An important element of gaining a holistic education is the acquisition of inter-personal and problem-solving skills. This is also part of the basic training for all prospective teachers. To enable students to gain the best out of campus life and to encourage personal development, hostel residence became compulsory for all first-year full-time pre-service students in 2005/2006.

Mrs Yvonne Chan, principal of St Paul's College Primary School, also pointed out the importance of the live-in hostel experience to teacher training, "Living under the same roof makes students learn how to respect and help one another. Making friends of different backgrounds also helps students open their minds and widen their horizons. These experiences is an integral part of the training of professional educators."