Council of International Schools

CIS International Accreditation demonstrates a school's commitment to high quality international education. More than 600 CIS member schools are engaged with accreditation, following a directed process that includes:

- rigorous evaluation against internationally-agreed standards
- a blend of support and challenge focused on a school's development
- a peer-based model that brings together international educators from across the world of CIS member schools

We congratulate the following schools on the achievement of CIS International Accreditation or re-accreditation in June:

Guangdong Country Garden School
International School of Düsseldorf
Marymount School Medellín
United World College Costa Rica
Wellspring Learning Community
Swiss International School
K. International School Tokyo
Abq Azzan Bin Qais International School
Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Chemistry and Biology in Kyzylorda
The British International School of Jeddah
Whitefriars College
Serpell Primary School
International School of Brno
Adelaide Secondary School Of English
Berlin British School

The Broadening Assessment & Skills working group from the CIS Summit asked schools to provide examples of alternative assessments in their learning communities. In the second snapshot of our series, CIS member Graded School shared details from their Deeper Learning Principles Assessment. Students use physical evidence to demonstrate their agency and how they bring themselves into the learning experience.

CIS members can learn more about Graded's pilot programme and other evolving assessments from our member schools in the Community portal: CIS Summit > Broadening Assessment & Skills.

Graded The American School of Sao Paulo: Evolving Assessment This is "Graded The American School of Sao Paulo: Evolving Assessment" by CIS Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

We're attending the International ACAC Annual Conference next week! Meet with Katryna Snow, CIS Associate Director of Higher Education Services, and join her session—Beyond Admissions: Why Transitions Programs Matter in the College Admissions Process.

We look forward to connecting with the community and learning together about the opportunities and challenges facing university guidance counsellors.

We are searching for a new Director of Higher Education and International Student Transitions Services. The new Director will oversee our networking and professional development activities, working collectively with members to strengthen the relevance of international student recruitment and admissions practices in a rapidly changing sector and world. They will continue to expand this work to focus on student success and outcomes, including support for student services representatives in higher education institutions and counsellors in schools and facilitating connections between them.

We serve a global learning community and believe it is important to seek and include people who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to developing a diverse, high-quality team and believe our success is dependent on the distinctive perspectives, capabilities and commitment of our people.

If you are interested, or know of a strong leader who may have interest, visit our website to view eligibility requirements and learn more about the role: https://bit.ly/4644M6t

Evolving assessment practice requires a whole-school approach. Colegio Marymount Barranquilla revised their Profile of a Graduate and developed Marymount DEVICES to describe the attributes they want their students to model. Teachers from preschool, lower elementary, upper elementary, middle and high school all helped to define these qualities and how they can be measured through student behaviour and skills.

CIS members can learn more about their programme's design, development, and implementation in the CIS Community portal: CIS Summit > Broadening Assessment & Skills.

Colegio Marymount Barranquilla: Evolving Assessment This is "Colegio Marymount Barranquilla: Evolving Assessment" by CIS Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

We're attending the AMOSSHE Annual Conference in Glasgow next week! Meet with Sarah Pearl, CIS Assistant Director of International Student Transitions, and join her session—Enhancing International Student Transitions: Strategies for Success. We look forward to connecting with the community and learning together about the opportunities and challenges facing student services leaders in higher education.

As an international membership association, we are privileged to collaborate and connect with colleagues who live around the world. Last week, our global team gathered at our offices in Leiden to advance our mission, learn from each other, and enjoy quality time together in-person.

We shared insights on our members' current challenges, discussed opportunities to support members in the future, and enjoyed an educational tour of our local Hortus Botanicus.

As we reflect on the week, we want to thank each of our colleagues for their insights, enthusiasm, and collaborative spirit. Your commitment to the CIS membership community is inspiring.

Each year, it's our great pleasure to recognise, honour, and celebrate the excellent work taking place across our international higher education admission and guidance community. We encourage you to nominate your colleagues at CIS schools and universities who demonstrate excellence in:

- counselling
- higher education practices
- change & innovation

All nominees work diligently to support students during a significant transitional time in their young lives. This year, we have expanded our nomination criteria to include groups in addition to individuals. A group can be from the same institution, or they might work across institutions within the CIS community.

Learn more and help us recognise colleagues in our community:

Excellence in our community - CIS Council of International Schools Excellence in our community

Equating success with admission into 'top-ranked' universities impacts student well-being and future outcomes in several ways. Some students may feel pressure to pursue higher education and feel unsupported in choosing less 'traditional' paths such as work experience, gap years, vocational school and other pursuits.

Understanding success in a school's university guidance programme can be influenced by how a school measures the impact of its counselling programmes, how parents measure success for their children, and the cultural norms of the school community.

In this blog, Ruth McAteer RCDP and Kyra Kellawan outline practical strategies for counsellors to broaden their own and their school community's definition of success in relation to post-secondary pathways:

Post-secondary pathways: Ways to broaden definitions of success Explore practical strategies to broaden definitions of success and support diverse post-secondary student pathways through innovative counselling programmes, alumni engagement and more.

How are we assessing students' potential for academic and employment success?

The Broadening Assessment & Skills Recognition working group from the CIS Summit continues to explore alternative assessments for students as they leave secondary schools and apply to universities. Discussions revealed challenges and opportunities as school leaders described how they are developing new ways to portray the competences and skills of their students.

Over the next few weeks, we will share snapshot videos of evolving assessment practices from CIS member schools. CIS members can read the comprehensive report to learn more from these school leaders, university leaders who are considering broader evidence of achievement amidst the existing systems and structures, and leaders from educational organizations who design and assess what is taught in many international schools worldwide in the Community portal:

Schools: https://bit.ly/44515Mz
Universities: https://bit.ly/3UTlCRb

As governments worldwide re-write their internationalisation policies, how do the changes impact international students looking to study in popular destination countries? In this blog, we talk with admission representatives at CIS member universities in the Netherlands to get the latest regional updates.

Read more about the Dutch government's proposed changes, the challenges facing higher education in the Netherlands, and more in this CIS Perspectives blog:

How are higher education policy changes affecting international students? Spotlight on the Netherlands As governments worldwide re-write their internationalisation policies, how do the changes impact international students looking to study in popular destination countries? We talk with admission representatives at CIS universities to get the latest regional updates.

Join this new, interactive workshop to strengthen students' secondary-to-higher education experience by fostering a deeper understanding and cross-sector collaboration between

- international school counsellors,
- university admissions representatives,
- and student services professionals.

You'll gain valuable insights into each other's roles and expectations, enhancing your ability to support students through this significant transitional life phase and the additional opportunities and challenges that moving across cultures brings. Experts will guide your learning so that at whichever point you interact with students on this journey, you'll have practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to support their diverse needs.

Attend this workshop in Basel before joining our annual CIS Global Forum on International Admission & Guidance.
CIS members can register in the community portal:

Schools: https://info.cois.org/bridging-the-gap-schools-nov-2024
Universities: https://info.cois.org/bridging-the-gap-higher-ed-nov-2024

Registration for the CIS Global Forum on International Admission & Guidance is now open!

Members can join us in Basel for a full programme supporting the higher education aspirations of students worldwide. This event is designed for university admission and counselling professionals at CIS school and universities to:

- learn about university admission systems worldwide
- share effective practices for supporting students in the application process
- explore trends in international student recruitment
- enjoy in-person time to support each other while building lasting relationships.

Our 2024 CIS Global Forum themes include:
- building blocks for professional knowledge
- regional and curriculum updates
- technology and innovation in education

CIS members can register now in the Community portal:

Schools: https://bit.ly/3D4a6rB
Universities: https://bit.ly/4dw0b09

The quality and rigor of CIS International Accreditation is recognized by ministries, departments of education, and universities around the world as a demonstration of a school's commitment to high quality international education. Our peer-based model that encompasses a blend of support and challenge ensures the school is continually improving and keeping up with leading international education standards.

We congratulate the following schools on the achievement of CIS International Accreditation or re-accreditation in May.

Mercedes College
Braeburn Dar es Salaam International School (a member of the Braeburn Group of International Schools)
Al Resala Bilingual School Kuwait
Gimnasio Moderno
Edubridge International School
Euroamerican School of Monterrey - Campus Valle
Canadian International School of Hong Kong
Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Physics and Mathematics in Taraz
Lifeforte International Schools
Nagoya International School
Hong Kong Academy
Berlin Metropolitan School
Qingdao Amerasia International School
Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Physics and Mathematics in Taldykorgan
British Vietnamese International School Hanoi - BVIS Hanoi
Nazarbayev Intellectual School for Chemistry and Biology in Shymkent
Exupery International School
Northfields International School
Lincoln Community School, Accra
Vinschool Imperia
Thuringia International School

The Fostering Belonging & Community working group asked three CIS member schools and three CIS higher education members to reflect on the first enabler of belonging: peer connection and mentorship. We hope you've enjoyed our series of Snapshots highlighting these member institutions and learning more about their programmes.

CIS members can read even more about their initiatives, evaluation criteria, and advice for new programmes in the comprehensive Connecting the CIS Community thematic report.

Log in to the Community portal to download the report and view the Snapshot videos any time:

Schools: https://bit.ly/44515Mz
Universities: https://bit.ly/3UTlCRb

Harm between students can occur online, in school, and in the wider community. Often referred to as peer-on-peer abuse, it's vital to help young people develop social-emotional skills to help them identify and report this harm.

Join this deep dive workshop to learn:
- strategies to better prevent, identify, and manage forms of harm and abuse between students
- the most prevalent forms of harm and how they can overlap
- skills to carry out an inquiry following a disclosure
- and how to collaborate with others who hold similar roles to create support networks.

You'll be guided by exceptional speakers with deep knowledge, expertise, and direct experience. They'll share practical guidance and strategies through a complex unfolding case study managing the disclosure of abuse between students.

CIS School members can register for this workshop in the Community portal: https://info.cois.org/deep-dive-peer-on-peer-abuse

At European Azerbaijan School (EAS), Grade 10 students are matched with groups of Grade 5 and 6 students to mentor and coach them as part of their Student Connections Initiative. Student mentors support training sessions and younger mentees through sport during their scheduled Physical & Health Education lessons.

https://bit.ly/3yu8pph

The Student Connections Initiative clearly demonstrates how mentorship and peer connection act as an enabler of belonging in schools, a challenge the CIS Summit of University and School Leaders seeks to address. EAS drew on their strong record of sporting performance and the positive relationships Physical & Health Education teachers had with their students to form the blueprint of this programme.

Learn more about this and other mentorship and peer connection programmes in the CIS Community Portal:

Schools: https://bit.ly/44515Mz
Universities: https://bit.ly/3UTlCRb

European Azerbaijan School: Student Connections Initiative This is "European Azerbaijan School: Student Connections Initiative" by CIS Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Join our next one-hour Live Member Connection to enjoy an informal space to connect in small groups and discuss common challenges with peers from universities and guidance counsellors at CIS member schools. This platform is designed for members across our global community to discuss challenges students face during their university transition, shifts and trends in admission practices, student behaviour, student support resources, and anything else on your mind!

Join us on 11 June from 14:00–15:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST) by registering in the CIS Community portal:

Schools: https://bit.ly/4bxf8gi
Universities: https://bit.ly/4bd0vz1

Windesheim's Resiliency Labs are a series of four experiential workshops focused on expanding personal and collective resilience in a broad sense. They are embedded in the 'Inner Development' learning pathway to foster a sense of belonging among students.

When the CIS Summit of University and School Leaders identified peer connection and mentorship as one of the five enablers of belonging, universities like Windesheim volunteered their programmes as examples for other CIS members. The Resiliency Labs revealed that a sense of belonging is an important condition for developing agile project managers who are prepared for complex challenges. Counsellors noticed fewer students came to them with individual questions about study problems, while both the student and the community became more resilient.

https://bit.ly/4dJEvh7

CIS members can learn more about this programme and others in the Community portal:

Schools: https://bit.ly/44515Mz
Universities: https://bit.ly/3UTlCRb

Windesheim: Resiliency Labs This is "Windesheim: Resiliency Labs" by CIS Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Registration is now open for International University Fairs and Education Day in October!

At CIS Fairs in Europe, we experience high turnouts of students interested in an international higher education experience. We invite students at CIS member schools and IB schools to all CIS fairs. We also invite students at Cambridge schools in some locations; check the details for each location. The fairs take place in central locations in each city. Space is limited, so register early to guarantee your spot!

CIS Higher Education members can register now in the Community portal: https://bit.ly/4dw0b09

Develop your understanding of the key risks and realities relating to child protection and safeguarding within international school communities in this virtual CIS Child Protection Foundation Workshop. Learn from experts with extensive experience in the field, including heads of safeguarding, medical directors, researchers, and consultants specializing in various aspects of child protection.

You'll explore a wide range of vital topics such as:
- affluent neglect
- child sexual abuse
- online harms
- peer-on-peer abuse
- comprehensive sexuality education
- safer recruitment
- and more

The training and resources are tailored for your return to your school to facilitate community-wide learning and growth. CIS school members can register now in the Community portal: https://bit.ly/3D4a6rB

Registration is now open for CIS International University Fairs in the U.S.!

Our extensive series of International University Fairs supports your student recruitment goals around the world. We're beginning our series of fairs this September in New York City, Atlanta, Houston, and San Francisco. Our fairs are ideal for meeting high-performing students from CIS member schools. We also invite students from IB and College Board schools.

CIS Higher Education members can register now in the Community portal: https://bit.ly/4dw0b09

The Ambassador Programme at the International School of Zug and Luzern (ISZL) matches new middle school students with current students based on their homeroom and mutual interests. They connect over the school break to foster a sense of belonging on campus and provide support as the new students transition into school.

https://bit.ly/3UDKvPA

When the CIS Summit of School and University Leaders identified the five enablers of belonging, they listed the combination of peer connection and mentorship as a key driver. Now running for over seven years, ISZL embraces this category in their successful programme.

Learn more about this programme and others from CIS member schools and universities in the CIS Community portal:

Schools: https://bit.ly/44515Mz
Universities: https://bit.ly/3UTlCRb

International School of Zug and Luzern: Ambassador Program This is "International School of Zug and Luzern: Ambassador Program" by CIS Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Have a 'first-look' at our latest materials and tools to support the development of global citizenship. This CIS Community Preview is an opportunity to engage with upcoming resources, provide feedback, and learn how these materials will benefit you.

We'll repeat this session twice to include more of our members in these discussions. CIS members can register in the Community Portal:

Schools: https://bit.ly/3D4a6rB
Universities: https://bit.ly/4dw0b09

Join this webinar from CIS to increase your awareness and knowledge of new and impending laws governing the use of generative AI technologies.

Delivered in collaboration with 9ine, our partner in data protection, you'll learn about the potential risks associated with using generative AI platforms and see specific examples of risk within educational institutions. We will also share a CIS tool to map and portray the emerging use of AI and its impact on the educational practices within your institution.

This webinar is for heads of school, principals, social-emotional counsellors, university guidance counsellors, accreditation coordinators, university recruitment staff and student services from CIS member institutions. A recording will be available to watch on–demand after the event.

Register in the CIS Community portal:

Schools: https://bit.ly/4bxf8gi
Universities: https://bit.ly/4bd0vz1

Register now for the CIS-EARCOS Institute in Bangkok!

International schools and universities will converge for a dynamic exchange of ideas about post-secondary pathways for students in Asia. With workshops, discussions, and networking sessions, school guidance counsellors gain valuable insights into the latest admissions trends, strengthening their student guidance towards global study prospects. Universities, in turn, expand their recruitment network by forging connections with counsellors and students. This collaborative effort ensures students access diverse educational opportunities worldwide.

CIS members can register in the CIS Community portal:

Registration Now Open Log in to the CIS Community Portal to register

All CIS members are welcome to join our Annual General Meeting (AGM) tomorrow. The AGM carries strategic importance for all members and includes a report highlighting the CIS vision and strategic priorities, a report on last year's financial results, a forward-looking address by the Executive Director, and an announcement of the newly appointed members of the Board of Trustees.

CIS Members can register for this virtual meeting in the CIS Community portal by going to the events page.

https://bit.ly/2J2rlQ8

10 years ago this month, a group of dedicated volunteers came together as a coalition to apply collective resources, expertise, and partnerships for one purpose — to help international school communities address child protection challenges. This was the beginning of the International Taskforce on Child Protection (ITFCP). We recognize and thank all the incredible educators and professionals who have spent the last decade helping international schools be more informed and prepared to prevent and detect the abuse of children in its many forms.

Hear from Jane Larsson, Executive Director of the Council of International Schools (CIS) and Chair of the ITFCP, about the history of the Taskforce and plans over the coming weeks to feature some of the important resources now available.

https://bit.ly/3JN70wG

Members of the Taskforce will be sharing more about their own work, what they have learned, and how they have collaborated to strengthen educational practices. Read a new blog by Ray Davis exploring the changing expectations for school communities on safeguarding and child protection.

https://bit.ly/3UJAy4q

International Taskforce 10 Year Anniversary This is "International Taskforce 10 Year Anniversary" by CIS Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

The award of CIS International Accreditation shows that the accredited school has achieved high standards of professional performance in international education and has a commitment to continuous improvement. It shows that the school focuses on the quality of teaching, student learning, student safeguarding and well-being, and development of students as global citizens. A CIS Accredited school constantly seeks improvement in all areas as it plans strategically for the future.

We congratulate the following schools on the achievement of CIS International Accreditation/re-accreditation in April.

The American School of Bilbao
Colegio Los Nogales
Trường Quốc tế Á Châu AHS
YMCA Christian Academy
Işıkkent Eğitim Kampüsü
Rotterdam International Secondary School
Prem Tinsulanonda International School
Friends of Riverside School, Prague
Light International School Mombasa
ABA Oman International School
Daystar Academy
The International School of Kuala Lumpur
Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Physics and Mathematics in Shymkent
DPS International, Gurgaon

To foster belonging on their campus, University of Leiden's Start Your Future programme provides a tailored pre-introduction for students who are the first in their family to go to university. The university's team noticed that these students were more likely to struggle or even drop out. So, they developed a programme to give students a 'soft landing,' facilitating peer connection between students while informing and comforting parents.

This is the third programme in our series of Snapshots of Mentorship and Peer Connection which illustrates one of the five enablers of belonging identified by the CIS Summit of University and School Leaders.

CIS members can read the latest resources from the Summit and learn more about programmes like the University of Leiden's in the CIS Community portal:

https://bit.ly/4b8PPRW

Schools: https://bit.ly/44515Mz
Universities: https://bit.ly/3Q2MYl8

Universiteit Leiden: Start Your Future This is "Universiteit Leiden: Start Your Future" by CIS Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.