EDUCATION


and the creative arts, as well as technology and digital workshops that cater for the young entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future. It is fairly typical that these new schools have facilities to grow into as their student rolls increase.


Fuelling global ambitions I had the privilege of joining sixth-formers at the British International School Kuala Lumpur for lunch. Razor-sharp, enquiring minds were keen to hear about the latest news impacting the UK, Europe and the US, and to discuss books and films. Students switched topics confidently, and were equally at ease


talking about everything from economic theory, environmental issues, and the latest tech gadgets, to career and university options, holiday trips to Australia, and school treks and fundraisers. There is no doubt that the quality of the education and school


COBIS 2017 From the figures, it’s clear that Southeast Asia dominates the


list of countries with the highest number of premium English- medium international schools in the greater East Asia region. But what does this mean for employers and relocating families? The sheer volume of schools can be bemusing, and even misleading. Most of these schools are catering for the local population,


often the rising middle class with strong aspirations for education as a passport to the best universities and career prospects for their children. Only a small percentage cater for the expatriate population. Schools typically have a 70–80 per cent local intake. However,


it is the standard of the school and the quality of the education that are most important. Employers and parents should be guided by factors such as accreditations and membership of bodies like COBIS and the Council of International Schools (COIS). They should also check out safety policies and compliance. Curriculum will obviously be a guiding factor, from the


International Baccalaureate (IB) to International GCSE (IGCSE), and from A Level to the American, French and German systems. This is largely a matter of parental choice.


Focus on Malaysia I took up the offer of a day tour, run by the IPSE conference, of three exceptional schools in Malaysia. The fabric of these schools, all recently opened, was superb, as were their facilities. The emphasis on science and technology was notable, but drama


and music facilities, art studios and libraries also abounded, in support of a truly holistic education. St Joseph’s, a Catholic school in Kuala Lumpur, is modelled on


Singapore’s famous school of the same name. Beautiful classrooms, and buildings set amongst the lush greenery, exuded an air of calm, happy learning, from pre-school to seniors. The headteachers of both the junior and senior schools were


keen to emphasise the research-based decision-making that had influenced every detail, from the fabric of the school to the learning approach and curriculum. There is also a keen interest in sport. Where there is lack of


space, outdoor facilities shared with neighbouring colleges – from artificial-grass pitches to basketball courts and swimming pools – are a good solution for many city schools, with no compromise on quality. However, to the uninitiated, seeing an enclosed basketball or tennis court on a school rooftop can be a surprise. At a school like Epsom College, there is no problem of space. The


enormous campus of this prestigious boarding school in Bandar Enstek, south of Kuala Lumpur, has every facility for sport, drama


facilities on offer underscores the region’s desire to match, and even exceed, the best in the world. There is still the ambition for many to achieve the top prize of a place at an elite university in the US, the UK or Europe, but things are changing fast. There is a pipeline of highly educated and driven young people


coming through these new international schools, who will go to university or college and take up roles in their local region or further afield as part of the new global talent pool. For international employers, there is a huge opportunity to


foster relationships with schools in the Asia region. For expatriate families, it is a question of checking the credentials of the schools on offer, exploring the quality and style of education, the often- exceptional facilities, and the energy and ambitions of the region, and then embracing the opportunities that lie ahead for your child – and, indeed, the whole family. Of course, it is individual parents who know their children


best, but HR global mobility teams and their supporting relocation professionals can do a lot to encourage them to look below the surface and read between the lines in making their school choices. See Relocate’s 2017 Guide to International Education & Schools and Guide to Education & Schools in the UK for practical advice. If you, as an employer, would like to engage with inspiring


schools like these to support the talent pipeline of the future, email fiona@relocatemagazine.com. Find out more by reading about our evening of innovation at the Science Museum (see p22). For more insights from international headteachers, watch our


series of videos from the COBIS Annual Conference, available now on relocateglobal.com


See further coverage, with videos, in our special education newsletter. Asia education guide available autumn 2017.


50 | Re:locate | Summer 2017


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52