LLEAP Dialogue Series (No.2)

Quality Education Fund –

The Quality Education Fund (QEF) was established by the , , early 1998 with an allocation of HK$5 billion (approximately AUD$600 million). The aim of QEF is to support non-profit making initiatives that promote quality in the context of pre-primary, primary, secondary and special education. Since its establishment, the Fund has supported over 8,000 applications with grants amounting to more than HK$4 billion. To learn more, visit: http://qef.org.hk/eng/

Governance Innovation, Cultivate for Quality ….innovation Education are the key phrases on The Quality Education Fund (QEF) is a pervades the system the home page of the website charitable fund under a Declaration of Trust, of approximately http://qef.org.hk/ and the Grantor is the Permanent Secretary for 1,200 government Education, who acts as Trustee and undertakes The Executive Officer Lim Kuen and non-government to apply the income and capital of the QEF for comments: “QEF supports one-off schools in Hong the promotion of quality education in Hong initiatives which are not normally Kong. While a Kong. The operations of the QEF are overseen funded by the Government or small number of by a Steering Committee, which has two other sources”. Professor Brian grants were given subcommittees: Assessment and Monitoring; Caldwell, Professorial Fellow, to universities (by Dissemination and Promotion. Each committee University of Melbourne, says: QEF), these had to is comprised of members from the tertiary and Thematic Networks have been be implemented school education sectors and the corporate established for the last decade, through partnerships sector. with sharing of projects made with schools. In Innovation available through the sale of simple gross terms, reports and findings to promote a there was an Innovation in capacity building in schools sharing culture and collaborative average of nearly six to enhance the quality of student learning professional development. Past grants per school is recognised as an important part of the themes have included Language over the first ten QEF work. The QEF aims to galvanise Education, Living and Thinking, years. (Professor school initiatives in enhancing the quality of Home-School Cooperation, Special Brian Caldwell, student learning by supporting innovation, Educational Needs, Teaching and Professorial Fellow, generating knowledge and disseminating Learning and Moral and Civic University of effective practices. Collaborate for Pedagogical Education. In announcing the Melbourne) priority themes for the current academic year (2012/13), the Chair of the Steering Committee Mr Duffy Wong said: “The QEF encourages school-based innovation and will continue to support the application of the innovations across the school sector.…….The QEF aims to galvanise school initiatives in enhancing the quality of student learning by supporting innovation, generating knowledge and disseminating effective practices.”

Example of how project information is reported and searchable online. A practical Guide to grow your ideas in education for maximum impact

Priority themes guide and focus grants for each in the application form which requires the 12 month period. Executive Officer Lim Kuen following for a project: comments that “The Quality Education Fund ηη seek prior consent from the collaborating / Steering Committee advises on the priorities participating schools and organisations; for each year with reference to the prevailing η provide a list of collaborating / participating education policies and inputs from education η stakeholders to address the needs and schools and organisations; concerns of the school sector”. ηη request nominated schools and organisations to confirm collaboration. The nine priority themes for the 2012/13 school year are: Important factors for QEF are innovation in capacity building in schools to enhance ηη Effective Learning and Teaching of the quality of student learning, and the Languages; dissemination of successful projects as η Assessment for Learning; η resources for school improvement. ηη National Education; ηη Creative Arts and Culture Education; Impact ηη Healthy Lifestyle and Positive Development There is public access to project outcomes as of Students; the QEF makes these available for purchase on- ηη Education for Sustainable Development; line at the QEF Cyber Resource Centre (http:// ηη Support to Students with Special Educational Needs; qcrc.qef.org.hk/) .The resources are listed under five main area headings: All Round Education; ηη Promoting Whole Child Development in Pre- primary Education; and School Based Management; Grantees have ηη Supporting Effective School Management Information Technology; Effective to conduct self- and / or Teacher Wellness. Learning; Educational Research. Projects recently completed evaluation of the Other innovative projects that meet the needs include research and development QEF project with of schools or enhance the quality of school in areas including enhancing regard to success of education are also considered. student’s self-understanding; the activities in the Model positive life-values; home and light of the impact on the participants”. The Hong Kong government, through the school partnerships; using Education Bureau, provided establishment technology to monitor attendance funding of HK$5 billion for the QEF to be and campus activity; understanding in natural established as a separate fund through which science, astronomy and technology and school grants are distributed to schools and approved engagement. For example, with a focus on researchers to promote quality education. improving family empowerment within a home-school initiative, a grant was given to The QEF operates under the guidance of a a kindergarten for promoting home-school Steering Committee, which decides on themes cooperation and developing care for the and priorities. A Secretariat administers the community culture through organising training funds from application to reporting as well workshops for 20-30 parents of the applicant as publication and sales of reports. QEF school and arranging services and school Secretariat Project Officers review and monitor projects for the length of the project, and visits for the trained parents. Other examples Secretariat Reviewers evaluate outcomes. of publications reporting on various projects Monitoring and Evaluation is mainly through available for purchase on-line are: a preschool written reporting, based on agreed goals, life-education project; a project aimed at plans, processes and intended outcomes increasing the understanding of China; aspects and impacts. A cycle of evaluation and of personal growth including self-esteem; development is expected, with impacts for enhancing teacher-child and parent-child continued development within the particular relationship and children’s social competence. site of the project, as well as potential for wider Executive officer Lim Kuen explains the dissemination and commercial application. process of evaluation of impact: “Grantees have to conduct self-evaluation of the QEF The collaborative practices project with regard to success of the activities The possibility of collaboration between in the light of the impact on the participants”. schools and other organisations is recognised