When it comes to international schools abroad, expatriate parents are often bombarded with a long lists of school facts highlighting various aspects of each school; from curriculum to accreditation to achievements to facilities, each school has a myriad of reasons why they are the best fit for an expat child. One of the most common phrases mentioned is global education. But what does this actually mean? Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing)’s Superintendent Nanci Shaw discusses how the school’s education practices craft students ready to make a difference in the modern world.

Global vs. International

In discussing education models offered by international schools not just in China but around the world, the terms international education and global education are often used interchangeably. Ms. Shaw seeks to dispel this misconception: “There is a clear distinction between these two classifications. A global education goes beyond awareness and understanding of other cultures, nationalities, religions, and languages; beyond the development of international attitudes and universal values.” While an international education recognizes and studies different cultures from afar, a global education goes as far as embracing those same cultures, fostering a deep appreciation of the host culture in students in order to craft them into more well-rounded global citizens.

East Meets West

YCIS Beijing is a school that utilizes such a model. Ms. Shaw details how the school blends traditional Western teaching methods with the culture of the host country, China: “The concept of ‘East meets West’ at YCIS Beijing implies a shift in mind-set and state of being, an actual process of inner transformation that results not only in seamless English and Chinese fluency, but also in the melding of altruistic and collective Confucian thought with Western individualism and innovation, a stellar combined pursuit of ‘balance’ and ‘truth’ that prepares our students to be internationally-minded and caring global citizens.” This combination of principles from both China and the West is a major part of YCIS Beijing’s unique education philosophy.

Developing a Moral Code

With this enlightened understanding of global education in mind, YCIS Beijing believes that the education of each child’s inner character is a vital piece to this process. Ms Shaw writes: “A true international school is grounded in a philosophy of international mindedness and global citizenship; ethical and principled decision-making; critical thinking and problem solving; compassion, care, and community service; and issues of global significance relating to the environment, sustainable development, and human rights.” As such an international school, the curriculum at YCIS Beijing ensures not only that students leave the school with a high-quality education with the necessary skills to function in the world at large, but also the principles to appropriately guide the application of those skills and abilities.

YCIS Beijing prides itself on its globalized curriculum, bilingual teaching focus, and proper development of a moral code in students. To learn more about each of these unique and special principles, please visit our website at www.ycis-bj.com.