4 global schools that embody the international community

07 Nov 2016

Who does the international community represent? Thanks to the process of globalisation, every single one of us. According to the Financial Times (FT), globalisation is described as a process by which national and regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through the global network of trade, communication, immigration and transportation.

This process has increased the production of goods and services, leading many national firms to evolve into multinational corporations with subsidiaries in many countries, says the BBC. As a result of globalisation, people migrate around the world for work, business or to simply learn the culture and lifestyle of those from countries they are trading with. The development of globalisation has, to a certain extent, influenced the education industry, as expatriates seek good international schools for their children. And so was born the modern parenting dilemma– where should I send my kids to receive a world-class education?

The prospect of finding a good international school in a country you’re not familiar with can seem daunting to say the least. There are plenty of things to consider, like whether the courses provided will be globally-recognised, will your child engage with co-curriculum activities the school provided by the school, will they receive ample academic support, and so on. But more importantly, parents should always be on the lookout for schools that foster a sense of community and acceptance among locals and international students.

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While some parents may be hesitant about sending their kids to an international school, bear in mind that these schools are the ones that offer more than just renowned academic programmes. They encourage critical thinking, team building and leadership skills that are instrumental in helping your child make significant contributions to the world.

And more importantly, growing and learning in a multicultural setting will teach your son or daughter about appreciating the values and beliefs of others as they communicate with people of different races, religion and tolerance. Instilled with an ‘international mind-set’, the next generation will be much more familiar in the global economy and the issues it exhibits. It’s a view that’s shared by a large number of educators, as The Guardian reports that teaching children about global issues and encouraging them to see the world through the eyes of others is of huge importance.

If you’re still not sure what to look out for, don’t worry. Read on to find out more about these four international schools that provide more than just an excellent academic course and fantastic facilities, but also embody the notion of a warm, international community…

STAMFORD AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – SINGAPORE

Globalism lies at the heart of Stamford American International School as their ethos is built around world class education which is core to daily school life. With a truly globalised community of over 65 nationalities across 6 continents, Stamford students from 18 months to 18 years, enjoy an international education where cultural kinship is important and celebrated.

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Often asked, ‘what is it to be a Stamford Lion?’ conjures up answers which include ‘we are proud that the United States represents our largest nationality, but we are equally proud that our other 65 nationalities represent 70% of our student community. We embrace diversity – celebrating each other’s cultures and achieving the ability to live, learn, work, and compete in an increasingly converging world.’

Stamford American believes that being multilingual is a key element of global citizenship. It fosters cultural appreciation and enhances communication skills, not only amongst peers, but through life. This stands behind the development of their World Language Program which offers 3 of the world’s most spoken languages – English, Mandarin and Spanish. There are daily and bilingual options in Mandarin and Spanish taught by native speaking specialists, which starts as young as aged 2, as well as a dedicated Accelerated English Program, for intensive English fluency, available from aged 5 to 15 years.

Stamford American has quickly established itself as the first and only school in Singapore to offer both International Baccalaureate (IB) and American curriculums for students from Pre-Nursery to Grade 12. As one of the leading US centric schools, Stamford American integrates the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards with the IB Programme, and Advanced Placement (AP) credits. Students are set up for university placement and global life ambitions.

With two state-of-the-art campuses with incredible facilities which support an elevated learning experience, studying a Stamford American international education in Singapore, certainly sets up their students to achieve more than they believed possible. Click here to find out more about Stamford American School.

PREM TINSULANONDA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – THAILAND

The city of Chiang Mai is nothing short of spectacular and is one of many things that make studying in this international school a no-brainer. PREM, surrounded by the stunning city landscape, is a boarding and day co-educational international school that’s rich in unique culture, home to 155 students of various nationalities. It is the first school in Asia to offer all four International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes from Primary to Diploma, and an exciting new IB career-related certificate (IBCC) as part of its curriculum.

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Aside from its great courses, PREM also offers an exciting after-school co-curricular program that allows children to grow and nurture their talents outside of class. The program, known as Exploria, provides academic, creative and artistic outlets, as the school believes that co-curricular activities should be a fun extension of what kids are learning in class. Most activities are free of charge and students are encouraged to choose more than one activity each term provided their schedule permits.

WOODSTOCK SCHOOL – INDIA

With such a rich history, it’s no wonder that Woodstock is one of India’s most popular boarding schools. Set high in the Himalayan foothills, Asia’s oldest international school attracts students and staff from all around the world – and with very good reason. Aside from stellar academic programmes for Early (ECP to Grade 4), Middle (Grade 5 – 8) and Upper Years (Grade 9 – 12), the school prides itself on providing a vibrant co-curricular programme and a holistic residence curriculum.

Aside from a fantastic academic course, Woodstock encourages outdoor learning in the Himalayans as it creates authentic learning circumstances that challenge students beyond the four walls of the classroom. Apart from nurturing critical thinking in class, the school also provides opportunities for students to show initiative and develop leadership skills through their community development projects. Your child will be engaging in meaningful plans, whether that means tutoring children in local schools, finding clear water solutions or having a bake sale to raise funds for disaster relief.

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THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN (ASIJ)

Everything about The ASIJ is impressive, from it being the oldest and largest international school with over 1,500 students of different nationalities, to its innovative and challenging curriculum, specifically-designed to cultivate each child’s individual potential. To top it off, the school consistently produces good students who go on to study at top universities around the world.

With a world-class faculty that has two award-winning ASIJ administrators, to the young ones’ custom-built Early Learning Centre, it’s the ideal place for your child to grow into a responsible, global citizen. Students who enrol at ASIJ will have the pleasure of choosing over 100 co-curricular activities – the widest range of any international school in Japan. Not to mention that ASIJ offers the largest and most complete portfolio of fitness facilities of any international school in Japan; with three gyms, a 25m indoor pool, six multi-use tennis courts, a dance studio, fitness center and wrestling room, your child will be spoilt for choice.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International