V Sparkle

3D Printing Community Classroom Passes on VPET Skills 

In academic year 2025/26, CEU launched the “VTC Community Classroom”, an initiative that connects students from various VTC member institutions and disciplines with local communities. Acting as “Community Classroom Instructors,” students share their VPET knowledge and expertise with members of community partners through leading workshops of various subjects. 

In early November, the “VTC Community Classroom” officially commenced. Six students from the Diploma of Vocational Education (Mechanical Engineering) of Youth College visited the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong (ELCHK) Tuen Mun Integrated Youth Service Centre to host a “3D Printing Workshop.” They brought four high-performance 3D printers into the community, mounted on a highly mobile custom-made galvanised iron pipe racks. 

During the workshop, the young instructors introduced senior primary and junior secondary school participants to the principles and wide-ranging applications of 3D printing technology. They guided participants in using a 3D printing platform to create their own models on computers. The platform’s design program allowed participants to first select the type of product they wanted to create. Based on their choice, the program provided a variety of templates to choose from, which could then be customised by adjusting colours and size. The participants enthusiastically brainstormed and designed their products, creating items such as keychains featuring their favourite marine animal and cartoon character, as well as practical tools like rulers for drawing, pillbox, and bottle opener. 

The participants were amazed that the printing process could be completed within just 30 minutes. They were thrilled to receive their finished products and expressed gratitude to the young instructors for their patience and guidance. They also shared that the platform’s templates made the design process much simpler than they had imagined. The six young instructors were delighted to have the opportunity to share their VPET knowledge through the Community Classroom, helping participants realise that applying 3D printing technology in daily life is not out of reach. 

The “VTC Community Classroom” will continue to roll out more activities—stay tuned for updates! 

[Photo 1] Students from Diploma of Vocational Education (Mechanical Engineering) of Youth College host a "3D Printing Workshop" for members of the ELCHK Tuen Mun Integrated Youth Service Centre. 

[Photo 2] Students from Diploma of Vocational Education (Mechanical Engineering) of Youth College act as "Community Classroom Instructors", explaining the applications and techniques of 3D printing to a group of primary and secondary school students.

[Photo 3] Participants design their own 3D-printed products based on personal preferences under the guidance of the "Community Classroom Instructors". 

[Photo 4] Students from Diploma of Vocational Education (Mechanical Engineering) of Youth College bring high-performance 3D printers into the community, enabling primary and secondary school students to design and create personalised products, such as keychains and bottle openers, that integrate into everyday life.