Embrace the Journey
From Feb 2025 to Jun 2025
Research Project Log: Bridging Creative Education and Industry in Hong Kong
This log documents the development of my research project exploring the connection between Hong Kong’s Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) and HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity (HKSC), Hong Kong’s pioneering arts-focused secondary school.
Introducing Block Patterns
Project Genesis
The study emerged from two key observations:
- Hong Kong’s CCI contributes significantly to the economy (Census Dept, 2023) yet faces creativity development challenges in mainstream education (Tam et al., 2014)
- HKSC’s unique Creative Profession-oriented Programme (CPOP) offers an alternative model, but its long-term impact remains unstudied
Research Design Evolution
Initial plans underwent significant refinement after faculty feedback:
- Shifted from Thematic/CDA analysis to direct qualitative analysis of focus group data
- Narrowed participant criteria to alumni 4 years post-graduation – enough time for career establishment but before full industry socialization
- Created comparative framework between:
- Direct employment path alumni
- Further education path alumni
Methodological Framework
The study employs:
- Structured focus groups (Neuman, 2014) with 8+ year alumni across all CPOP streams
- Comparative analysis of educational value perception between career-starters and further-study students
- Career pathway mapping to assess HKSC’s role in CCI talent pipeline
Key Innovations
- Temporal Focus: The 4-year post-graduation window captures crucial early-career transitions
- Discipline-Specific Analysis: Examines how different CPOP streams (Film, Design, etc.) prepare students differently
- Applied Learning Assessment: Evaluates concrete examples of HKSC knowledge in workplace/study contexts
Implementation Challenges
- Participant recruitment required extensive HKSC network engagement
- Developing non-leading questions that elicit authentic experiences
- Balancing discipline representation in focus groups
Preliminary Insights
Early data suggests:
- HKSC’s emphasis on “divergent thinking” (HKICC, 2006) strongly correlates with creative problem-solving abilities
- Alumni frequently reference the school’s culture of “passion precedence” as both strength and challenge
- Clear differences emerge between how various CPOP streams translate to career success
Future Directions
This foundational study opens avenues for:
- Longitudinal tracking of creative career trajectories
- Comparative studies with traditional school graduates
- Curriculum development recommendations for creative education
The project represents an important step in understanding how specialized arts education can address Hong Kong’s creative workforce needs while contributing to global discussions about educating for creative economies.
Project Resources:
