certificate(s) issued by course providers upon meeting the
assessment and attendance requirements of different levels
of ApL(C). Details are available at the Qualifications Register
website (www.hkqr.gov.hk).
Upon successful completion of ApL courses, are there
any pathways for students to pursue further studies?
For further studies in undergraduate programmes, in general,
the tertiary institutions value the learning experiences that
students acquire in ApL. ApL subjects are used as elective
subjects, or considered for award of extra bonus or additional
information, varying by individual institutions, faculties or
programmes. For sub-degree programmes, students with
Level 2 in five HKDSE subjects (including Chinese Language
and English Language) are eligible to apply for admission
to Associate Degree or Higher Diploma programmes.
In general, each student is allowed to use up to two ApL
subjects in the application. Please refer to the websites of
individual institutions for details.
ApL(C) is accepted by the University Grants Committee
funded universities and most post-secondary institutions
as an alternative qualification in Chinese Language for the
admission of non-Chinese speaking students with “Attained”
as the minimum grade required. By design, ApL(C) is a
language course using the vocational field as the context. It
differs from other ApL courses which focus on the knowledge
and beginners’ skill set related to a specific professional/
vocational field. Against this background, ApL(C) cannot be
treated as an elective subject. Please refer to the websites of
individual institutions for details.
Can ApL enhance students’ career aspirations?
Through the career-related contexts of ApL courses, students
can familiarise themselves with a wide variety of professions
and trades. They will also gain precious experience from the
practicum sessions of these courses. These eye-opening
experiences help them explore their career aspirations and
orientation for lifelong learning in specific areas.
Can ApL enhance students’ understanding of Vocational
and Professional Education and Training (VPET)?
At the senior secondary level, students’ understanding
of VPET is further enhanced through ApL courses, the
career-related experiences embedded in the Other Learning
Experiences activities and other subjects. ApL curriculum
is not intended to provide pre-vocational training. ApL
courses are linked to broad professional and vocational
fields. Through application and practice, ApL helps students
to understand fundamental theories and concepts, develop
beginners’ skill set, career-related competencies and generic
skills, and explore career aspirations and orientations for
lifelong learning.
How do employers recognise ApL?
For civil service appointments, the Government accepts
students’ ApL results in HKDSE (including “Attained” and
“Attained with Distinction”, up to a maximum of two ApL
subjects). The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) also accepts
“Attained” and “Attained with Distinction” in ApL(C) as
meeting the Chinese language proficiency requirements
of relevant civil service ranks. Details are available on the
website of CSB (www.csb.gov.hk).
Will all the ApL courses listed be offered?
Course providers will confirm finally whether to operate
classes with Chinese / English as the Medium of Instruction
according to individual situation (e.g. number of student
applicants for individual courses).
Prospectus for Applied Learning (2020-22) 11