Media Resources

16 Jul 2026

Secondary students get a real taste of the workplace to develop skills and unlock potential

(16 July 2026) With the recent release of results for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) and other major examinations, it is inevitable that some students will be overjoyed while others may feel disappointed. However, as society evolves, the era of a single exam deciding one’s fate is well and truly over. Local enterprises are stepping up to offer workplace experiences for students. This year, a record-breaking 120 senior secondary students from 12 schools participated in one such programme, empowering them to think about and plan their future career paths early, equip themselves with practical skills, and unlock their boundless potential through hands-on experience.

A record-breaking 120 participating students

Organised by Towngas, the Career In A Nutshell programme offers diverse, tailor-made workplace training for secondary school students. Since its launch in 2018, the programme has built a stellar reputation in the education sector through continuous innovation and refinement, providing skills training adapted to the changing needs of society. Entering its eighth year, the latest cohort attracted 120 senior secondary students from 12 schools, making it the largest in the programme’s history.

The programme features five core stages: recruitment, on-the-job training, expert masterclasses, work challenges, and an awards ceremony. Students begin by attending a Towngas career talk to experience an authentic corporate recruitment process. Following this, they comprehensively enhance their workplace literacy and practical abilities through interactive formats such as site visits, workshops, task challenges, and volunteer services.

Diverse experiences cultivating diverse interests

Over the course of a year, Towngas arranged a rich variety of activities for teachers and students, including STEM workshops, career exploration, a visit to the Towngas Smart Warehouse, a charity farm experience, simulated customer service tasks, and dining etiquette classes. Furthermore, in response to the growing emphasis on environmental protection and energy security, this year’s programme specifically incorporated energy knowledge sharing. This segment introduced Towngas’s latest developments in green energy across “land, sea, and air”, sparking and nurturing the students’ interests.

Matthew Wong Yi-nok, a student from Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School, recalled the charity farm experience as his most memorable moment: “Seeing the application of green energy in modern farming was incredibly fascinating. Integrating this with what we learn in the classroom makes for excellent practical experience.”

Meanwhile, Angel Chen Meng-yue from Confucian Tai Shing Ho Kwok Pui Chun College reflected: “In the classroom, we learn theoretical knowledge from textbooks. But stepping into a corporate environment is like stepping into society; apart from applying what we have learnt, we also need to master the interpersonal skills required to communicate and get along with others.”

While it is not uncommon for today’s youth to believe in relying on the “bank of mum and dad”, or even opting to “lie flat”, these two students remain determined to hone their skills and seize opportunities through their own hard work. They both agreed that the authentic “test drive” provided by the Career In A Nutshell journey has helped them identify their future development paths. They also expressed their hope to participate in the Towngas summer internship programme in the future, noting, “The mentors at Towngas were genuinely friendly.”

Stepping out of the classroom and thinking outside the box

Ms Tammy Tam, a teacher from St. Clare’s Girls’ School, led her students in joining the programme with the intention of encouraging them to step out of the school gates and broaden their horizons. “Young people in their studies should explore and try as much as possible to cultivate their interests, rather than boxing themselves into a rigid career path,” she shared. “Even if they make mistakes along the way, it is still a rewarding experience. Career In A Nutshell has provided our students with a precious opportunity to engage with society, understand how a company operates, and see how it fulfils its corporate social responsibility.” She added, “Even the teachers gained a lot from the process; we have all grown and progressed in different ways.”

Mr Fong Kai-shing, Towngas General Manager – Group Training and Development and Principal of Towngas Training Institute, expressed his delight at seeing the Career In A Nutshell programme gain increasing popularity and recognition among teachers and students. After several years of dedicated effort, the programme has now become a vital platform for Towngas to promote youth education. At the recent graduation ceremony, Mr Fong encouraged the students to remain bold in their endeavours, dare to innovate, and apply what they have learnt to develop the skills needed to adapt to the evolution of society. Looking ahead, Towngas will continue to leverage this programme and its extension activities to continuously inject momentum into inspiring the next generation as they explore their career paths.

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Press photos:

Photo 1:

Towngas recently held the graduation ceremony for its latest Career In A Nutshell programme. This year’s cohort attracted 120 students from 12 secondary schools, marking a record high in participation.

Photo 2:

Mr Fong Kai-shing, Towngas General Manager – Group Training and Development and Principal of Towngas Training Institute, encouraged students at the graduation ceremony to remain bold in their endeavours and apply what they have learnt.

Photo 3:

(From left) Student Angel Chen Meng-yue, Teacher Ms Tammy Tam, and Student Matthew Wong Yi-nok share their experiences, reflections, and personal growth from the Career In A Nutshell programme.