The Outstanding Schools Asia Conference took place on the 30 November – 2 December 2021.
This 3-day online conference provided premium content and networking opportunities for international schools in East and Southeast Asia. It was a must-attend for Executive Leaders, Principals, Academic Heads, Pastoral Heads, Heads of Primary and Heads of Secondary to learn, connect, and collaborate around challenges and opportunities in the current education landscape.
The OSA2021 Conference showcased regional and international best practice, the event provided a uniquely dynamic and engaging platform for thought-provoking and timely discussions, and facilitated networking opportunities with like-minded colleagues.
Improving education is an economic and social priority. Higher levels of education lead to more prosocial behaviour, reduced health care costs, reduced criminal justice costs and increased economic growth. It is therefore not surprising that most jurisdictions have looked for ways to improve the effectiveness of their schools. Unfortunately most of these efforts have had limited success.
In this keynote presentation, Dylan Wiliam will suggest that the main reason that these well-meaning attempts to improve education have failed to improve educational outcomes is because they did not focus on the the most important variable in education—the quality of the teaching in schools.
The talk will conclude by suggesting that there are two “best bets” for improving education at scale—a knowledge-rich curriculum, and supporting teachers in making greater use of classroom formative assessment, each of which can be implemented at little or no cost, and will have a substantial impact on educational achievement.
Delegates are invited to attend the following roundtable discussion. This roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities on the below topic topic.
FACILITATOR: Rachel Arnold, Assistant Principal, Korea Foreign School, South Korea
Western Academy of Beijing was ranked #1 most innovative international school in China in 2020, by KingLead.
Delegates are invited to attend the following roundtable discussion. This roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities on the below topic topic.
FACILITATOR: Dr Yu-Chiao Chung, Visiting Research Fellow – Educational Studies, Goldsmith University
*Programme subject to change
Improving education is an economic and social priority. Higher levels of education lead to more prosocial behaviour, reduced health care costs, reduced criminal justice costs and increased economic growth. It is therefore not surprising that most jurisdictions have looked for ways to improve the effectiveness of their schools. Unfortunately most of these efforts have had limited success.
In this keynote presentation, Dylan Wiliam will suggest that the main reason that these well-meaning attempts to improve education have failed to improve educational outcomes is because they did not focus on the the most important variable in education—the quality of the teaching in schools.
The talk will conclude by suggesting that there are two “best bets” for improving education at scale—a knowledge-rich curriculum, and supporting teachers in making greater use of classroom formative assessment, each of which can be implemented at little or no cost, and will have a substantial impact on educational achievement.
Delegates are invited to attend the following roundtable discussion. This roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities on the below topic topic.
FACILITATOR: Piet Jansen, Director of International Relations, Yes We Can Youth Clinics
Delegates are invited to attend the following roundtable discussion. This roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities on the below topic topic.
FACILITATOR: Dr Joe Thurbon, Chief Technology Officer, Educator Impact
*Programme subject to change
Born to a poor family in Costa Rica, Sandra Cauffman nurtured her impossible dream of space travel and is now the Deputy Director for the Astrophysics Division at NASA. She provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and management for the entire agency’s multi-billion Astrophysics programs and missions necessary to discover how the universe works, to explore how the universe began and developed into its present form, and to search for Earth-like planets.
In this keynote address, Sandra Cauffman will share the key and necessary skills that every leader must have in order to inspire their teams, drive change and have an impact on their wider communities, particularly in the face of adversity.
In this presentation, Nicholas Mckie will explore and share what schools need to do to maximise coaching and mentoring, and utilise them as powerful tools for staff development and capacity building.
Delegates are invited to attend the following roundtable discussion. This roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities on the below topic topic.
FACILITATOR: Emmi Hines, Principal, Udon Thani International School, Thailand
Delegates are invited to attend the following roundtable discussion. This roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities on the below topic topic.
FACILITATOR: Marc Mesich, Founding Director and Principal, Osaka YMCA International School, Japan
In this presentation, Dr Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), will share an update on the latest OECD findings, and discuss how schools must adapt their learning provision for an interconnected world.
*Programme subject to change
Born to a poor family in Costa Rica, Sandra Cauffman nurtured her impossible dream of space travel and is now the Deputy Director for the Astrophysics Division at NASA. She provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and management for the entire agency’s multi-billion Astrophysics programs and missions necessary to discover how the universe works, to explore how the universe began and developed into its present form, and to search for Earth-like planets.
In this keynote address, Sandra Cauffman will share the key and necessary skills that every leader must have in order to inspire their teams, drive change and have an impact on their wider communities, particularly in the face of adversity.
In this presentation, Nicholas Mckie will explore and share what schools need to do to maximise coaching and mentoring, and utilise them as powerful tools for staff development and capacity building.
Delegates are invited to attend the following roundtable discussion. This roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities on the below topic topic.
This roundtable discussion will be an opportunity for participants to enter in an open, courageous, and reflective dialogue around DEIJ in international schools. Led by Joel Jr. Llaban from the International School of Kuala Lumpur, this roundtable discussion will explore the reflection, learning, and actions of the international community in pursuit of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
FACILITATOR: Joel Jr Llaban, Learning Specialist and Instructional Coach, International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Delegates are invited to attend the following roundtable discussion. This roundtable will be camera-on and delegate-led, to ensure all participants have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, provide peer-to-peer support and guidance, and reflect on their current challenges and opportunities on the below topic topic.
FACILITATOR: Ciaran Cunningham-Watson, International School Inspector, PENTA International
In this presentation, Dr Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), will share an update on the latest OECD findings, and discuss how schools must adapt their learning provision for an interconnected world.
*Programme subject to change
Why do we resist change as we grow older. How can we nurture and develop an organisational culture that embraces change and encourages collaboration?
Richard examines why change has become increasingly challenging and how risk aversion can stifle individuals and organisations. He explores how to harness the power of creativity, curiosity and confidence in uncertain times and why we must shift the paradigm to understand that change is not a programme or a strategy but an ever-present organic part of the 21st Century.
It is widely agreed that current observation practices do not improve teaching and learning, but rather hinder teacher risk-taking. In this session, Craig Randall, will explore how to engage with observation as a supportive tool for teacher learning, which combines empathy and growth mindset to create a powerful system for professional collaboration that enables teacher growth and an empowered professional community.
Key learning points will include:
So what can you do to create a school that creates a climate where all stakeholders work together to promote financial success? Having inherited deficit budgets in two schools, Dr. Gregory Hedger was successful in bringing them back to healthy reserves. He also established a positive cash flow in a new school start up within two years. Working in partnership with Cameron Janzen at three schools, the pair have identified procedures to ensure a level of success with financial management in international schools.
Key learning points will include
As the recipient of the ISC Wellbeing Initiative Award 2021, Rami Madani, Head of the International School of Kuala Lumpur will share his school’s journey in creating a community-wide approach to mental health support and wellbeing.
Key learning points will include:
In this practical, interactive and reflective workshop, Sarah Kupke, Head of Professional Learning at ECIS, will discuss and share best practice around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ).
School leaders will explore and understand the tools and resources available to them to promote and effect change within their international schools, and work towards equal and just practices.
*Programme subject to change