The International Schools Network

What key lifelong skills can a gap year, if planned in the right way, help to develop? And, how might having a gap year help students thrive when they move into higher education and the future world of work?

Our Head of Community, Max Humpston, sits down with Sahar Thomson, Admissions and Alumni Coordinator at Global Citizen Year, and three career guidance experts from different international schools and regions around the world to discuss the benefits of taking a gap year, perceptions of gap years in different regions globally, some of the pitfalls and challenges to be aware, as well as some of the practical and actionable advice they provide their students in their different school settings.

Guests include -

Sahar Thomson - Admissions and Alumni Coordinator at Global Citizen Year

Matthew Akitani - University and Careers Counsellor at Copenhagen International School, Denmark

Holly Heibein - Secondary School Counsellor at International School of Stavanger, Norway

Kyra Kellawan - Futures Lead at The British School of Barcelona, Spain

Why is it important to make students aware of and teach climate and sustainability education in a school setting?

In this discussion, Max (Head of Community @ ISN) speaks to three senior international education experts from different regions and schools around the world to discuss why all teachers from all subjects should be working to include climate and sustainability education into their subjects and how to build stakeholder buy-in for whole school climate and sustainability initiatives, including some of the practical and actionable strategies they have implemented in their own international school settings.

Guests -

d'Arcy Lunn – Group Head of Sustainability and Global Citizenship at Education in Motion

Brett Girven - Principal at The Arbor School, Dubai

Megan Kennedy-Woodard - Co-Founder at Climate Psychologists

How might we anticipate the world of work changing in the future? And, what is the one change every school should be making in anticipation of preparing students for the future world of work?In this discussion, Max (Head of Community @ ISN) speaks to four senior international education experts from different regions and schools around the world to discuss how the world of work has changed over the last 10-15 years, how educators and guidance specialists can begin to close the gap between what students are learning at school and what will be expected of them when they enter the workforce, including some of the practical and actionable strategies they have implemented in their own international school settings.

Guests include -

Andy Johnson – Director of Online Education at Immerse Education

Izzet Sengel - High School Counselor at American School of Doha

Jason Holly - High School Counselor at Hong Kong International School

David Turner - College & Career Counselor, Dwight School Dubai

Why is adopting personalised learning into your curriculum so important? How is personalised learning the future of education?

Max (Head of Community at ISN) speaks to six international education experts from different regions around the world to discuss personalised learning and the future of assessment, including some of the practical and actionable strategies they have implemented in their own international school settings.

Discussion sponsored by Education Perfect.

Guests include:

Brian Oshiro - International Education Consultant at Education Perfect

Luci Willis - Head of Secondary School at Raha International School, UAE

Gavin Lazaro - Deputy Head at The Lisboan International School, Portugal

John Kelly - Founder and School Director, Colegio Ikigai, Mexico

Sal Gordon - Head of Teaching and Learning, Green School Bali

Ciara Gillespie - Lead for Achievement and Progression in the Sixth Form, The Alice Smith School, Malaysia

How do you understand what professional development needs your staff and teachers have and how do you prioritise those needs? How can you leverage your own staff and internal expertise to optimise professional development in your school?

Max (Head of Community at ISN) speaks to Ed Lawless - Executive Director, Learning & Innovation at The Qatar Foundation - to discuss professional development, including some of the practical and actionable strategies he has implemented in the various international school settings he has worked in.

How can you create a culture of coaching in your school? And, what benefits can coaching bring to your staff and teachers?

Max (Head of Community at ISN) speaks to four international education experts from different regions around the world about how to build a coaching culture at your school, including some of the practical and actionable strategies they have implemented in their own international school settings.

Discussion sponsored by Making Stuff Better.

Guests include -

Matt Hall - Director, Making Stuff Better

Rebecca Findlay - Head of Primary at The International School @ ParkCity, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Christian Barkei - Principal at St George's International School, Luxemburg

Craig Considine - CEO Tanglin Trust School, Singapore

What should an effective post-pandemic marketing strategy look like? And, how you can avoid making the most common international school marketing mistakes

Richard Gaskell, CEO of International Education Solutions, talks to three marketing experts about the ways that international school marketing has had to adapt post-pandemic, sharing some of the practical and actionable strategies they have implemented in their own school settings and how to avoid the most common marketing mistakes.

Guests include:

Caline Fonteneau – Director of Admissions and Marketing at KIS International School, Bangkok

Aimee Gruber – Director of Enrolment Management & Marketing at TASIS Portugal

Penelope Georgakis – Marketing & Communications Director, Excella (Repton Family of Schools, UAE)