The idea of “micro-credentials” may be relatively new in the world of education, but the value of giving students the chance to gain recognition and awards for accomplishments outside the bounds of the formal academic curriculum has never been in doubt. The aim, of course, is to encourage interest and involvement in a range of activities, developing useful skills and individual talents, while also emphasising the importance of collaboration and the simple joy of learning. The direct reward may...

Though exam scores remain the prime gauge of success in Hong Kong’s education system, both local and international schools still see the vital importance of letting students express their creative talents through art-themed activities and hands-on involvement. To that end, there are increasing instances of outside professionals being engaged as artists-in-residence or leaders of one-off projects where they teach skills and techniques, offer guidance, give encouragement and inspire new ways of...

The school counsellor’s office has long been a familiar fixture of student well-being, providing a safe, quiet space for private and often sensitive conversations. But for a generation raised on online gaming worlds, chatbots and digital identities, that model is no longer the only pathway to emotional support. Across Hong Kong, educators and researchers are experimenting with what some describe as ‘third spaces’ for mental health – environments that sit somewhere between formal face-to-face...