Careers Week 2025: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

From 26 to 29 May, Wellington College Hangzhou proudly hosted Careers Week 2025, a transformative event that brought together pupils, educators and industry leaders for an immersive exploration of future career pathways. This year's programme was meticulously designed to ignite curiosity, broaden professional horizons and equip pupils with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape. Through a dynamic mix of interactive workshops, expert-led panels, hands-on challenges and forward-thinking discussions, Careers Week 2025 empowered Wellington pupils to envision their futures with clarity, confidence and ambition.

At Wellington College Hangzhou, we believe that career education should be engaging, experiential and tailored to each stage of a pupil's development. This year's Careers Week reflected this philosophy by offering age-appropriate, intellectually stimulating and practically relevant activities for both Primary and Senior School pupils.

For our youngest learners, Careers Week was about discovery and imagination.

The Big Skills Challenge transformed classrooms into vibrant hubs of problem-solving and teamwork. Pupils rotated through stations designed to simulate real-world professions—from constructing miniature bridges (engineering) to creating storyboards (media and arts). These activities helped them recognise how their innate talents could translate into future careers.

Career Dress-Up Day was a highlight, with pupils embodying roles from astronauts to environmental scientists. This playful yet meaningful exercise fostered early career awareness while reinforcing the message that no dream is too big. Teachers supplemented the day with discussions about the skills and education needed for each profession, planting seeds for future aspirations.

For older pupils, the week provided in-depth exposure to diverse industries, combining practical skills development with high-level insights from accomplished professionals.

Personality & Career Quizzes kicked off the week, helping pupils align their strengths and interests with potential career paths. Guidance counsellors facilitated follow-up discussions, encouraging pupils to reflect on their academic choices and long-term goals.

Expert-led industry workshops formed the core of the Senior School experience, with 13 sessions spanning fields from biotechnology to fintech, offering pupils unparalleled access to professionals at the forefront of their fields. Each session was designed to demystify career pathways while equipping pupils with tangible skills. These were not passive lectures but interactive, hands-on masterclasses where pupils tackled real-world challenges, debated ethical dilemmas and even pitched startup ideas to guest experts.

Pupils stepped into the shoes of startup founders, learning how to validate business ideas, craft lean canvases and pitch to investors. A highlight was a rapid prototyping challenge, where teams designed solutions for sustainability issues using recycled materials, mirroring the agile processes of Silicon Valley disruptors.

From UX/UI design sprints to coding immersive VR environments, these workshops highlighted how technology drives innovation across industries. Pupils experimented with AI tools like MidJourney and ChatGPT, discussing their implications for creative careers.

Through simulated negotiations and case studies, pupils grappled with contract law, investment strategies and corporate ethics. A mock trial led by legal professionals gave aspiring lawyers a taste of courtroom dynamics.

Hands-on lab sessions covered CRISPR gene editing, renewable energy systems and astrophysics modelling. Researchers emphasised the collaborative, interdisciplinary nature of modern scientific breakthroughs.

A life-drawing masterclass with a China Academy of Art professor explored how artistic rigour intersects with commercial success. Meanwhile, psychology workshops used role-playing to demonstrate therapeutic techniques and neurocognitive research methods.

Two high-impact panels brought together leaders from academia, tech startups and creative industries to candid conversations about career resilience and adaptability.

Panellists debunked myths about linear career paths, emphasising emotional intelligence, cultural agility and systems thinking as the true differentiators in the AI age. A lively Q&A covered topics like:

This practical session gave actionable frameworks to our grade 9 and above pupils for:

The Wellington Talk, “Ignite the Future: Decoding How AI Tools are Reconstructing Work and Learning Paradigm”, provoked critical thinking among senior school pupils about:

Pupils left with personalised AI upskilling roadmaps, identifying courses and projects to future-proof their skill sets.

At Wellington College Hangzhou, we believe in empowering pupils to shape their futures with confidence. Careers Week 2025 was more than just an event—it was a transformative experience that:

✅ Connected pupils with industry leaders for mentorship and real-world insights.

✅ Equipped them with practical skills, from resume-writing to digital literacy.

✅ Inspired ambition by showcasing diverse career possibilities.

✅ Reinforced our school values of curiosity, resilience and global mindedness.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all guest speakers, panellists and workshop leaders who shared their expertise, as well as to our dedicated staff and pupils who made this week so impactful.

The future belongs to those who dream boldly and prepare thoughtfully. At Wellington College Hangzhou, we are proud to help our pupils ignite their potential.