HKJC College sets new standard in staff training, offering courses up to Associate Degree status

01/14/2012

Underlining its commitment to promoting lifelong learning among its full- and part-time employees and to enhancing the overall quality of the local workforce, The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced today (14 January) the establishment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club College.

The College will provide a series of training courses recognised under Government’s Qualifications Framework (QF) to offer systematic and high-quality educational opportunities to its staff.  Its opening marks an important milestone in the Club’s people management and training strategy, as it is the first non-tertiary institution and non-professional association in Hong Kong to be accredited to run programmes up to Level IV in the QF, equivalent to Associate Degree status.

The Club also announced today that some 350 Club employees had successfully obtained certification under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism under the QF, ranging from Level I to III.  This gives the Club the highest number of RPL-certified employees of any organisation in Hong Kong.

At a special ceremony held at Sha Tin Racecourse today, Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson joined Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Permanent Secretary for Education Cherry Tse Ling Kit-ching, Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Club senior management, to witness the official opening of the HKJC College and the presentation of RPL certificates to Club staff, many of whom were joined by their families. 

Mr Stevenson told the guests that education and continuous people development had always been priorities of the Club, in line with its mission to enhance the quality of life of Hong Kong citizens. “Over the past ten years, our Charities Trust has invested some HK$3 billion in education and continuous learning.  We recognise the importance of education and the need to ensure that Hong Kong is able to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive and rapidly-changing global environment,” he said.

Being one of the city’s major employers, the Club also attached great importance to developing its 27,000 employees, Mr Stevenson said, as their skills and dedication were essential for sustaining the Club’s significant economic contributions to Hong Kong.  The Club’s activities generated more than HK$15 billion a year for the public purse through betting duties and taxes, while providing a further HK$1.6 billion annually in funding for charitable projects.  These donations, he noted reached out to some 70% of citizens, young and old, able-bodied and disabled. “In order to maintain these valuable contributions to the community in the face of ever-growing competition, we need to ensure that the quality of our services remains at world-leading levels,” he remarked.

“We are therefore putting in place a more strategic and systematic people development programme than ever before.  As part of this, the new Hong Kong Jockey Club College will provide training courses that are officially recognised under Government’s Qualifications Framework, and enable Club employees to achieve formal qualifications through the Recognition of Prior Learning scheme.

“This is not only a win-win formula for the Club and its employees, but also for the Hong Kong community at large, as our manpower development efforts can help enhance the overall quality of the local workforce,” Mr Stevenson observed. “So in establishing the Hong Kong Jockey Club College, we hope to contribute to the long-term competitiveness of Hong Kong.”

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung praised the Club for its human resources efforts and support to its staff in realising the benefits of lifelong learning.  “The Club is making history in that it is the first non-tertiary education or non-professional body in Hong Kong to be accredited to run programmes up to Level IV in the QF, which is equivalent to Associate Degree status,” he said, describing it as a commendable initiative that would enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s workforce and promote employment.

“A successful organisation in the 21st century must be responsive not only to its clients and changing market demands but also to the aspirations and sentiments of its employees,” Mr Cheung remarked.  “In this respect, The Hong Kong Jockey Club fits the bill nicely.”

The Club provides an average of 200 people development programmes a year with some 900 training sessions for its employees.  In 2010/11 alone, the total number of training days undertaken by Club staff stood at 64,000, equivalent to about half a million hours.  It is one of the few employers in the city to provide continuous training opportunities for part-time employees.

Upholding the motto of “knowledge without frontiers, perseverance in excellence”, the new HKJC College will facilitate the development of a well-structured quality training regime that links the Club’s core value of customer-centricity to the learning goals of its employees, thereby promoting customer service excellence and strengthening the competitiveness.

The HKJC College will initially offer a total of 14 training courses that have recently been accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) and recognised under the QF.  Notably, the Professional Diploma in Human Resources Management programme and nine related certificate courses have been recognised by QF with Level IV status, equivalent to the education level of an Associate Degree.  Meanwhile, QF Level III recognition has been attained for the Advanced Certificate in Managing Service Excellence programme and three other certificate courses.

In addition, the Club has succeeded in helping some 350 employees from its Racing Division and Property Department secure a total of around 400 Level 1 to 3 certifications through the RPL mechanism under the QF.  These certifications give formal recognition of the knowledge, skills and experience the staff have acquired through prior learning and/or work experience.

Receiving her four Level 3 RPL certificates and a special award for the most RPLs, Anita Mok from Property Department said she was delighted that she could attain recognition of the experience she had gained in some 25 years of service with the Club, at a level equivalent to Form 7 qualification.  “I have never dreamed of being recognised by the Government for my working experience. It is encouraging and will be beneficial for my plan of continued education,” said Mok, who started working after Form 5 graduation.  She shared this exciting moment with her husband and son, who attended the ceremony today. 

Also celebrated at today's ceremony was the graduation of over 160 employees and trainees, including stables assistants, equestrian assistants, racing trainees and apprentice jockeys, who have successfully completed their training under the Club’s Certificate Racing Programme (CRP).    Seven CRP courses covering racing and farriery have been accorded Level 1 to Level 3 accreditation under the QF since 2010.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.

Attachments

1.         Fact sheet on the HKJC College

2.         Fact sheet on the Professional Diploma in Human Resources Management programme

3.         Fact sheet on the Advanced Certificate in Managing Service Excellence programme

4.         Fact sheet on the Recognition of Prior Learning mechanism