Make it a truly educational day when you go to the 2018 Beijing International School Expo (BISE). Aside from over 50 different prospective schools for your child’s education, beijingkids and Jingkids also bring you experts and key opinion leaders (KOLs) from the education industry talking about the hot topics in learning for the 21st century.
There will be 11 lectures on Jan 13-14 (Sat and Sun), held separately at two lecture rooms on the third floor of Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel. Here we list the lectures by date and time.
Day 1 (Sat, Jan 13)
Lecture 1: “Being Chinese” in the Age of Globalization (11am-noon)
Speaker: Dr. Nie Aijun, President of Peide School
Room 7 • Language: Chinese
In the past, it wasn’t difficult to create a Chinese school with an international orientation. What was difficult was creating a school with an orientation to Chinese culture that didn’t feel like a “costume drama,” didn’t dwell in ancient stereotypes, and was also able to integrate modern educational concepts and ideas. It is the attempt to bond these seemingly disparate things together that drives Peide School, and we are actively exploring how to better strengthen that bond. In our minds, education is not about the debate between “ancient” and “modern” or between “east” and “west.” True education is about human beings; about human nature; about nourishment, discovery, stimulation, enhancement, and sublimation of that nature.
Lecture 2: Let Children be Fulfilled Because of Us: The Ultimate Goal of Education (1.30-2.30pm)
Speaker: Ouyang Hua, Supervisor at Beijing International Bilingual Academy
Room 7 • Language: Bilingual (English and Chinese)
Lecture 3: The Relationship of Practice and Offer from Top Universities (3-4pm)
Speakers: Nini Suet, founder of Shang Learning; Lloyd Paradiso, former president of IECA; Kenny Kruse, China representative of VISIONS Service Adventures
Room 7 • Language: Chinese
Top universities in the US have a higher standard for applicants’ comprehensive strength, such as rich experience, accumulation, soft power, and practice, among others. In order to stand out among numerous applicants, students need to not only improve hard power but also lay emphasis on soft power such as association activities, practice and public welfare events, and academic research. These prove excellent abilities in collaboration, communication, organization, and leadership, so as to successfully get an offer. In fact, it’s not only super scholars who can get an offer from a top university. This lecture focuses on the topic of what kind of practice will help applications to top universities, and what practice will let you stand out.
Lecture 12: Are You Prepared for Your Child’s Future? (11am-noon)
Speaker: Jennifer Sachs, Hyde Academy Administrative Principal
Room 9 • Language: Chinese
The speed with which the world is changing can be overwhelming. As parents, it is hard to keep up with the trends and expectations right now let alone understand what the world will look like for our children.
What do you need to know to make informed decisions about your child’s education? Should he go overseas? If so, when? How can you ensure that your child shares your values and beliefs as he moves on to the next stage in life? Will you understand what he’s doing in international school or overseas? How can you stay involved?
In this talk, we focus on concrete ways to maintain clear communication with your child, develop strong values at home and school, and make wise decisions about where and what he might study in the future.
Lecture 4 (double): The Door to Ivy League Schools: Overseas Study Early Planning and Overseas Education Planning and Children Identity Planning 1+1 (1.30-2.30pm)
Speakers: Liming Yang, senior counselor at YES; Wang Muhai Harry, fellow at the Center for Contemporary Chinese Studies at Peking University
Room 9 • Language: English
The United States has always been the “preferred” place to study for many Chinese students. With the continuous stream of students, however, the enrollment rate of Ivy League schools in 2015 was lower than that of previous years, with many elite schools setting new record low acceptance rates. The average enrollment rate of the eight Ivy League schools, including Yale, Harvard, and Columbia, is less than 10 percent. How can Chinese students applying for Ivy League schools break the dilemma? In this lecture, a former Yale senior admissions officer and senior graduates counselor will discuss the admission rules of Ivy League schools, to explain what kind of students are favored. The lecture will look into successful planning, getting a green card, and knowing the advantages of green cards for further studies.
Lecture 5: Our Education in the Future (3-4pm)
Speaker: Michael Shi, principal at Future Leadership Academy
Room 9 • Language: Chinese
The lecture will look into the background of our times: the post-industrial era, the era of globalization, the era of artificial intelligence. Shi will explain the educational mission that incorporates “three reconciliations” and what it is like seeing the “enlightened and empowered leading the future.”
Lecture 1: “Being Chinese” in the Age of Globalization (11am-noon)
Room 7 • 11am-noon
Dr. NieAijun, President of Peide School, is an alumnus of Peking University, Cornell University, and the State University of New York, and was one of the earliest promoters of camp education in China. Over the last several years, he has also promoted educational innovation in the rural areas of central China’s Hunan Province.
Dr. Nie was a professor of public policy at the University of Minnesota in the early 2000s, after which he also worked for the New York State Government as a member of the State’s Educational Reform Commission, tasked with studying the state’s public school system and proposing potential reforms to the Governor.
Since returning to China, Dr. Nie has devoted himself to innovative educational ideas and concepts. He has played an active role in making camp education an increasingly popular practice in China, because he believes that well-designed camp education is an immensely valuable form of experience-based learning for children, capable of filling in the gaps in more conventional classroom learning.
Lecture 2: Let Children be Fulfilled Because of Us: The Ultimate Goal of Education
Room 7 • 1.30-2.30pm
Ouyang Hua‘s rich experience in campus management, international curriculum, and operation skills enables her to guide BIBA in exploring international education and to make a difference.Through a blending of eastern and western education philosophies, and rooted in the traditional virtues of Ren (Benevolence), Yi (righteousness), Li (Courtesy), Zhi (Wisdom), and Xin (Faith), she has devoted herself to further developing the school into a caring and loving family, and encouraging every member of BIBA community to connect, spread and share love. She says that the teacher is the most visible person for students at school, and it is very important that the school leadership show their respect and love to teachers to build a very harmonious working environment for them. Her passion, dedication and great leadership unite the team together. The unique “BIBA way” that she leads her team to achieve, guides everyone toward the true meaning of education, and to become caring ambassadors who spread and share love. In hopes that every member of the BIBA community enjoys himself or herself at BIBA, her mission is to encourage and inspire them to achieve their goals in this culturally rich campus.
Lecture 3: The Relationship of Practice and Offer from Top Universities
Room 7 • 3-4pm
Nini Suet is the founder of Shang Learning. She is also the former chair of Greater China alumni interviewers for Princeton University, the number one university in the US. Suet is also the China representative for Tabor Academy, a top 20 private boarding school in the US.
Lloyd Paradiso has about 35 years experience in advanced education. He’s the former president and one of the founders of IECA.
Kenny Kruse is the China representative of VISIONS Service Adventures, focusing on public welfare for many years. Kruse is also a traveler and scholar.
Lecture 12: Are You Prepared for Your Child’s Future? (11am-noon)
Room 9 • 11am-noon
Jennifer Sachs is an American with over 25 years’ experience in the field of education in Beijing. Sachs has an undergraduate degree from Goucher College in English Language and Literature with Honors and post-graduate certification in Montessori Elementary Education. In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Sachs has personally consulted with hundreds of families on their educational plans, academic needs, and long-term options for schooling locally and internationally.
As the mother of three American-Chinese sons, Sachs has a great appreciation for the concerns of parents as they navigate the international school waters and try to find the best fit for their children in China and abroad. As part of this process, she has visited more than 50 boarding schools in the US as well as international, bilingual, and local Chinese schools across China to better understand how local Chinese students engage and learn in western educational environments.
In her role as an administrator, Sachs has also worked with international and local teachers to identify gaps in understanding while encouraging mutual respect and enhancing teaching practices on both sides to ensure the success of the students in their care. Sachs is a fluent Chinese speaker.
Lecture 4 (double): The Door to Ivy League Schools: Overseas Study Early Planning and Overseas Education Planning and Children Identity Planning
Room 9 • 1.30-2.30pm
Liming Yang is a senior counselor at YES. He holds a master’s degree in education and a visiting scholar of Pennsylvania Unversity. His other activities are being an IELTS examiner, a judge for English contests at international schools. Yang has over ten years of experience in SAT and ACT training.
Wang Muhai Harry holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University and a master’s degree in political science from Columbia University. His other activities are being a fellow at the Center for Contemporary Chinese Studies at Peking University, and becoming a summer project counselor at University of California, Berkeley.
Lecture 5: Our Education in the Future
Room 9 • 3-4pm
Michael Shi was born in Beijing. He is among the founders of Beijing No.4 High School International Campus. He has made major contributions in course design and international communication. He helped create Beijing No.4 High School as the very first International Pierre de Coubertin School in Asia, and successfully hosted the 8th International Pierre de Coubertin Youth Forum. Shi believes that reading, practical and hands-on work, public services and international education are the keys to nurture future leaders.
In 2017, together with his core management and teaching team, he founded Future Leadership Academy and started serving as principal. He is determined and devoted to exploring the true essence of future education.
Day 2 (Sun, Jan 14)
Lecture 6: A BFSU Learning Map for English Study (10.30-11.30am)
Speaker: Professor Cao Wen, Dean of School of International Education, Beijing Foreign Studies University
Room 7 • Language: Chinese
When it comes to international education, the primary concern of parents tends to be when to go abroad and which international curriculum to follow. In fact, every road leads to Rome. The critical issue is not when and what, but how well our kids are prepared for the challenges. An obvious obstacle is the language. The English our kids learn in public schools using the Chinese National Curriculum is quite different from the international standard English that helps them learn with ease and confidence in the international curriculum. In her presentation, Professor Cao will introduce a learning roadmap of English study for kids that prepares them well to enter the international curriculum at school or university levels.
Lecture 7: Redefining Education from the Standpoint of Life (1.30-2.30pm)
Speaker: Amy Chang, Chinese Principal of Primary School, HD Beijing School
Room 7 • Language: Chinese
“Good Education Fits in Daily Life” is one of the philosophies that HD Beijing School has been adhering to, so the topic of this lecture “redefine education from the standpoint of life” is a reflection of HD Beijing’s education philosophy.
Under HD Beijing’s multi-faceted and dynamic curriculum, we aim to develop each student through their own experiences to have a unique understanding of life.
Our education is closely related to daily life because we believe that true education should be rooted in “colorful life,” and the main goal of education is to go back serving life itself. We do not just teach students specific courses but also develop healthy bodies and minds.
Lecture 8: Love and Wisdom Combined Make the Perfect Education (3-4pm)
Speaker: Hao Shaolin, president of the International Department of Beijing Linchuan School
Room 7 • Language: Chinese
It is not easy for experts to summarize the current situation in education, which is hard for children, teachers, parents, and even headmasters to understand. Children work hard day and night, which stifles their vitality and creativity. Parents have invested so much energy and financial resources in their children’s lives and future development but still are not satisfied. Teachers have put so much energy into the children’s achievements but have not reached their ideal goals. Every parent should think seriously about how to solve this problem of education.
Hao’s lecture will outline the present situation of education and the thinking of parents. He will also explain the ways to cultivate international level education ability for the child so that they can be competitive.
Lecture 9: Future Elites and STEM Education (10.30-11.30am)
Speaker: Dong Cai, founder of Diligence & Delight Learning Center
Room 9 • Language: Chinese
What kind of elite do we need in the 21st century? What kind of qualities should a future elite hold? American psychologist Porum has divided the goal of education into six areas: memorization, understanding, application, analysis, evaluation, and creation. Such qualities of the future elite have become an increasingly significant goal in education research and practice.
No matter which nationality, social, and cultural background one may holds, “learning and reflections, practice and innovation, communication and collaboration, and responsibilities” are always the most important qualities of the future elites. Schools, families, and the society should work together to foster sustainable development of future elites that fulfills the needs of the future world.
Lecture 10: Crisis in Education (1.30-2.30pm)
Speaker: Dr. Martin Stephen, chairman and principal-elect at The National Mathematics and Science College
Room 9 • Language: English
There are many crises in the world today. Yet there is one that could affect the very survival of our world, which is shared by a majority of countries but rarely hits the headlines or is featured in the broadcast media.
The world needs its mathematicians, physicists, chemists, and biologists more than ever before. The minds of our young people, and in particular those minds as applied to STEM subjects, are our world’s largest remaining natural asset.
Lecture 11: Studying Abroad Project of Middle School and Elementary School Students (3-4pm)
Speaker: Sun Liang, general manager of the American middle school test program attached to the North American Test Center
Room 9 • Language: Chinese
The lecture will focus on the topic of preparing for senior high school or university abroad. Is grade the only reference? How to prepare to study abroad in five years? How do the hesitant consumers prepare?
Lecture 6: A BFSU Learning Map for English Study
Room 7 • 10.30-11.30am
Professor Wen Cao has been working in the field of English language education and international education for more than two decades at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), an associate partner of Cambridge International. She and her team have already set up four BFSU-International Curriculum Centres nationwide, committing to the mission of preparing learners to the top universities with their unique stories. Cao is also the director of BFSU International Curriculum Centre.
Lecture 7: Redefining Education from the Standpoint of Life
Room 7 • 1.30-2.30pm
Amy Chang is the Chinese principal of Primary School at HD Beijing Schoo. Chang has won the trust of students and parents with her education motto “Education is nothing but dedication wholeheartedly” in her 27 years of career in teaching. Chang is also the Chief Editor of Integrated Courses and is named one of the Top Ten Influential People in driving national reading. She was Director of Curriculum Research Institute in Yizhuang Elementary School and her book was recommended by the Ministry of Education for middle and primary school library.
Lecture 8: Love and Wisdom Combined Make the Perfect Education
Room 7 • 3-4pm
Hao Shaolin is an expert on home education and the ‘Learning Power’ curriculum. Hao is a Committee member of the China Education Institute of Primary and Secondary School Integrated Reform Professional Committee, and a member of the China Education Institute “12th Five-Year Plan” scientific research planning group of experts. As Beijing New Essence Education co-founder, Hao put forward the education concept of “the cultivation of the Learning Power Curriculum” and built and mastered the “Learning Power Curriculum” course system. He has organized many scientific research projects, such as “high-efficiency reading,” cultivation of the Learning Power Curriculum and many other scientific research experiments. More than one million students have participated in his research activities that have produced remarkable results.
For ten years, Hao has adhered to his belief, “let life flourish for everyone” and has left his mark all over China, in 26 provinces and cities. He has held nearly one thousand lectures about education and trained nearly 300,000 students, teachers, and parents.
Hao is currently the president of the International Department of Beijing Linchuan School.
Lecture 9: Future Elites and STEM Education
Room 9 • 10.30-11.30am
Dong Cai is currently studying the EMBA course at Northwestern University Kellogg Business School. She founded the Diligence & Delight Learning Center (DDC) Talented Youth Program in 2014 with the goal of becoming the best education provider for gifted children.
Ever since the founding of the Program, DDC has been collaborating with many international institutions as well as organizations based on the needs of international education development. Holding multiple summer and winter camps at places ranging from Beijing, to Shanghai, to Shenzhen, DDC has been offering English-instructed STEM courses for thousands of primary, secondary, and international school students. In 2016, DDC was recognized as the “most influential STEM education organization” by Sina Education.
Dong Cai graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University and worked for the China International Capital Corporation for almost 20 years.
Lecture 10: Crisis in Education
Room 9 • 1.30-2.30pm
Dr. (George) Martin Stephen is the present chairman and principal-elect at The National Mathematics and Science College. He has held various positions at top schools in the UK, including High Master of St Paul’s, London, one of “The Nine Public Schools”. Stephen has been the second person in UK education history to hold the title of High Master at both Manchester Grammar School and St Paul’s, London). He has also published 26 books about education, including the famous Educating the More Able Student. What Works and Why, with Ian Warwick in April 2015.
Lecture 11: Studying Abroad Project of Middle School and Elementary School Students
Room 9 • 3-4pm
Sun Liang is the general manager of the American middle school test program, attached to the North American Test Center. He is in charge of the English training of middle school students and younger children. His main courses are English vocabulary, speaking, and pronunciation.
And also, don’t wait for the day to come before you register! Scan the QR code below to go directly to our registration page. We’ve also listed the schools and other educational organizations that you will see at the school fair, to help you get started in your planning. If you know anyone who wants to volunteer, email us at cindyzhang@truerun.com.
The 2018 Beijing International School Expo is sponsored by
Photos: Uni You; courtesy of speakers
