Pioneer work through 'East meets West'

Chinese and foreign teachers exchange ideas at a workshop. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Reflection on 'East meets West' management

While the concept of "East meets West" should be integrated with each aspect of Xiehe's education, the motivation to do this comes from the management team. The Chinese and foreign principals act as 'parents'; though they have different cultural backgrounds and expertize, they often need to communicate with each other and find solutions to challenges, and implement them together in order to make them coherent and unified.

Reflection on 'East meets West' teaching staff

The teaching staff are the soul of a school's development. There are two characteristics of Xiehe teaching staff: Cross-cultural and Cross-boundary.

Cross-cultural: Xiehe always encourages cooperation between Chinese and foreign teachers. Chinese teachers excel at traditional and competitive teaching, while foreign teachers excel at teamwork and motivating students' interests. Through their co-teaching, curriculum research and development, the curriculum will improve more creatively and faster.

Cross-boundary: SUIS teachers are not only defined in the pedagogical field, the inclusiveness of which gives the opportunity to the talents from other fields who have a passion for education and are willing to dedicate themselves to realizing their own values. Meanwhile, it absorbs various mindsets and good elements into the teaching to enrich it and make it closer to real life.

Reflection on 'East meets West' Curricula

Education needs to fulfill values through cultivating talented people, and the core tool is the curriculum. After three stages of development and adjustment, Xiehe Education has found an optimum 'balance point' within the curriculum system.

Primary Stage: We will maintain a balance between 'teaching by subject' and 'interdisciplinary' programs, making sure that Chinese basic education advantages can be adopted, and leaving enough space for international education 'inquiry' components.

Middle and High School Stages: We will try our best to meet the students' personal development through offering multiple pathways and choices. For example, we not only offer music and drama subjects, but also a professional makeup course and other subjects.