Headlamps in the Dark, 1,000 Hours of Service and Mentorship for Thousands
From the Classroom to the National Games: The Volunteer Experience of Nearly 100 HKCT Students and Staff
(16 January 2026, Hong Kong) The 15th National Games and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games concluded successfully earlier, marking the first time that Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao jointly hosted these major national sporting events.
Behind the spotlight on medal-winning athletes was a group of young people from Hong Kong who stepped beyond the spectator stands and into the heart of the Games. On Wednesday, 14 January, HKCT Institute of Higher Education and Hong Kong College of Technology (collectively “HKCT”) held the “Dynamic National Games @ HKCT” Sharing Session, bringing together nearly 100 student and staff volunteers who had taken part in the Games, including three members of HKCT’s senior management.
Together, they looked back on their experiences serving in a wide range of roles, including triathlon events, anti-doping testing support and education outreach stations, as well as the Main Media Centre. Collectively, the HKCT volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours of service.
Through their first-hand participation in this major national sporting event, the students and staff went beyond textbook learning and gained a vivid lesson in national education and professional practice, experiencing for themselves how their knowledge, skills and commitment could contribute to the broader development of the country.
Putting “Devotion to Vocational Excellence” into Practice: A Collective Commitment across HKCT
Professor Chan Cheuk-hay, President of HKCT, summed up the experience with three key themes: “holistic development”, “community-wide participation” and “wholehearted commitment”. More than a volunteering experience, the initiative was a vivid demonstration of HKCT’s motto, “Devotion to Vocational Excellence”, in action.
To ensure that they were fully prepared for their roles, HKCT students and staff underwent more than 600 hours of rigorous professional training organised by the Games and HKCT. Beyond preparing its own volunteers, HKCT also contributed its expertise to the wider volunteer community. Mr Wong Kai-man (“Michael Sir”) from HKCT’s Division of Applied Learning and Development became one of the most popular volunteer training instructors. In response to strong demand, additional sessions were arranged, bringing the total to more than 12 training sessions attended by over 10,000 volunteers.
HKCT also made its two campuses in Ma On Shan available as training venues for accompanying volunteers, supporting the training of more than 300 volunteers. From contributing manpower and professional expertise to providing training facilities, the HKCT community demonstrated a shared commitment to the Games at every level.
Dr Kiano Luk, Head of Sports at the Department of Education, quoted a passage from The Book of Rites during the sharing session to encourage students: “If you can renew yourself for one day, do so from day to day, and continue renewing yourself every day.”
She pointed out that the real challenge of participating in the National Games lay in maintaining the right mindset, embracing continuous improvement and learning throughout the experience.
To better prepare students for their duties, HKCT carried out extensive preparation in advance. This included briefings by the Student Development Department on the “DOs and DON’Ts” of volunteering, helping students bridge the gap between their expectations and the realities of their roles. Through continuous learning and self-improvement, students were able to put the spirit of “daily renewal” into practice and translate it into the professionalism and dedication embodied in HKCT’s motto, “Devotion to Vocational Excellence”.
The spirit of “Devotion to Vocational Excellence” was also reflected in the willingness to learn proactively, embrace new challenges and seek innovative solutions. Dr Lau Kam-shing, Academic Dean of HKCT, initially expected his role at the Main Media Centre to involve mainly clerical and data-entry duties. Upon arriving at the venue, however, he quickly discovered that the assignment was in fact a substantial management challenge.
Leading his team into unfamiliar territory, Dr Lau learnt and adapted along the way. Through continuous exploration and refinement, the team eventually developed and optimised a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), providing clear guidelines for volunteers who subsequently took up the duties.
His colleagues jokingly remarked that, without intending to do so, Dr Lau had managed to “write the book” and leave a lasting legacy for those who followed.
This spirit of wholehearted commitment was evident in every detail. Students and staff assigned to the triathlon events had to assemble in the darkness at 4 a.m., while volunteer leaders arrived an hour earlier, at 3 a.m., to make preparations.
Whether they were senior management or students, everyone shared just one identity at the competition venues: a National Games volunteer. Setting aside their usual titles and roles, they followed the guidance of volunteer leaders and worked side by side towards a common goal, demonstrating a strong sense of discipline, mutual trust and teamwork.
Learning through Practice: Responding to the Unexpected with Professionalism and Care
HKCT actively encouraged and organised students and staff to participate in volunteer service at the National Games, with the aim of bringing learning into real-world practice. The Games provided an invaluable testing ground for participants to put what they had learnt into action and strengthen their ability to respond to unexpected situations. In a real competition environment, they encountered challenges that could never be fully anticipated or learnt from textbooks alone.
Mr Billy Choi from the Division of Applied Learning and Development and Effie, a Tourism Management student, shared one particularly memorable experience. Shortly after their volunteer service began, a fellow student, Eva, accidentally cut her little finger and started bleeding. Faced with the team’s unexpected “first injury on duty”, everyone remained calm and handled the situation professionally.
Eva also demonstrated remarkable resilience. After receiving an assessment and treatment from the on-site medical team, and having been confirmed that her injury was not serious, she was determined to continue with her volunteer duties. When a representative from the National Games Volunteer Service Coordination Office later came to check on her, the group even took a light-hearted photo together, raising their little fingers for the camera.
The episode may have been a small moment in the Games, but it demonstrated how students were able to apply composure, professionalism, resilience and mutual support when faced with the unexpected.
Beyond responding to unexpected incidents, another demanding challenge was learning how to manage people’s emotions while fulfilling their duties professionally. Karen, an administrative staff member volunteering at the media centre, encountered complaints from both Mainland and Hong Kong journalists over differences in the supplies provided to them. Drawing on what she had learnt from volunteer training as well as her professional experience, she handled the situation with tact and empathy, successfully easing tensions and resolving the concerns.
Karen’s participation also became a family affair. She encouraged her father and elder brother to join the volunteer team, making all three members of the family National Games volunteers. There were also couples among the HKCT volunteer team, with staff members inviting their spouses to take part. These families became part of the wider volunteer family, adding an extra sense of warmth and togetherness to the experience.
Meanwhile, Sam, a student from the Department of Sports, took on the particularly challenging role of a Chaperone in Doping Control Support. He reflected, “When approaching athletes who had just lost a competition and were feeling disappointed, we had to strike a balance between strictly following the doping control procedures and showing empathy and care.”
These experiences enabled students and staff to put theories of interpersonal communication into practice in authentic and sometimes challenging situations. They came to understand that professionalism is not simply about following rules and procedures. It also encompasses respect for others, empathy, and the art of communication.
Recognition for an Indispensable Piece of the Puzzle: From Spectators to Participants in National and Global Development
The professionalism and dedication demonstrated by HKCT students and staff earned high recognition from partner organisations. Ms Fung So-ha, Service Head of the Agency for Volunteer Service, described HKCT volunteers as an important “piece of the puzzle” in the National Games volunteer programme.
Recalling one particularly memorable scene, she said, “At 4 a.m., at a pitch-dark assembly point, I saw President Chan Cheuk-hay wearing a headlamp and bending over the attendance sheet, checking in volunteers one by one.” She was deeply impressed by the wholehearted commitment demonstrated by the HKCT community, where everyone worked together regardless of position or seniority.
Ms Maggie Yim, Project Manager (Volunteer Service), further highlighted the indispensable contribution of volunteers, saying, “Without the volunteers, many operations at the Hong Kong competition region of the National Games simply could not have run smoothly.” She noted that services at the Main Media Centre spanned 71 days, with HKCT volunteers serving from the very first day through to the final day.
Reflecting on the experience, Professor Chan Cheuk-hay, President of HKCT, said he had experienced the National Games from four different perspectives: as a promoter of volunteer participation at HKCT, a judge in the volunteer selection process, a spectator at the opening ceremony and sporting events, and a volunteer himself.
Drawing on his own decision to take part, Professor Chan encouraged HKCT students to become active participants in the defining events of their time. He said, “Many people say they feel powerless in times of profound change, as though they can only accept what has been arranged for them. This experience has shown us that when major events unfold, we can choose to take part rather than simply sit at home and watch them on television.”
He encouraged students to continue making the transition from “spectators” to “participants”, deepen their understanding of the broader development of society, the country and the world, and take the initiative to identify, seize and create opportunities for themselves.
Related Media Coverage:
2026年1月16日 ─ 黑夜頭燈、1,000小時服務及萬人導師 從書本到國家級賽場：港專百名全運義工師生的體驗（巴士的報）
2026年1月16日 ─ 港專義工服務逾1000小時 助全運會順利舉行 學生：實踐人際溝通理論（星島頭條）
