Shenzhen, China – January 13, 2024 – On January 13, 2024, the Global School Headmaster Forum (GSHF) was grandly held at Whittle School & Studios, a pioneering future-oriented international school in Shenzhen. Organized by GSHF Vice President Hu Guangyu, Secretary-General Xu Zhiwen, Deputy Secretaries-General Wang Zhiping and Xiang Qiqi, and other members after over two months of preparation, this event marked the first international education forum for school leaders in 2024. It carries profound significance in bridging the past and future, gathering global and Greater Bay Area (GBA) international school leaders and education professionals to explore cutting-edge trends in future education. The forum also presented the Outstanding Headmaster Award and Messenger of Light Award.
Secretary-General Xu Zhiwen emphasized the forum’s efforts during the pandemic: “Over the past three years of the global COVID-19 crisis, GSHF organized four online forums and knowledge-sharing sessions, providing Chinese students and families with global educational resources and insights. 2023 was the first post-pandemic year, and educators have been striving to reclaim lost time. We deeply understand the irreplaceable value of time for students—three years equate to an entire middle school phase. Some students transitioned to high school without fully experiencing campus life. Educators therefore shoulder a heavier responsibility: to deliver quality education under any circumstances.”
Established in 2018 as a global nonprofit organization, GSHF is committed to promoting academic exchanges among K-12 school leaders worldwide, fostering inter-school collaborations, and facilitating the convergence of educational philosophies. Its mission is to advance global education and create better learning environments for future generations.
Keynote Speech: Challenges and Opportunities for International Schools
– Liu Rongqing, Director of the Future Education Research Office at Fudan University’s Dewey Center, former Deputy Director of Shenzhen Luohu District Education Bureau, President of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Future Education Research Institute, and recipient of the “National Top Ten Most Visionary Education Directors” award, delivered a keynote titled *Future-Oriented, Globally Benchmarked: Navigating Education in the Intelligent Era*. His speech, blending international perspectives with theoretical and practical insights, sparked enthusiastic applause.
Liu Rongqing
– Jim Hawkins, Founding Head of Whittle School & Studios and alumnus of the UK’s Harrow School, delivered a welcome address and shared *A School for the Future*. He elaborated on Whittle’s vision to “unite aspirations, consolidate strengths, and champion educational excellence,” emphasizing innovation, emotional development, and campus design as integral to learning.
Jim Hawkins
Whittle School & Studios: Vision and Mission
Whittle School & Studios aspires to be “a school for the future,” dedicated to providing premium education for students aged 2–18. Its philosophy prioritizes critical thinking, collaboration, and holistic development, rejecting rote learning in favor of nurturing creativity. The school reimagines daily schedules, campus environments, and every moment as opportunities for growth.
Global Perspectives on Education
– Dr. Randy, Head of Cushing Academy (USA), discussed American boarding school education.
Dr. Randy
– Jose Maning, Principal of Fryeburg Academy (USA), and Caleb, Principal of International School Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), delivered remarks on international cooperation.
– Hu Guangyu, Vice President of GSHF and Principal of SHENZHEN ARCADIA GRAMMAR SCHOOL’s International Division, presented *Reflections on the Development of China’s International Education in the New Era*. He analyzed East-West educational differences across 10 dimensions—educational objectives, core principles, distinctive features, skill development, teacher roles, teacher-student dynamics, assessment purposes, mastery levels, and critical thinking cultivation. He revealed that as of August 2023, mainland China had 970 certified international schools with 520,000 students and an average tuition of RMB 120,000. Hu noted a surge in public high school Sino-foreign joint programs in 2023, signaling continued vitality in international education.
Hu Guangyu
Holistic Education in Practice
– Dr. Eddie Loy, Principal of Shenzhen Nanshan International School, presented *A Holistic Educational Approach*, emphasizing lifelong learning through collaboration, adaptability, and self-discovery. The holistic education framework includes:
– Learning to Know: Cultivating focus, memory, and critical thinking.
– Learning to Do: Preparing students for diverse future careers.
– Learning to Live Together: Fostering teamwork for shared goals.
– Learning to Be: Encouraging creativity and fulfillment in personal and community roles.
Dr. Eddie Loy
Additional Speaker Highlights
– Gong Yixiong, Founder of Stellar Future Education, addressed challenges in student applications (e.g., low GPA, insufficient extracurriculars, language barriers) in his speech *Embracing the Future Through the Vast Universe of Education*.
Gong Yixiong
– Li Hong, Chinese Principal of Nord Anglia School Foshan, shared *Connecting the World Through Education*, focusing on empowering Gen Z with confidence, problem-solving skills, and mental resilience.
Li Hong
– Zhang Jing, Director of the Sino-American Program at Guangdong Experimental High School, analyzed *International Education Development Through Cultural Integration*.
Zhang Jing
– Alison, Quality Director of Ivy International Kindergarten Shenzhen, discussed *Impressions of Foreign Teachers in China*, outlining strategies for recruiting and training international faculty.
Alison
– Dong Xiaping, Regional General Manager of HSBC Private Wealth (Shenzhen), presented *HSBC’s Overseas Education Planning Services*, highlighting HSBC’s comprehensive financial solutions for international families.
Dong Xiaping
Awards Ceremony
Xu Zhiwen, Secretary-General of the Global School Headmaster Forum (GSHF), honored Qian Lang, Chinese Principal of Harrow International School Shenzhen, with the Outstanding Headmaster Award
– Outstanding Headmaster Award: Presented by Liu Rongqing to recipients (left to right): Zou Yanhan, Qin Jianqi, Eddie Loy, Lin Yu, Li Hong, Li Ya, Shen Lu, Meng Xiangzhi, Cai Shaojun, Tang Xun, Zhang Heng, Gao Xu, Zheng Gaosheng, Lai Shengzheng.
– Messenger of Light Award: Presented by Zou Yanhan to honorees (left to right): Wang Zhiping, Ouyang Qiongyan, Wang Fang, Gong Yixiong, Li Mei, Zeng Xiangyu, Wu Jie, Zou Chunlu, Zhang Qian, Cao Yun, Liu Yanliang, Chen Cuilin, Xu Yuan, Dong Xiaping.
Closing Remarks
Supported by Shenzhen JiWu Education and HSBC, the forum celebrated the achievements of GBA educators while setting the stage for 2024’s global initiatives. As both a year-end culmination and a dynamic start to the new year, the event underscored the power of collaboration in shaping the future of education.
Source: Shenzhen Dream