—
July is often a challenging month for students, whether they are choosing subjects for further education or preparing to enter the workforce. To address this, a local company has launched the Career in a Nutshell programme, offering secondary school students workshops on business management skills and dining etiquette, among other activities. This initiative aims to help students make informed decisions about their future. Participants have reported that the programme has been instrumental in shaping their career aspirations.
This year’s Career in a Nutshell programme, organised by The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), saw 89 students from nine schools taking part. The programme included a range of activities such as STEM workshops, business management skills training, volunteer work at a charitable farm, and dining etiquette classes. The year-long programme recently concluded with a graduation ceremony attended by over 100 teachers and students.
From theory to practice: broadening horizons
Katey Wong Ching-ka from Munsang College believes the programme’s wide-ranging scope can help students from various academic backgrounds gain hands-on experience and reflect on their future career paths. “The dining etiquette session was particularly memorable. Such etiquette is crucial in the professional world and applicable to future work scenarios. We rarely get exposure to this kind of knowledge in school, so it was a precious learning opportunity.” She added, “The programme caters for various interests. Those keen on business can learn about corporate operations, while those interested in engineering can try their hand at pipe fitting. It goes beyond textbook knowledge and exams.”
Kevin Dai Zhoukai, a Form 4 student at HHCKLA Buddhist Leung Chik Wai College, said he joined the programme to get a feel for the working world. “I’m hoping to pursue engineering in the future. For now, I’m focused on improving my academic performance to study engineering and potentially join Towngas in the future.” Cheng Ka-wai from Queen Elizabeth School Old Students’ Association Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School shared that she gained experience in event planning and promotion during the programme. Although she hadn’t previously considered a career in engineering, she’s now planning to apply for Towngas’ summer internship programme.
Alumni network: Youngas Club offers internship opportunities
Now in its fifth year, the Career in a Nutshell programme has involved 29 secondary schools to date. Towngas has established an alumni network, the Youngas Club, which regularly provides internship and employment information to former participants. Towngas mentors also maintain contact with alumni, offering career advice and arranging summer internships to help students build and consolidate their work experience.
At the graduation ceremony, Mr Fong Kai-shing, Towngas Assistant General Manager – Training and Development and Principal of the Towngas Training Institute, encouraged students, “The most important thing is to set your own goals and direction. As the Chinese saying goes, ‘Every field has its master’. We hope this programme helps you experience working life and find your path.” Mr Fong also revealed plans to expand the programme, potentially increasing the number of training places and involving more schools, to benefit a larger number of students.
Comprehensive training: fostering student growth
Participating school teachers praised the programme’s comprehensive approach, noting that similar initiatives are rare in Hong Kong. They expressed admiration for the significant growth observed in their students. Mr Kwok, a teacher from Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College, noted. “One of our typically reserved female students became much more confident after participating. She even promoted the programme’s achievements to unfamiliar schoolmates – a change and growth we hadn’t anticipated.” Mr Wong, a teacher from CCC Yenching College, highlighted the rare opportunity for students to interact directly with corporate employees, “Whether or not they end up liking the industry, this programme is bound to inspire their future career choices.”
- END -
-
Participating schools (in alphabetical order):CCC Yenching College - HHCKLA Buddhist Leung Chik Wai College
- Hong Kong Taoist Association Ching Chung Secondary School
- Munsang College
- Pentecostal Holiness Church Wing Kwong College
- Po Leung Kuk Laws Foundation College
- Queen Elizabeth School Old Students’ Association Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
- Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College
- Shun Tak Fraternal Association Yung Yau College
Press photos:
Photo 1:
Students who participated in the “Career in a Nutshell” programme celebrate at the graduation ceremony after completing their year-long training.
Photo 2:
Mr Fong Kai-shing, Towngas Assistant General Manager – Training and Development and Principal of the Towngas Training Institute, hopes the programme will help students experience professional life and find their direction.
Photo 3:
Kevin Dai Zhoukai (left), a Form 4 student at HHCKLA Buddhist Leung Chik Wai College, was recommended for the programme by his teachers. He hopes to study engineering and join Towngas in the future.
Photo 4:
Cheng Ka-wai (right) from Queen Elizabeth School Old Students’ Association Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School says the programme taught her event planning and promotion skills.
Photo 5:
Mr Wong, a teacher from CCC Yenching College, poses with students who participated in the programme.
Photo 6:
Mr Kwok, a teacher from Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College, thanks the Towngas staff team for guiding students through their growth and transformation.
Photo 7:
Katey Wong Ching-ka from Munsang College believes the programme’s wide-ranging scope can help students from various academic backgrounds gain hands-on experience and reflect on their future career paths.
Photo 8:
The dining etiquette sessions were particularly popular among students, who unanimously agreed that mastering table manners would benefit their future professional development.
Photo 9:
Students were enthusiastic about volunteering at a charitable farm, working extra hard when they learned the vegetables they harvested would be donated to charity and used to prepare meals for those in need.
Photo 10:
The programme’s workshops incorporated numerous STEM elements, enhancing students’ scientific knowledge while improving their collaborative skills.
Photo 11:
Students visit the training facilities at the Towngas Training Institute to learn about the invention and operation of gas appliances.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Ms May Tam
Assistant Corporate Affairs Manager
Tel: 2963 3475 / 9192 0062
Email: tam.may@towngas.com
Ms Kara Kwong
Senior Corporate Affairs Officer
Tel: 2963 3497 / 6698 3357
Email: kara.kwong@towngas.com
Release ID: 89136352