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The Most Recommended IB Schools To Study 2023
The Most Recommended IB Schools To Study 2023
06 | Issue 08 | 2023
www.theknowledgereview.com
Empowering Global
Citizens for the Future
Exploring the Benefits of
International Baccalaureate
(IB) Schools
The Most
Recommended
IB
Schools
to Study,
2023
Beyond the
Classroom Walls
Embracing Experiential
Learning to Nurture
Curiosity and
Practical Skills
Editor’s N O T E
IB Schools
Lighting the Path
to Global Excellence
truth and prioritize holistic service-learning initiatives, students Embark on the remarkable journey of
development. These schools stand as develop an appreciation for diverse IB education and witness the profound
beacons of academic excellence, cultures, perspectives, and global impact it has on the lives of students as
embracing a holistic approach that issues. IB education empowers they become empowered to shape a
goes beyond traditional education. students to become active global brighter future for themselves and the
These institutions foster a diverse citizens, fostering a sense of world.
community of learners, promoting responsibility and a commitment to
intercultural understanding and creating a more inclusive and Have a captivating read!
cultivating global citizens. sustainable future.
h a t e r je e
Alongside rigorous academic pursuits, In its latest edition, 'The Most
students of IB schools engage in
sports, arts, community service, and
personal projects that foster their
Recommended IB Schools to Study,
2023,' The Knowledge Review delves
into the world of IB education and
R i y a C
physical, emotional, and social growth. celebrates its transformative power in - Riya Chatterjee
The aim is to nurture compassionate, shaping the minds of future leaders.
empathetic individuals who can From igniting curiosity and nurturing
navigate the complexities of the world holistic development to fostering a
with resilience and integrity. global perspective and empowering
sales@theknowledgereview.com
June, 2023 Editor-in-Chief Mary D'souza
Assistant Digital
Marketing Manager Mark Clain
American
School
Redefining the IB Curriculum
SPECIAL PROFILE
European International
te
n
ts
School Ho Chi Minh City
Fostering Future Genera on
of Global Ci zens
PROFILE
United Nations
40
International School of Hanoi
Empowering Students to Become Global Ci zens
34
their Desired University Offers?
ARTICLES
The SIS Schools offer three of the world’s best curricula; The school quickly developed a lengthy waiting list of
Singapore, Cambridge and International Baccalaureate (IB). international students. This prompted the Founder to
This unique offering has seen SIS producing excellent quicken their search for a permanent location with
academic achievements that have helped place its students amenities on par with Jakarta’s best international schools.
in 23 out of the 50 top-ranking universities so far.
In a housing development in Bona Vista, South Jakarta, SIS
Tri-Curricula Programming was able to redesign, build, and ultimately transform an
SIS South Jakarta is a K-12 school and is where the SIS ‘abandoned’ clubhouse into a school that is the talk of the
Group journey began. The setup of SIS SJ followed the neighbourhood.
Raffles Institution, a premier school in Singapore, which is
the Founder’s alma mater. Today, the School is easily accessible from many areas of
Jakarta thanks to its location in a peaceful neighbourhood
Combining the unique offering of tri-curricula that borders the upscale Pondok Indah real estate and is just
programming and competitive pricing (priced at more than two minutes from the Outer Ring Road.
half the fee of the other established international schools at
that time), SIS SJ soon gained popularity among the The SIS complex is surrounded by beautiful, curved
expatriates and local communities, which continues till gardens and boasts an open, airy concept. The amenities,
today. which include a competition-sized pool, a football pitch,
basketball courts and tennis courts, are available to
SIS Medan is also a K-12 school and uniquely the first everyone.
School on the island of Sumatra to offer the IB programme
at affordable fees. By doing so, SIS Medan made IB Staying True to Values
accessible to more expatriate and local community The vision of the SIS group explains why it exists. It strives
members, which sets it apart from its competitors. to inspire its learners toward greater heights.
Like its sister school, SIS Medan also offers the SIS tri- The group is committed to its mission to spark curiosity and
curricular programme. Both schools boast a consistently inquiry while developing values and 21st-century skills. It
high above-average IB grades every year. prioritizes learners and personalizes learning to make a
better world.
Collaborating with SIS Network
Despite its distance from Jakarta, SIS Medan and all other The values of the SIS group are fairness, respect, integrity,
SIS Schools in the Group do not operate in isolation. compassion, and courage. These values are the foundation
Members of faculties and staff regularly collaborate with of how the group does things.
Jaspal Sidhu
Founder and Chairman,
SIS Group of Schools
schools are encouraged to visit and watch SIS teachers in
action.
Passionate Leadership DSLO share similar competence outcomes with STEM. The
In the school setting, there are dynamic and goal oriented schools teach and embed STEM into the school
Headteachers, Ryan Krause (SIS SJ) and Karl Bresler (SIS programme.
Medan). They both lead their teams of equally passionate
and capable faculty and staff members. Coding and robotics curricula are taught right from the
early years to develop computational thinking. The SIS
Both headteachers receive the support of the visionary and Technology curriculum teaches Design Thinking.
excellently governed SIS Board and the Council of Head Makerspace and V.R. labs are in various stages of progress
Teachers that they are members of with other SIS Schools. in the schools.
This ecosystem of vision, collaboration and support led to On top of the above, the SIS Schools also find other areas in
the growth of the SIS Schools. the curriculum to provide opportunities for the students to
do STEM activities like school projects and summer
Initiatives to Provide Best Practices programmes. The Schools have also embraced the United
SIS Schools have developed Public-Private Partnership Nations Sustainable Goals. School projects include solving
initiatives aimed specifically at exposing public school environmental and community issues.
teachers to best practices. Teachers from neighbouring
Higher Level of Engagement Trained as an engineer, he spent most of his adult life
SIS Schools place a heavy emphasis on their Global working in Indonesia. Realizing the wide disparity between
Perspectives program. This allows students as early as the good, expensive schools and those at the other end of the
primary levels to understand their environment and global pyramid, Jaspal decided his personal mission would be to
issues. This program then naturally morphs into the IB’s make quality education affordable.
Community Activity Service (CAS) and Theory of
Knowledge Components. Jaspal also sits as an advisor to a public-private initiative
that looks to improve the standards of Education in
Another focus of SIS Schools is its approach to teaching via Indonesia. He regularly speaks at education and investment
Active Learning. This teaching approach allows for a higher conferences, including those held in San Francisco,
level of engagement and better learning outcomes. Singapore, Cape Town and Dubai.
The efforts of the SIS group have been acknowledged, and His latest endeavours include a partnership with Deloitte
the group has received some of the most prestigious awards, looking to ways of training teachers from local
especially in the last three years. communities. The unique model looks to ideas from outside
• 2019: SIS was awarded the prestigious Financial Times – the education industry.
International Finance Corporation (World Bank) Global
Transformational Award for its collaboration model and Jaspal recently established the Inspirasi Schools. These
impact in the education sector. would be established in smaller cities in developing
• 2020: SIS was named by Capital Finance (in London) as countries for the aspirational class.
the Best Educational Institution in SE Asia in terms of
impact on its stakeholders and communities. “SIS was established in 1996 with the support of respected
• 2021: SIS was nominated for the Stewardship Leadership individuals from the Singapore government and Raffles
Award by INSEAD and the Hoffman Global Institute. Institution. SIS subscribes to the Singapore education
system because of its disciplined approach to educational
Thinking Beyond Grades pedagogy. It is also responsive to changes in the world. No
Asked how SIS Schools will embrace the fast-changing wonder it ranks number one in the world, based on the
world, the Founder, Jaspal Sidhu, shared his thoughts and latest PISA rankings. Today with our schools in almost all
said,“The world is indeed unpredictable. Grades alone will major cities in Indonesia and the region, we look to
not be enough. Students need to be curious and try different promote 21st-century skills in this unpredictable world. My
things to tap their interests. No experience is wasted. They dream is to make all SIS Schools accessible to as many
need to embrace challenges and learn to persevere, but they people as possible in this lovely archipelago,” Jaspal
also need to understand their own body and anxieties. Not shares.
keeping things bottled up but reaching out to family,
teachers, and friends for support as they navigate social
and emotional challenges.”
Ryan Krause
“SIS Schools will continue to move with the times and the Head Teacher,
demands of this new and unpredictable world. Skills like SIS South Jakarta
perseverance, analytical skills, collaboration, and
innovation will continue to sit at the centre of the school
program. Technology like Virtual and Augmented Reality
will play a bigger role in our learning and teaching
approaches. Our students have moved to some of the best
local and international universities in the world. And the
best part is we do this with the most affordable set of fees
you will see around,” he continued.
Embracing
Experiential
Nurture
Learning
to
Curiosity and
Practical
Skis
June 2023 (26) www.theknowledgereview.com
dependent on an individual's ability to
learn new skills and adjust their
approach accordingly. By stepping
beyond the classroom walls, students
have the opportunity to engage with
E
the real world, gain hands-on
ducation is not confined to the experiences and develop a deeper
walls of a classroom; it understanding of the subjects they
extends far beyond that. In a study.
rapidly changing world, where
practical skills and an innate sense of This article explores the concept of
curiosity are essential for success, experiential learning and its
embracing experiential learning has correlation with nurturing curiosity
become crucial. The very foundation of and practical skills.
education is a strong connection
between a knowledgeable, caring adult Understanding Experiential
and a secure, motivated child, and the Learning
most respected teachers have Experiential Learning Defined:
discovered how to turn students into Experiential learning is an educational
enthusiastic participants in the approach that focuses on active
instructional process through project- engagement, practical experiences and
based, participatory, educational reflection. It goes beyond traditional
adventures. Learning to learn has classroom instruction by immersing
become a basic competence, as has to students in real-world scenarios where
manage one's learning. In a constantly they can apply their knowledge and
changing world, educational success is skills.
IB curriculum is about more than just academics. Its Broadening the Perspective
primary goal is to develop socially conscious adults who EIS was authorized by the International Baccalaureate in
are equipped to contribute to society in a meaningful way. 2014 and reauthorized in 2019. Since becoming an IB
To that end, the IB curriculum includes an outdoor activity World School, EIS has continued to grow and develop in
component that encourages students to engage in Creativity, terms of numbers, facilities and rigour. It is a K-12 English
Action, and Service (CAS) projects. This helps students Medium school which offers a truly international education
develop a more balanced approach to their studies that giving its students many opportunities to broaden their
emphasizes social and emotional growth as well as perspectives and become global citizens.
academic achievement.
It is an educational village where the school learns to make
Top universities and institutions worldwide recognize and positive contributions to communities and the world
value the IB curriculum, making it an excellent choice for beyond.
students looking to pursue further education. Of those in
Vietnam, the European International School Ho Chi An Amalgamation of Knowledge and Experience
Minh City (EIS) is one of the leading IB Continuum The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) at EIS has a wealth of
Schools, offering a world-class education that prepares knowledge and experience teaching and leading in
students for success in whatever they choose to do. international schools across the globe. Both John Veitch,
Head of School and Jo Roberts, Deputy Head of School
With a focus on providing a truly international education, are deeply committed to the mission and vision of the
EIS boasts a diverse community of over 40 nationalities and school and are fully involved in all aspects of school life.
languages represented.
An effective structure of distributed leadership means that
One of the standout features of EIS is its boutique, garden, the SLT is strongly supported by a variety of leaders across
and low-rise villa-style campus, providing a beautiful and the school, ensuring that all learning programmes are
serene learning environment. But it’s not just the campus clearly defined, rigorous and in accordance with the
that sets EIS apart – the school has a team of world-class requirements of the International Baccalaureate.
teachers, experienced and qualified, with an average of 13
years of teaching experience.
EIS is well-established as one
of only a few IB Con nuum
Schools in Vietnam, and
students receive a
challenging world-class
learning experience, with an
emphasis on concepts and
the development of
essen al life skills.
The Most Recommended IB Schools to Study, 2023
Step-by-Step Growth
European Interna onal EIS is a relatively new school in the city, approximately 11
School Ho Chi Minh City years old. This meant that a great deal of hard work,
dedication and investment had been required throughout
is an educa onal village this time to enable the school to grow in size, quality and
where we learn to make stature to ensure quality and sustainability.
posi ve contribu ons to
our communi es and the As a growing school, facilities and space were issues in the
world beyond. past but due to comprehensive and thoughtful planning and
investment EIS has been able to maximize its potential by
acquiring additional villas to convert into teaching spaces.
Steven Shaw
Success Beyond Grades
O
O
nce upon a time it seemed the only factor in
university application success was academic
outcomes and grades, this is no longer true, if it
ever really was. The expansion of global travel for
university places means competition is becoming fiercer
I wonder what my early career might have looked like had I
had that opportunity to develop those key life skills at a
younger age. You could list similar skills that are developed
for the other opportunities available alongside the benefits
and importance of those skills.
and fiercer and with the constant increase in international
schools across the world, today's students must stand out So what are the implications for school leaders? Firstly,
amongst this ever increasing crowd. So how do students what opportunities can you provide for your young learners
stand out in this global market with so many high achieving within the school environment? How can you balance this
students? This is now the question so many schools are against curriculum needs? My opinion is that leaders need
being faced with. So what are universities looking at to be brave and trust that if students are getting genuine
beyond grades and why? And more importantly, what can development opportunities, it will make them better
schools learn from this? learners but more importantly allow them a better chance at
success longer term.
It has been accepted for a long time that the way to student
potential is to develop the whole student. To focus purely It will mean that schools are fulfilling their responsibility of
on exam outcomes can mean that grades are achieved but at developing the whole individual so they can reach their
what cost? Are these students going to be equipped to potential beyond school and become a globally aware
continue this success in the very different environment or citizen and contribute to society. It will also boost their
tertiary education? This is a concern regardless of whether potential offers from universities and make them more
the student comes with A Level grades, IB Diploma Points, saleable to establishments who are now forced to look
SAT or AP scores or from some other academic system. deeper to select their students, from a global cohort. For
those in the community that may be cynical about the
If these students cannot problem solve, work with others, benefits of these opportunities, although I hope there are not
and communicate clearly, what real long-term prospects do too many, simply refer to the fact that to be offered places in
they have? The real priority for schools must be to develop the top universities students are having to demonstrate
the whole individual so that academic success is possible wider development. This justifies the need although I hope
alongside the development of life skills that will ensure you appreciate that the real need is around student
success well beyond school life. This is the reason that development, not CV development.
good schools embed so many other opportunities within
their curriculum. So why are universities looking at more than just grades, is
this just a way to distinguish between individuals? I believe
Common place now is MUN, International Award or The not. I believe universities understand that a student who has
Duke of Edinburgh Award, debating clubs, charity groups had opportunities outside the classroom and demonstrated a
and other leadership roles alongside the sporting and arts desire and passion to be involved will be the type of
opportunities. These activities do not just bolster the learners more likely to cope with the transition to a new
student's application or CV, they provide real opportunities learning model, are more likely to have the skills to succeed
for learning. Let's take the MUN as an example. The MUN and contribute to their new community, the university.
allows students to actively engage in real life global issues,
it raises awareness. So, whilst it is easy to adopt the view that clubs and
activities will boost an application merely by their presence,
It requires students to consider a problem from a particular it is much more likely that the presence of those additional
stance, the stance of the country they are representing, learning opportunities demonstrate the individual has had
regardless of whether their personal stance is the same or the support and opportunities to develop those key life
quite the opposite. It requires students to share ideas, seek skills needed to meet their potential, in school and beyond.
alliances, debate and discuss points and agree resolutions.
What successful person could not benefit from these skills?
Exploring
the Benefits of
International
Baccalaureate (IB)
Schools
I n an increasingly interconnected
and diverse world, education plays
a vital role in shaping the next
generation of global citizens. The
International Baccalaureate (IB)
empower students to become
compassionate, knowledgeable and
well-rounded individuals ready to
tackle global challenges.