Civil Service Newsletter Issue 115

Explanation of WCAG 2.0 Level Double-A Conformance

FEHD's professional training programme gained recognition of accreditation at Level 5 of Hong Kong Qualifications Framework

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

THE Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been dedicated to working with the community for enhancing food safety, sustaining a high standard of public health services, ensuring food sold in Hong Kong is safe and fit for consumption, and maintaining a clean and hygienic living environment for the public. FEHD values staff training and development, and organises a wide range of training programmes to provide staff with leadership development opportunities, support departmental initiatives and bring out the best of staff for serving the public effectively and professionally.

Professional qualification

The Professional Diploma Training Programme in Waste Management, Meat and Foods Inspection (Professional Diploma Programme) is a two-year mandatory part-time on-the-job training programme specially designed by FEHD for Health Inspectors II, which is also one of the pre-requisites for Health Inspectors II to be appointed on permanent terms upon passage of probation bar. With the aim to further enhance the professional knowledge of Health Inspectors II as well as to promote the professionalism and recognition of the Professional Diploma Programme, FEHD awarded to the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) the tender to undertake the provision of two-year professional diploma training programme accredited at Level 5 of Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF Level 5) (equivalent to the level of bachelor degree qualification).

Trainees engaged in academic exchanges with students of overseas universities through online conferences organised by HKMU.

Trainees underwent hands-on training on meat inspection skills in Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse.

Accreditation of qualification

With the design enhancement and development of the programme by HKMU, the newly developed Professional Diploma Programme successfully passed the professional assessment conducted by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications in July 2022. The programme has gained recognition of accreditation at QF Level 5 with on-going validity in the Qualifications Register and titled as "Professional Diploma in Waste Management and Meat and Foods Inspection for Health Inspectors". It consists of 13 modules with a total of 696 teaching hours, including “Meat Inspection Skills”, “Food Safety Risk Analysis” and “Public Cleansing, Waste Collection and Reduction”, etc.

Lifelong learning

The two-year Professional Diploma Programme has commenced since January 2023. Trainees having completed the new programme will be awarded a professional diploma as well as credits for enabling them to be exempted from taking similar subjects through the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme in future tertiary related courses. It aims at encouraging trainees to pursue further studies, establishing lifelong learning culture and enhancing team efficiency.

New era of professional training

The recognition of Professional Diploma Programme accredited at QF Level 5 is a significant affirmation of the quality of the programme. In its pursuit of excellence, FEHD also brings its professional training into a new era.

Trainees visited a food factory to understand food production process.

Qualifications awarded by HKMU Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education on behalf of FEHD