Three degree courses run in Hong Kong by British universities in collaboration with local partners have been accredited by the British Psychological Society.
The courses are the University of Salford's BSc (Hons) Psychology and BSc (Hons) Psychology and Counselling, run at the Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education, Open University of Hong Kong, and Sheffield Hallam University's MSc Psychology run at the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics & School of Continuing and Professional Education, City University, Hong Kong.
Accreditation is a mark of quality to prospective students and employers, and graduates of accredited courses have the opportunity to gain Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society - an important step in the route to a career as a professional psychologist.
The Society's accreditation team was impressed by Sheffield Hallam University's partnership with City University Hong Kong's School of Continuing and Professional Education, which will go from strength to strength with the launch of their MSc Psychology conversion programme in January 2016. The establishment of the MSc builds on the longstanding collaborative delivery of an applied social sciences programme in Hong Kong.
The University of Salford's collaboration with the Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education at the Open University of Hong Kong is also well established, and the accreditation of two undergraduate programmes was welcomed by both partners.
Although very different, the programmes share a number of features of good practice that contribute to a high quality student experience. Both UK and Hong Kong partners have invested heavily in establishing robust quality management systems, and in the development of both academic and professional support staff on both sites. Both have also worked hard to ensure that students benefit from engagement with cross-cultural perspectives on the discipline.
The successful outcome of the visit will help to raise the Society's profile in Hong Kong and presents exciting opportunities for closer collaboration with the Hong Kong Psychological Society.
Dr Ian Robertson from the Society's visiting team said: "The high quality provision being offered by UK institutions and their partners in Hong Kong was heartening to see, and we look forward to seeing how the programmes develop in the future."
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For further information contact the British Psychological Society press centre, Tel: 0116 252 9500, email: presscentre@bps.org.uk
About the British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK. We are responsible for the development, promotion and application of psychology for the public good. For more information please visit http://www.bps.org.uk