Outcomes of Community-Friendly Schools in Hong Kong

Amid growing competition and evolving demands, schools must rethink their roles in addressing the needs of various stakeholders. Community-friendly schools in Hong Kong, which integrate community resources to help students understand and contribute to social issues, not only facilitate students’ engagement in learning activities and their learning attitudes but also positively impact students’ willingness to serve the community and the school’s reputation. This research adopted both qualitative and quantitative methods, utilizing questionnaires and interviews as data-gathering instruments. The sample included students, teachers, and community stakeholders for the questionnaires, while interviews were conducted with a smaller group, consisting of participants from each of these groups. The performance of these schools was assessed in terms of their impact on students' understanding of the community, willingness to serve, and school reputation. These aspects were evaluated through three tiers of community-friendly schools: community learning activities, activities in cooperation with community organizations, and community services organized by the school. The data analysis employed descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and linear regression models to highlight the significant impacts of these institutions. Key findings revealed that community-friendly schools significantly boosted student engagement in community activities, deepening their understanding of social issues and fostering a stronger sense of civic responsibility. Students' involvement in these programs was strongly linked to a deeper understanding of the community and a greater willingness to serve. These initiatives also positively impacted the school's reputation, as stakeholders perceived these schools as fostering meaningful community connections and shared responsibility.