The Hong Kong Computer Society

Membership

Establishment of Professional Assessment (PA) System of RRPQ between the HKCS and the HKIE

Reciprocal Recognition on Professional Qualifications (RRPQ) between the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) and The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE)

Application form

Establishment of Professional Assessment System of Reciprocal Recognition of Qualification between the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE)

The Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) has reached an agreement on Reciprocal Recognition on Professional Qualifications (RRPQ) with The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) in May 2005. Since then, being responsible for HKCS Members who intend to become HKIE Members or Registered Professional Engineers (RPE), the Society has endeavored to establish an impartial and independent Professional Assessment (PA) System as illustrated below:

1.Organisations

The PA System is designed to have the involvement of two main functional official groups, the Professional Assessment Panel (PAP) and the Quality Assurance Committee (QAC). This combination can ensure the independence of the System and enable a concurrent official monitor.

The PAP is responsible for the establishment, execution and quality assurance of the assessment procedures. Its members are appointed by the Council according to the appointment criteria.

The QAC is responsible for maintaining a consistent assessment standard. It is authorised to examine the assessment procedures, rather than individual applications, and to request clarification from the responsible panels in cases with critical procedural errors.

To maintain a high degree of transparency and credibility, the HKCS Council has appointed professionals from the Government, academia and major IT professional employers together with HKIE Fellows as members of the PAP and the QAC:

Members of PAP
Chairperson:	Prof. K S Leung
Ex-officio:	Director of Professional Development – Prof. KH Lee Director of Membership Administration – Dr. Hareton Leung
Members:	Prof. Horace Ip
	Mr. Daniel Lai, JP
	Mr. Stephen Mak, JP
	Dr. Edith Mok
	Mr. Peter Yan

Members of QAC
Chairperson:	Mr. Peter Yan
Ex-officio:	Director of Training – Ms Evon Ying
Members:	Mr. Stephen Lau, JP
	Ir. Prof. Wanbil Lee
	Ir. L K Tsang

Apart from the standing groups, a non-standing panel, the Interviewing Panel (IP), is appointed by the PAP as required. It is an assessment body comprising two appointed assessors, the Primary and Secondary Assessors. The Primary assessors as the IP Chairperson together with the Secondary Assessor will conduct interviews as a main reference for the PAP to evaluate applications.

2.Professional Assessment Procedures

2.1. Submission of Application

Applicants should submit a completed application form together with supporting documents including:

Certified (by at least one of the referees) true copies of academic transcripts and credentials and professional qualifications certificates as appropriate

Supporting documents of work experience with initial of at least one of the referees.

A “Training and Experience Report”:
It should be a concise report of 2000 words typewritten on single sides of A4 paper.In the first part of the Report, applicants should provide the inclusive dates of months and years for particular periods of training and experience in chronological order that the applicant has acquired. Not a mere inventory of work, applicants should describe in the Report tasks and responsibilities in projects, engineering, techonology and/or design/architecture relating to Information Technology or Information Engineering, in which they have been employed and enlarged; on any special problems they have encountered and on which they have obtained more extensive experience.

Applicants from the academic sector should demonstrate their experience in practical applications of information technology/engineering, such as research projects, consulting experience and designs of laboratories. It is not acceptable to submit a thesis instead of the Report.

An organisation chart indicating applicants’ responsible position with his employer, clients, colleagues and other related parties

2.2. Professional Assessment

2.2.1. Preliminary Application Evaluation

The PAP will first evaluate the suitability of applicants’ academic and professional qualifications, their training and related work experience based on the information provided by candidates. After evaluating applications, the PAP will assign the appropriate IP personnel to conduct further assessment as required.

2.2.2. Interview

Aiming at having direct investigation on applicants’ professional knowledge, competency and qualities, assigned Assessors of IP will examine candidates in all professional aspects with reference to an Interview Guide, in which three domains are included: demonstration of being a professional, professionalism and professional knowledge in Information Technology/Engineering process and management.

2.2.3. Approval/Disapproval

Based on the Assessment Summary Report prepared by the Assessors, the PAP will make final approval and disapproval of applications. If necessary, deferral of applications may be adopted.

2.3. Issuance of Result

Successful applicants in batches will be issued a certificate with a cover letter whilst unsuccessful applicants will be given a notice with the reasons of rejection. Unsuccessful applicants who do not accept the reasons of rejection can apply for the Re-assessment within 6 months after the issuance of the notice. (Note: The amount of re-assessment fee will be confirmed by the HKCS Council.)

*The PA system was reviewed and confirmed after incorporating members’ input on the first meeting of the PAP and the QAC on 31 October 2005.

Reciprocal Recognition of Qualification between The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and The Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS)

An Agreement towards the Statutory Registration of Registered Professional Engineer (RPE)

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) have entered into an agreement today to exchange information on their individual procedures, policies, criteria and requirements for granting Membership and have agreed that Corporate Member of HKIE (Information Discipline) and Full Member of Hong Kong Computer Society are substantially equivalent. By this agreement, the HKIE and the HKCS establish the reciprocal requirements of recognition for MHKIE (INF) and MHKCS to be accorded corresponding Membership status. Each organisation will encourage joint membership.

"Today (27 May 2005) is a milestone of the HKIE and HKCS," expresses Ir James Kwan, President of HKIE, "the reciprocal recognition of membership enhances the members' professional status of both establishments. It is also of the long term benefit for their career pursuit in the IT community."

"The reciprocal recognition of membership is one of our dedications in adding value to our members." adds Mr Sunny Lee, President of HKCS "This is, moreover, a great step forward to the consolidation of professional status of Hong Kong IT professionals, and paves the way for our full members to apply for registration as a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE), a recognised statutory registration in Hong Kong."

In order to qualify for reciprocal recognition under this Agreement, each Organisation requires Members/Full Members to possess all of the following professional formation:

1. An engineering/computing degree in a relevant subject accredited/recognised by the HKIE and the HKCS.

2. One of the following experience formation in Information and Communication Technologies/Information System (ICT/IS) work:

A minimum of 8 years post graduation experience for applicants who had been Member/Full Member of the respective Organisations for less than 2 years, or
A minimum of 6 years post graduation experience for applicants who had been Members/Full Members of the respective Organisations for not less than 2 years, or
A minimum of 4 years post graduation experience for applicants who had been Members/Full Members of the respective Organisations for not less than 4 years.

3. A period of responsible experience in ICT/IS work for not less than 2 years.

The first phase of application for the cross recognition of qualification for Full Members commences on 27 May 2005. Eligible members who wish to apply for such recognition please request an application form by sending a completed form of Expression of Interest (available above) to 2834-3003 by fax or by e-mail to membership@hkcs.org.hk.

Professional Development Committee of HKCS is now embarking on the second phase to work closely with HKIE to consider the Reciprocal Recognition of Qualification for our members who do not meet the stated qualifications in the current agreement. Members will be kept posted of the development of the forthcoming discussion with HKIE.

Questions:

Benefits

Q1: What is the benefit of being a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE)?

Q2: HKCS has already had joint recognition with British Computer Society and Australian Computer Society, which are recognized by the UK and Australia legal system respectively. What is the difference of being a HKCS member and RPE in an international context?

Qualifications

Q1: Who are eligible for applying for the mutual recognition of qualification with HKIE?

Q2: Am I still eligible if I have not engaged in the work of ICT industry for some years?

Q3: What is the “responsible experience” mentioned in the “requirements of application” refers?

Q4: Is teaching experience considered as responsible experience?

Referees

Q1: Should HKCS applicants seek TWO members of HKIE for the application process?

Q2: What can I do if I cannot find referees to support my application?

Q3: Do referees need to sign on copies or just on the application form?

Further Applications

Q1: Can I apply for the RPE (Registered Professional Engineer) after attaining the reciprocal recognition of qualification?

Q2: Do I need to apply for membership in HKIE on my own after gaining the reciprocal recognition of qualifications? What are the details?

Q3: After qualified with the Reciprocal Recognition of Professional Qualification, how much is the fee of applying for the RPE membership?

Q4: After getting the cross Qualification Recognition Certificate, do we need to go through any qualification assessments when applying for the HKIE membership?

Q5: Will I still possess the qualification to maintain the RPE status if I lose my membership of HKCS?

Q6: As a HKIE member, do I need to join in their IT Division before applying for the HKCS membership?

Answer:

Benefits

Q1: What is the benefit of being a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE)?

Being a RPE will position you to become an internationally recognized engineer. It paves the career path for IT professionals from local to international.