Photo: Dubai College
Three initiatives that support international school students with their future pathway decisions have been shortlisted for the 2023 International School Awards.
The judges commended all three initiatives and shared a message for many other international schools that submitted an application for this award category. Several schools centred their future pathway initiatives on preparing students as future leaders. The judging panel commented that “while such an initiative supports some students, it does not serve the entire student body”. The judges encouraged international schools to consider all their students when implementing support for future pathways.
Social and emotional learning programme prepares all students for future pathways
Bombay Cambridge International School in Mumbai, India was shortlisted by the judges for a social and emotional learning (SEL) programme that aims to cultivate a sense of self in students. The initiative helps students to reflect upon and develop their self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and values-based decision-making in a way that prepares them for their future choices and endeavours.
The initiative is based upon research that the essential skills for healthy emotional and physical development are social-emotional skills. The SEL programme is implemented for all students in all age phases to help students develop age-appropriate socialisation and emotional management. It is supported by a personal awareness and career explorations programme so that students leave the school with core competencies for higher education and the workplace along with many opportunities to have considered a range of pathways that complement their interests and aptitudes.
Photo: Bombay Cambridge International School
Exploring alternative pathways widens student aspiration
The British School of Brussels in Belgium has been shortlisted for an initiative to broaden pathway aspirations beyond STEM subjects. This is offering students the chance to experience how a wide variety of subject choices can lead to future success.
The initiative gives students different touchpoints for exploring alternative pathways. This includes talks from school alumni and professionals who have pursued less traditional subjects and routes, one-to-one mentoring to guide pathway selection, non-traditional workplace experiences, and resources for students to explore offerings aligned to their personal interests.
The initiative is helping to remove student anxiety due to perceived pathway limitations and to offer them a range of resources towards informed choices. As a result, the number of students pursuing different subjects, such as Arts and Psychology, and different pathways such as apprenticeships, has increased.
Photo: The British School of Brussels
Role models empower aspirations of year 8 girls
Dubai College, UAE has also been shortlisted for the 2023 Future Pathways Award for an initiative to develop the aspirations of its female students. A ‘girls out loud’ programme and a ‘big sister’ programme help the young women of year 8 to envision themselves in future careers and to offer support to girls who are unclear about their hopes and dreams.
Female role models from a variety of professions share their career stories, and trained ‘big sisters’ from diverse backgrounds provide a 12-month mentoring programme where students can select their mentor to help them to develop their confidence, sense of self and aspirations.
Photo: Dubai College
Congratulations to all three shortlisted schools. More details of these initiatives are now available on the International School Awards platform, and look out for representatives from each of the schools speaking about their initiatives during the week of 16th January.
Thanks go to Royal Holloway University of London for sponsoring the Future Pathways Award this year.
