Applied Learning (ApL) 


Applied Learning (ApL) courses are elective subjects provided in the senior secondary curriculum. They aim to offer a diversified learning platform for preparing students to carry on their study, start working as well as understand the importance of life-long learning by enhancing their vocation-related competencies and obtaining qualification recognition.

HKCT ApL Taster Programmes (Online / Face-to-face)

Open for registration now

What is Applied Learning (ApL) courses within the senior secondary curriculum? Any entry requirements? Secondary school teachers and students are welcome to register and participate in the “ApL Taster Programme” activities in order to know more applied learning courses provided by the Hong Kong College of Technology:

Date:

  • 【Online】 March 8 and March 15, 2025 (Sat)
  • 【Face to Face】 March 22, 2025 (Sat), applicable to students of Secondary 4 only

Time:
Please refer to the timetable below

Application deadline:
February 25, 2025 (Tue)

Application:

  • 【Student】:Please contact the ApL teacher of your secondary school to login the 'ApL System' to submit the application
  • 【Teacher】:Please log in to the EDB ‘ApL System’ and click ‘Taster Application’ in the upper right corner of the system to complete the form

The confirmation with detailed arrangements will be sent out via email on March 4.

Activity Timetable

 

Activity Details

【Online】March 8 at 9:30
【Face-to-face】March 22 at 10:00 at HKCT Jockey Club Ma On Shan Campus

Content:

  1. Introduction to teaching facilities/equipment, related computer software and learning activities
  2. Cybersecurity case study
  3. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways and career prospects

For face-to-face session only:

  1. Visit to Security Operations Centre and Cyber Range & Practice Centre
  2. Experiential activity: simulated network security attack and defense

 

【Online】March 8 at 10:30
【Face-to-face】March 22 at 15:30 at HKCT Jockey Club Ma On Shan Campus

Content:

  1. Introduction to teaching facilities, computer software and learning activities
  2. Introduction to music creation, basic theories and elements of arrangement
  3. Sharing on-stage knowledge, skills and experience by practitioners
  4. Experience activities: Interactive composing session
  5. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways and career prospects

For face-to-face session only:

  1. Experience activities: experience the music creation using Logic Pro

 

 

 

【Online only】March 8 at 11:30

Content:

  1. Simulation of different situations and sharing on common professional English in the marketing industry
  2. Interactive online game on vocational English
  3. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways

 

【Online】March 8 at 13:30
【Face-to-face】March 22 at 11:30 at HKCT Jockey Club Ma On Shan Campus

Content:

  1. Simulation of airport passenger service: assist in handling check-in
  2. Demonstration: How do industry practitioners handle contingencies?
  3. Sharing on aviation trivia, such as energy-saving and decarbonisation at the airport
  4. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways and career prospects

 

 

【Online】March 8 at 14:30
【Face-to-face】March 22 at 14:00 at HKCT Jockey Club Ma On Shan Campus

Content:

  1. Demonstration / Experiential activities: operation and application of gerontech products
  2. Sharing on elderly communication and service skills
  3. Introduction to emerging industry of gerontech - concept and services related to gerontech, potential development and crucial roles played by teenagers within the industry
  4. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways and career prospects

For face-to-face session only:

  1. Experiential activities: operation and usage of gerontech products



【Online only】March 8 at 15:30

Content:

  1. Demonstration: heart-shaped and leaf-shaped special coffee latte art, hand-made coffee & special coffee drinks
  2. Demonstration: making Rose Apple Tart
  3. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways and career prospects

 

 

【Online only】March 15 at 10:00

Content:

  1. Simulation of different situations and sharing on creative use of English related to professional and vocational fields such as advertising, broadcast and media
  2. Interactive online game on creative English
  3. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways

 

【Online】March 15 at 10:30
【Face-to-face】March 22 at 9:00 at MTR Academy, Hung Hom

Content:

  1. Virtual Tour: Simulation Training Center of MTR Academy
  2. Introduction to the crisis management skills of a station assistant and the train captain
  3. Railway trivia
  4. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways and career prospects

For face-to-face session only:

  1. On-site Visit Simulation Training Center of MTR Academy and learn about the equipment commonly used by MTR staff
 

 

 

 

【Online】March 15 at 11:00
【Face-to-face】March 22 at 11:00 at HKCT Jockey Club Ma On Shan Campus

Content:

  1. Brief introduction to the functions and required skills of public relations (PR)
  2. PR case study: understanding of communication skills with media
  3. Case study on multimedia communication: exploring how to effectively deliver promotional messages to target audience
  4. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways and career prospects

 

 

【Online】March 15 at 12:00
【Face-to-face】March 22 at 14:00 at HKCT Jockey Club Ma On Shan Campus

Content:

  1. Sharing on the work of a professional coach
  2. Highlights of course content, briefing on further study pathways and career prospects

For online session only:

  1. Demonstration of fitness training skills, basketball skills and fitness test

For face-to-face session only:

  1. Visit to the fitness room and its related facilities
  2. Experiential activity: conduct fitness test and use the fitness equipment
  3. Showcase ball sports coaching techniques and basic rules by professional instructors
  4. Showcase coaching skills of physical trainers

 

What's special of HKCT ApL courses

  • HKCT ApL provides 11 programmes for students including Pâtisserie and Café Operations, Airport Passenger Terminal Operations, Railway, Music production, Multimedia Communication, Exercise and Fitness Coaching, Gerontech and Services, Creative English–Biz and Media, Vocational English, Chinese Language and new programmes - Cybersecurity 
  • To experience the practical industrial operation in the lessons, students will study and practise in well-equipped Food and Beverage Training Centre inclusive of Integrated Training Restaurant, Creative culinary Practice Lab, Coffee Lab, Mock-up Cabin, Mock-up Front Desk and Hotel Room, Gym Room, etc.
  • HKCT ApL courses are supported by industrial partners / organisations, for instance, MTR Academy, PRET A MANGER, the international sandwich chain shop, Public Relations Hong Kong Limited (PRHK), and Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals’ Association (PRPA), etc.

Programme Information


Certificate in Cybersecurity (Senior Secondary Applied Learning) 

Course Features

  • The “Security Operations Centre” and “Cyber Range & Practice Centre” allow students to interact with virtual and cyber world status in real-time for experiments and training;
  • Engage in role-playing exercises to simulate real-life situations and understand the responsibilities and challenges of different roles in protecting cybersecurity;
  • Explore and test vulnerabilities and weaknesses in network systems, learning how to patch and strengthen systems;
  • Analyzing real-world cyber security cases, students gain in-depth understanding of different types of attacks and intrusions;
  • Arrange the industrial visits and professional sharing of the related industries.

Click here for course details


The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF level: 3
QR Registration No.: 24/000691/L3
Registration Validity Period: 01/09/2024 to 31/08/2029

Recognized by HKQF


Certificate in Gerontech and Services (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)

Course Features

  • Visit 'Gerontech and Innovation Expo' jointly organized by the government and The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, understand the latest developments of gerontech products and solutions;
  • Visit 'Jockey Club “age at home” Gerontech Education and Rental Service Centre', learn more about the practical information and have hands-on experience on gerontech equipment;
  • Visit Residential Care Homes to observe the practical use of the technological products among the elderly;
  • Visit the gerontechnology industry clusters, i.e., service enterprise, medical centre, research and development centre;
  • Strengthens the thinking skills, people skills, values and attitudes, and career-related competencies of the students to prepare for further studies and career development.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF level: 3 | QR Registration No.: 23/000614/L3
Registration Validity Period: 01/09/2023 to 31/08/2028

Recognized by HKQF

 

Certificate in Popular Music Production (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)

Course Features

  • Field visits to professional studios, visit to performance venue and meeting with music producers and professionals, so as to deepen students' understanding of the music industry;
  • Use professional music software and hardware for music creation in a professional studio, so as to further understand the knowledge and skills required in the industry;
  • Students appreciate local and international popular music in different periods, and compare different song styles to create their own music and performance style;
  • Students create their own music for individual or group performance and sketch an online marketing strategy plan to promote the music project.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF level: 3 | QR Registration No.: 21/000022/L3
Registration Validity Period: 01/01/2021 to 31/08/2028

    Recognized by HKQF
   

 

Certificate in Airport Passenger Terminal Operations (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)

Course Features

  • Provide students with basic knowledge and practical skills of the airport passenger terminal operations
  • International Airport Passenger Terminal visit, technical visit, simulated workshop with industry standard
  • Career Development: passenger terminal operations officer, Student Air Traffic Control Officer (SATCO) at Civil Aviation Department, flight operations officer, air service officer, ground service officer, ticket service officer, air cargo officer, etc.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF Level: 3 | QR Registration No.: 20/000001/L3
Registration Validity Period: 01/01/2020 to 31/08/2027

Supporting Organization   Recognized by HKQF
 

 

Certificate in Railway Studies (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)

Course Features

  • Provide students with safety, technological and operational knowledge of the modern railway industry, and introduce various positions of the industry
  • Train driving simulation, railway facility visit
  • Supporting Organization: MTR Academy
  • Career Development: train captain, train station officer, assistant logistics officer, electrical and mechanical tradesman or technician, operation officer or project officer in transport-related industry, etc.
  • Some lessons conducted in MTR Academy

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF level: 3 | QR Registration No.: 17/000964/L3
Registration Validity Period: 01/01/2018 to 31/08/2028

Supporting Organization  Recognized by HKQF
  

 

Certificate in Pâtisserie and Café Operations (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)

Course Features

  • Introduce the characteristics of pâtisseries and cafés, food production, café operations, food hygiene and other related knowledge
  • Make special beverages and patisseries by using different ingredients
  • Supporting Organization: Pret A Manger (Hong Kong) Ltd and Coffee Lab Asia
  • Career Development: pastry chef, bakery chef, chef, restaurant waiter/waitress, barista and entrepreneurship (e.g. café, pastry shop, bakery), etc.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF level: 3 | QR Registration No.: 16/000095/L3
Registration Validity Period: 26/01/2016 to 31/12/2026

Recognized by HKQF

 

Certificate in Exercise and Fitness Coaching (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)

Course Features

  • Equip students with basic knowledge in the areas of sports science, fitness and health as well as the fitness testing and assessment through the practice of exercise and fitness skills
  • Through integration of learnt knowledge and skills, students are able to design and implement exercise and fitness training activities
  • Supporting Organization: Freemen F.C., Hillen Sports
  • Career Development: sports coach, fitness instructor, sports event officer, sports executive, recreation and sports facility manager, etc.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF Level: 3 | QR Registration No.: 20/000003/L3
Registration Validity Period: 01/01/2020 to 31/08/2027

Supporting Organization   Recognized by HKQF
   

 

Certificate in PR and Multimedia Communication (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)

Course Features

  • Attach importance to both theory and practice, and cover topics of public relations strategies, communication skills, brand images and multimedia applications
  • Students are equipped with knowledge and skills of public relations and communication through participating the production of online project(s), which can better prepare them for further studies and career pursuits
  • Supporting Organization: Public Relations Hong Kong Limited (PRHK), and Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals’ Association (PRPA)
  • Career Development: marketing assistant, event assistant, media production assistant and public relations clerk, etc.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF Level: 3 | QR Registration No.: 20/000002/L3
Registration Validity Period: 01/01/2020 to 31/08/2027

Supporting Organization   Recognized by HKQF
 

 

Certificate in Applied Learning (Vocational English) – English for Business Services

Course Features

  • This course is specially designed for high school students to cope with today's high demand for communication in English in general work contexts and specific sectors. This will be helpful for students to enhance their English level and equip themselves to step into the workforce upon graduation or handle work situations of their part-time or summer jobs
  • Students will learn from fundamental to more advanced levels of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills and apply such skills to specific scenarios in a wide range of contexts, namely business communication, sports and recreation, social services, public relations, tourism and hospitality, and e-commerce and social media
  • Supporting Organization: Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals’ Association (PRPA)
  • Career Development: marketing assistant, recreational clubhouse officer, event assistant, project assistant, customer service officer, restaurant attendant, social media executive, etc.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF Level: 3
QR Registration No.: 21/001401/L3, 21/001404/L3, 21/001405/L3
QF Level: 2
QR Registration No.: 21/001402/L2, 21/001403/L2
Registration Validity Period: 01/01/2022 To 31/12/2026

Recognized by HKQF

 

Certificate in Creative English – Biz and Media (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)

Course Features

  • This course aims to lay in students a foundation in the basic skills and knowledge in creative use of English through applied learning contexts related to professional and vocational fields, including broadcast and media, advertising and public relations, and eCommerce and global business. 
  • Experience the complexity of the context, e.g. visits to broadcast and media companies or public relations agencies to experience the authentic setting; one-on-one or small group interactions with native English PR professionals to learn the importance of English communication in the authentic working environment
  • Career Development: advertising practitioners, brand marketers, broadcasters, creative writers and translators, digital marketers, event assistant, project assistant, social media influencers, scriptwriters, etc.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF Level: 3 | QR Registration No.: 22/000802/L3 
Registration Validity Period: 01/09/2022 to 31/08/2027

Supporting Organization      Recognized by HKQF
     

 

Certificate in Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) – Practical Chinese

Course Features

  • Master the basic knowledge of Chinese via provision of simulated contexts of further study, career development and daily life
  • Improve Chinese proficiency by guided and structural contents in 3 different levels
  • Supporting Organization: Hong Kong Airport Services Ltd (HAS), Home Market, Pret A Manger (Hong Kong) Ltd, Support the Employment of People with Disabilities (SEPD), Eaton Hotel Hong Kong
  • Career Development: hotel receptionist, recreation clubhouse officer, airport customer service officer, event assistant, marketing assistant, programme assistant, customer service officer, retailer, disciplined service officer, etc.

Click here for course details

The qualification of this programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework in Hong Kong.
QF level: 3
QR Registration No.: 18/000525/L3, 18/000526/L3, 18/000527/L3, 18/000528/L3
QF level: 2
QR Registration No.: 18/000521/L2, 18/000522/L2 , 18/000523/L2, 18/000524/L2
QF level: 1
QR Registration No.: 18/000517/L1, 18/000518/L1, 18/000519/L1, 18/000520/L1
Registration Validity Period: 06/07/2018 to 31/08/2028

Complementary

Mode of Study

Mode 1: Classes conducted in HKCT campuses
Mode 2: Classes conducted in a venue agreed between HKCT and the secondary schools

Applied Learning Subjects Result


* According to the Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 40/2017, applicants of Associate Degree and Higher Diploma programmes are allowed to use up to two Applied Learning (ApL) subjects in the application for entrance requirements. However, ApL Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) is not applicable and the existing levels of results, i.e. "Attained" and "Attained with Distinction (I) / (II)", will continue to be used.

Study Moments

Students of Railway Studies performed train driving simulation
Students of Railway Studies visited railway facilities.
Students of Exercise and Fitness Coaching performed different sports training including baseball.
Students of Exercise and Fitness Coaching performed different sports training including basketball.
Students of Pâtisserie and Café Operations can use all professional coffee facilities provided in Food and Beverage Training Centre to practise coffee brewing.
Students of Pâtisserie and Café Operations can use all professional coffee facilities provided in Food and Beverage Training Centre to practise coffee brewing.
Students of Applied Learning Chinese learnt Chinese from different simulated contexts of daily life and activities.
Students of Applied Learning Chinese learnt Chinese from different simulated contexts of daily life and activities.
Students of Public Relations and Communication visited media and communication company
Students of Public Relations and Communication visited media and communication company

Pamphlet Download