The University’s quality assurance (QA) mechanisms for programme planning and development ensure the quality and standard of newly developed programmes. Academic departments/units/academies that initiate new programmes are required to submit initial proposals to the Faculty Board (FB)/Academic Committee (AC). Upon the FB’s/AC's endorsement, these proposals go to the Academic Planning and Development Committee (APDC) (for Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), undergraduate and sub-degree programmes) or Board of Graduate Studies (BGS) (for postgraduate programmes excluding PGDE), which considers the main issues in supporting the development of the new programmes. These issues include the aims and objectives of the proposed programmes, the community and market needs for such programmes, the rationale of offering the programmes, and the resource implications.

Upon approval of an initial proposal, a Programme Development Committee is established to develop a full proposal that sets out the details of the programme, including admission requirements, the programme’s alignment with the University’s vision, the programme structure and curriculum, a course list with detailed outlines, teaching and learning methods, assessment and graduation requirements, programme QA and quality enhancement, and the staff and resources that will support the programme. An external review panel consisting of local and / or overseas senior academic experts is then involved to ensure the validity of the programme’s academic aims and objectives, market demand, and whether its academic standard is comparable to that of similar programmes at peer universities. The external review panel also provides valuable feedback on possible improvements before the full proposal is finalized. The full proposal is then considered and endorsed by the FB/AC before being approved for implementation by the Academic Board.