Running Education Like a Marathon: An Interview with Vice President (Administration) Dr Tom Fong Wing-ho
At seven o’clock on a winter’s morning, Causeway Bay is still caught in the residue of the night. Streetlamps flicker against the pale light of dawn, and the air carries a sharp chill. The streets, usually empty at this hour, are suddenly alive with bodies in motion. Runners stretch, breathe, and gather at the starting line. Among them is Dr Tom Fong Wing-ho, Vice President (Administration) of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK). The pistol fires, and the crowd surges forward.
For Dr Fong, running is not simply a sport. It is a philosophy – a rhythm of endurance and renewal that threads through his daily life and his work in education.
Non-stop perseverance and belief
His relationship with long-distance running began in his student years. After a pact with friends over a decade ago to run the Hong Kong Marathon together, the habit became a discipline. “Running with friends means you support each other. Even when it gets tough, you don’t give up so easily,” he recalls. Running, he says, is both collective and solitary: a shared journey and a personal test. That duality – solidarity and self-mastery – mirrors the essence of education, where teachers and students strive together yet must each confront their own limits.
For him, the meaning of a marathon lies not in speed but in persistence. “You run for miles, exhaustion sets in, and you think about quitting. That’s when you reset – drink water, steady your breath, clear your mind –and then push forward.” The ability to recalibrate in difficulty, to endure and continue, is, he believes, the very quality educators need in a world of constant change.
Education is a race without a finish line
Dr Fong has many spent years in higher education administration. In 2008, he joined the Hong Kong Institute of Education, EdUHK’s predecessor, as Director of Student Affairs, shaping a holistic student experience. In September 2024, he returned to EdUHK as Vice President (Administration), carrying the same sense of purpose.
He sees in education the same ethos as in marathon running: initiative, resilience, and the refusal to surrender. The difference, he notes, is that education has no finish line. In 2024, EdUHK launched a curriculum revamp under the theme ‘Education Futures, Diverse Talents’, preparing students for the demands of a rapidly shifting world. This year, the University’s marathon team adopted the slogan ‘Run for Education Futures’, binding the discipline of sport to the mission of education. “In this era of rapid transformation, lifelong learning is no longer optional,” he says. “Education is a race that never ends.”
Building an athlete-friendly campus
EdUHK has long been a pioneer in supporting elite athletes. In 2014, it signed a memorandum with the Hong Kong Sports Institute – the first UGC-funded institution to do so; in 2021, it formalised a partnership with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, opening dedicated admissions pathways for athletes.
“We provide flexible schedules and exam arrangements so athletes can balance study, training, and competition,” Dr Fong explains. “But we never lower academic standards.” The approach is rigorous yet inclusive, allowing athletes to excel in both sport and study, while embedding a campus culture that values discipline and perseverance.
Education Futures: sports, health, and well-being
In EdUHK’s Strategic Plan 2025–2031, ‘Sports, Health and Well-Being’ is one of seven strategic priorities. Facilities matter – the University boasts a modern sports complex and recreational spaces – but Dr Fong emphasises that infrastructure is only the foundation. The deeper goal is to make physical activity part of everyday life.
Recent initiatives – the EdUHK Campus Run, the Caring Together Walkathon, and the Marathon Preparation Workshop – brought students, faculty, and alumni together, using sport as a thread for whole-person development. Dr Fong describes three guiding ideas: Wellness – physical and mental health as prerequisites for meaningful learning; Sport for All – everyone finding a form of exercise they enjoy; and Mindfulness – meeting success and setback alike with equanimity.
Leading by example
For the past two years, Dr Fong has helped establish the EdUHK Hong Kong Marathon Running Team and set up a supporters’ booth near the finish line at Victoria Park. It was more than a rest stop; it was a symbol of community. After crossing the finish line, runners gathered there to take photos with teammates, family, alumni, and university leaders, sharing congratulations, pausing for relief. Student cheering squads lined the route, ensuring that runners felt the University’s presence at every step.
After completing the 2026 Hong Kong Marathon, Dr Fong stood before the booth and reflected. “Through the race, we strengthen our bodies, spend meaningful time with our families, and deepen our ties with friends, colleagues, and alumni. I look forward to gathering again next year, to continue the race,” he said.
From the road to the blueprint
Dr Fong’s steps extend beyond the marathon route into the long horizon of education.
On the road, he runs with quiet determination, pressing forward against the wind.
In education, he clears the path for others.
It is a race without a finish line.
Step by step, Dr Fong continues to chart his course, both in running, and in education.
-Ends-
Running Education Like a Marathon: An Interview with Vice President (Administration) Dr Tom Fong Wing-ho
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