Programme

Mr Albert H P Chow is currently the Executive Director of HKCAAVQ.  Prior to joining HKCAAVQ, Mr Chow was the Director of General Administration of Hong Kong Baptist University. He has also served as the Head of Academic Quality Assurance of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Director of Qualifications cum Registrar of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). He has broad expertise in higher education, and vocational and professional education and training sectors in Hong Kong and beyond.

Internationally, Mr Chow has made significant contributions to the education and professional practice agreements in the engineering and information technology fields. Over the years, he has led HKIE projects in outcome-based accreditation and out-of-jurisdiction accreditation that are recognised by international agreements under the Washington Accord, Sydney Accord and Seoul Accord. Mr Chow was also chairman/member of a number of working groups and committees set up by the Government and the public sectors.

Dr Lucas Kavlie is an experienced higher education leader with deep expertise in institutional accreditation, regulatory affairs, and competency-based education. Known for navigating complex compliance landscapes, fostering student success, and leading strategic institutional initiatives, Dr. Kavlie is adept at building cross-functional teams, managing large-scale transitions, and aligning operations with state and federal requirements. He is a passionate advocate for reimagining education to improve access, affordability, and workforce readiness.

Topic

From Compliance to Co-Creation: Reimagining Quality Assurance in the AI Age

Abstract

Higher education institutions and industries must forge deeper, more dynamic partnerships to maintain relevance in the current age of Artificial Intelligence. As they do, the role of external quality assurance (EQA) must evolve from gatekeeping to guidance. In other words, EQAs must move from enforcing static standards to co-creating future-ready frameworks. In a world shaped by rapid technological change, global labor shifts, and the urgent call of the SDGs, traditional models of accreditation and regulation risk becoming barriers to the very innovation they seek to ensure.

This keynote explores how quality assurance agencies and institutional leaders can work in concert to support responsible, inclusive, and future-aligned industry collaborations. Drawing on lessons from national and international practice, we will examine emerging quality paradigms that honor both professional relevance and academic integrity. From co-designed micro-credentials to AI-enabled teaching and assessment, this session will offer a roadmap for building mutual trust, ensuring accountability, and supporting student success in ways that are both rigorous and responsive.

Moving beyond compliance for its own sake, we will embrace a model of co-creation where quality assurance is not a finish line, but a foundation for meaningful collaboration.

Dr Yasunao HATTORI is the President of the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE). He holds a Ph.D. in Science from the University of Tsukuba and is specializing in topology. Prior to his current role, he served as President of Shimane University from 2015 to 2024. Dr. Hattori has extensive experience in higher education reform, academic evaluation, and quality assurance in Japan’s higher education system.

Sub-theme

(ii)　Innovation and quality in higher education curriculum and pedagogy in line with industry collaborations

Topic

Bridging the Academia-Industry Gap: Insights from Japanese Universities and the Role of QA Agencies in Asia

Abstract

In Japan, as in many other parts of Asia, the gap between academic education and the evolving needs of industry remains a critical issue. As universities strive to align their educational content with the actual demands from society, incorporating industry voices into curriculum design and course implementation is becoming increasingly urgent and important.

This presentation will first introduce initiatives at Japanese universities aimed at addressing this gap. These include not only internships and entrepreneurship education, but also cases in which industry partners are actively engaged in the design and delivery of academic courses.

In addition, we will highlight efforts led by the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE), under the guidance of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), to address this gap by fostering highly skilled professionals in growing sectors.

Through these cases, we will discuss how QA agencies can contribute to facilitating smooth transitions for learners—from secondary to higher education, and from higher education to industry—by promoting dialogue among stakeholders, developing evaluation frameworks suited to diverse contexts, and strengthening the evolving role of quality assurance across the Asia region.