Logo of the Employees Retraining Board

Training programmes under the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) are conducted by appointed Training Bodies listed in Schedule 2 of the Employees Retraining Ordinance. All Training Bodies are well experienced in adult education or vocational training, or possess employers' network. Currently, there are around 700 courses being offered through a network of around 80 Training Bodies at around 400 centres distributed throughout the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. Besides training, these Training Bodies also provide career counseling services including job matching and placement referral for graduate trainees. In response to the launching of "Qualifications Register" (QR) on 5 May 2008, most ERB courses have been accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) and uploaded onto the QR. To ensure that new Training Bodies possess the abilities to provide quality training and meet the quality assurance requirements of the Qualifications Framework, and that public funds are properly used, ERB requires all organisations interested in becoming our appointed Training Bodies to pass the Initial Evaluation conducted by the HKCAAVQ prior to the submission of applications (Please contact HKCAAVQ for the details of the applications for Initial Evaluation). Organisations are required to supply a copy of the "Summary Statement of Accreditation Approval" indicating that they passed the Initial Evaluation when submitting applications for becoming our appointed Training Bodies.

Applications for becoming appointed Training Bodies will be vetted by the Quality Assurance and Review Committee of the ERB according to the prescribed criteria. Applicants may at the same time submit new course proposals which will be vetted by the Course Development and Vetting Committee afterwards if their applications are successful. Applicants may be invited to attend Committee meeting(s) to introduce their proposals and answer possible enquiries of members. Proposals may need to be revised upon members' advice after Committee meeting(s).

After the applications are approved by the Quality Assurance and Review Committee, the applications will be submitted to the Board for confirmation. Once the applications have been confirmed, the Executive Office will initiate the gazette procedure. Organisations can commence the ERB courses only after the completion of the gazette procedure and signing of the Service Agreements.

In addition, Training Bodies are partners of the ERB, through the signing of a Service Agreement, the Training Bodies will acquire an understanding of the ERB expectation, requirements, mutual responsibilities, the ERB guidelines and requirements, etc. The first Service Agreement period of newly appointed Training Bodies generally last for 2 years. During the period of Service Agreement, appointed Training Bodies will be invited to participate the tendering exercise of training places  allocation. The ERB will review the performance of Training Bodies regularly to ensure the quality of the courses. When the Service Agreements of Training Bodies are about to be expired, the ERB will review various key performance indicators and the performance of Training Bodies during the period of Service Agreement, as well as Training Bodies’ governance and financial status, etc., to determine whether to renew the Service Agreement with Training Bodies, the renewal period of Service Agreement, restricted clauses, etc. If performances of any Training Bodies are found to be unsatisfactory, the ERB reserves the rights to suspend and terminate the provision of funding to them.

Organisations interested in finding out more about the major vetting criteria and downloading the application guideline and application form are welcome to browse other sections of this website.

Major Vetting Criteria for Appointed Training Body

1. Pass the Initial Evaluation conducted by HKCAAVQ.

2. Background of Establishment, Objectives, Governance, Training Strategy and Development, and Financial Status

    •  Background of establishment and objectives

    •  Service and training target

    •  Organisation, management and administrative structure

    •  Financial status, financial planning and policy of resources allocation

    •  Training strategy plans / arrangement of training courses and internal training

    •  Quality Assurance mechanism

3. Experience in Adult / Youth Education and Vocational Training

    •  Experience in adult / youth education and vocational training

    •  Recognition of training offered

    •  Expertise of the courses and its relation to market demand / goal of the ERB

    •  Experience in offering placement-tied courses

    •  Training venues and trainers of the courses commenced before

4. Employers' Network and Experience in Placement Services

    •  Employers' network, understanding of the current labour market, expertise and employer network in specific industry / trade in particular

    •  Experience in offering placement services

5. Contribution to the Development of the ERB

    •  Special contribution to the development of the ERB

    •  Quality of new course proposals (if applicable)

6. Other Relevant Consideration Factors

    •  For example: Experience in social service and / or welfare, experience in providing services for special service targets / groups, etc.

Remark:
The criteria set out above are not exclusive. They only serve as references for the Quality Assurance and Review Committee in vetting the applications of organisations interested to become appointed ERB Training Bodies. The ERB may obtain other information from the organisations to handle the application and amend the above criteria from time to time, by taking into consideration of the development of the ERB and comments from the Quality Assurance and Review Committee.

Organisations interested in submitting application for new training body are suggested to take reference of the following documents (in Chinese only) and complete the application form:

1. Application Guidelines for New Training Body (updated in Jan 2024)
2. Application Form for New Training Body (updated in Jan 2024)

For any enquiries, please feel free to contact the Quality Assurance Division at 3129 1494.