It is not Beijing but Jingdezheng which is the capital of china in China! This ancient city famous for ceramics hosted HOPE’s international education forum between 29 February and 2 March. The event, supported by Loughborough University and Nottingham University Ningbo, gathered around 30 principals, education counsellors from our partner international schools and agents to discuss hot topics of international education, to explore collaboration and to offer their love and hope to autistic children.
Participants visited China Ceramic Museum
The main focus of the event was an education conference on ‘how can extra curriculum activities and study tours help school and students development and be beneficial to their university application’. There has been a trend that top universities not only look into students standard academic background and English language proficiency such as GPA and IELTS/TOEFL scores, but also “soft skills” including leadership skill, teamwork spirit, social responsibilities etc.. Therefore various enrichment activities for students and schools are in high demand, and under this background, HOPE invited UK universities representatives, counsellors of international schools, partner agents and summer camp and activities suppliers to attend this conference. Daniel Zheng, Director of HOPE, delivered a keynote speech at the conference on ‘how to develop and implement innovative, influential and sustainable marketing events and enrichment activities’. Using HOPE’s experience and statistics in the past 5 years, he stressed the importance of enrichment activities in regard to students’ holistic development as well as to university applications. He also introduced how HOPE developed various summer/winter study tour programme both overseas and at home, and other charity, online tutoring programme catering to students of different age. In terms of marketing activities, Daniel cited some good examples of what HOPE organized recently, including education forum with charity event, live broadcasting of UK institution campus tour and interviews with admission officer, HOPE alumni and parents’ company tour and excursion focusing on career development etc.. All these showcased HOPE’s commitment to students services and long term professional assistance with our partner institutions overseas. ‘Change is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to all the professionals in this industry.’ Daniel summarized with one sentence to end his very enlightening and practical presentation.
Daniel Zheng delivering a keynote speech at the conference
Della Cheng, President of China Institute of College Admission Counselling(ICAC), also the Director of College Counselling of Ningbo Foreign Language School, shared her experiences in recent years of university applications. In American university application process, especially for Ivy League colleges, academic results were not the only criteria. Students’ ‘soft skills” and participation in various enrichment activities and projects could be equally important to academic records.
Della Cheng sharing her experiences in university admission of UK, US and Canada
Chelsie Zha, Project Manager from Loughborough University, Charlie Chen, Business Development Manager, Nottingham University Ningbo, and Gloria Geng, Senior Counsellor and Career Adviser from Shanghai Hongwen International School also furthered on this topic from UK university and Chinese international school’s perspectives.
Chelsie Zha, Loughborough University, Charlie Chen, Nottingham University Ningbo, sharing
their advice from UK university’s perspectives.
The panel discussion session invited Ms. Zhang Jingjing, Dean of International College of Jingdezheng Ceramic University, Mr. Ren Ruijie, Principal of Shanghai Clover Autism Children Rehabilitation Centre, and and Dr. Liu, Zhilong, Founder of Linnaeus Lab. Chaired by Alex Wen, Marketing Director of HOPE, the panel introduced their programme for students and how they worked with HOPE to assist students and schools’ development in terms of summer camp and charity events.
Panel discuss sharing experience on how enrichment activities enhance school and students
development
The conference was brought to a climax by an auction sale of autism children’s paining works. from two schools. The works were all painted by autism children by using their imagination and thoughts. Funding raised will all go to the two autism rehabilitation centre presented at the conference.
Some winners of the auction sale for paintings from autistic children
Apart from the conference, the three-day event also took the participants to visit China Ceramic Museum, Jingdezhen Ceramic Industrial Museum converted from the former ceramic production plant, and Imperial Kiln Archaeological site and Museum. The taste programme for visitors enables them to know better the enrichment activities that Jingdezhen can offer.
Visiting Imperial Kiln Museum and the archaeological site
The whole trip in Jingdezheng ended with happiness and high comments from the participants.
‘This is another good example of an innovative, meaningful and influential event HOPE organized. Very enlightening indeed’. Said Mr. Bin Fang, Vice Principal of Quzhou Gaotie International School.
‘Grateful for HOPE to organize another meaningful event after Chongzuo and Xiapu which Loughborough University all attended! The visit to Shanghai Clover Autistic Rehabilitation Centre and the charity walk after the visit HOPE organized for our Pro -Vice Chancellor and the visiting management team last year was really a good memory of all the team at Loughborough.’ commented by Chelsea.
Principal Ren Ruijie of Shanghai Clover Autistic Children’s Rehabilitation Centre called this event ‘another meaningful event for international education to meet and merge with special education! Great event to let more people know autism and offer their support and love to the kids and family suffering from this disease.’
