Founded in 1965, ECIS (the Educational Collaborative for International Schools) is a non-profit, global membership organisation for internationally-minded schools and partners. They represent over 500 communities and 50,000 educators across 85 different countries, providing culturally-sensitive professional development courses led by outstanding educational facilitators.
Hear from Sarah Kupke, Head of Schools Relationships and Partnerships, as she details ECIS and ISC Research’s shared commitment to enhancing the quality of international education through data-informed decision-making.
A shared commitment to quality
The collaboration began as both organisations recognised the need for reliable data to support strategic planning and policy-making within international schools. Our aim was to provide ECIS member schools with insights that would inform improvement initiatives and enable them to respond to shifts in the global education landscape.
“ECIS values ISC Research’s commitment to accuracy, transparency, and responsiveness. Their comprehensive data sets and collaborative approach have been invaluable in helping us support our member schools more effectively.”
Sarah Kupke
The primary goal of the ECIS partnership with ISC Research was to empower member schools through access to high-quality, actionable data that would support evidence-based decision-making. By leveraging ISC Outreach’s research capabilities, we sought to enhance our members’ strategic planning, market positioning, and ability to address emerging trends in international education. This partnership also aims to strengthen the international school community by fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Data to enhance international school practices
ISC Research has played an instrumental role in supporting ECIS by providing timely, relevant data and intelligence that informs our professional learning programmes and consultancy services. ISC Research’s insights into and analysis of student enrolment patterns, staffing trends, and curriculum choices have helped us identify key areas of focus for our member schools. This data-driven approach ensures that our support is aligned with the current needs and aspirations of the international school community.
One notable example is our use of ISC Research’s data to inform the design of our DEIJ initiatives. By analysing demographic and enrolment trends, we were able to tailor our workshops and resources to better support schools in fostering inclusive and equitable practices and environments.
“By leveraging ISC Research’s data and insights, ECIS and its members are able to remain agile and responsive, ensuring that they continue to provide high-quality education that meets the needs of diverse student populations worldwide.“
Sarah Kupke
Additionally, ISC Research’s International Teacher Recruitment and Retention Report 2023 has guided our efforts towards equitable recruitment and the development of professional learning opportunities, such as an Early Career Teacher cohort which addresses staff wellbeing and supports the professional growth of colleagues who are new to the profession or to international school teaching.
We look forward to continuing this partnership to further enhance the impact of international education and to promote excellence and innovation across our global community of schools.
