The International School Awards 2022 were announced during a live global online event on Tuesday 18th January. 261 eligible applications were received this year from international schools in over 40 countries including schools in Kenya, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Malaysia, and China.
It was the fourth year that ISC Research has hosted these awards which recognise exceptional initiatives that are being implemented by English-medium international schools around the world. There were 12 award categories, each focusing on an important aspect of international school life, including community wellbeing, innovation and creativity in learning, and pathways to continued and university education.
International School Award Category Winners
The twelve category winners were:
- The International School of Kenya, Nairobi won the Community Building Award for a social enterprise run entirely by the students to empower local communities by promoting grassroots plastic recycling.
- The Rugby School Thailand, Chonburi won the Community Wellbeing Award for creating an online forum that provides support for parents to connect with each other and share their experiences with the wider school community.
- Berlin Brandenburg International School, Germany won the Ethical Values Education Award for a primary years initiative which frames complex notions of ethics in an accessible way of learning, involving storytelling and imagination, linking ethical values to global citizenship.
- The International School of Zug and Luzern, Switzerland won the Environment Award for its aquaponics system that will act as the model for a larger sustainable, alternative food source they are helping to construct in Ghana. This project is expected to produce 20 tonnes of fish and 50 tonnes of vegetables annually and will provide food, work and education to the local community.
- Colegio Panamericano, Colombia won the Digital Technology in Learning Award for a robotics programme to learn how the various parts of the human body work together, in so doing, creating a functional robot nurse that is supporting COVID-19 patients in the local community while protecting caregivers.
- Nord Anglia International School Dubai, UAE won the Innovation and Creativity in Learning Award for its bespoke curriculum that allows students to approach real-world problems in a fun and supported learning environment, whilst developing innovative, entrepreneurial and enterprise skills.
- Marlborough College Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri won the Strategic Leadership Award for a cross-school positive psychology and wellbeing initiative for students and staff involving a wellbeing researcher in residence, and peer group mental health first-aiders amongst staff.
- Brighton College Bangkok, Thailand won the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Award for developing a remote learning initiative to support its students with special educational needs, ensuring that they are not disadvantaged, even during school closures.
- International School Ho Chi Minh City – American Academy, Vietnam won the Safeguarding Award due to its initiative to encourage children to come forward about abuse which involves a programme of learning, student surveys, staff training, a disclosure process, and parent education.
- International School of Zug and Luzern won a second category award; the International Impact Award for its Global Changemakers initiative. This is designed to directly connect students around the world with individuals who are leading and influencing action that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Dulwich College Beijing, China won the Pathways to Continued and University Education Award for its student-led initiative that enriches the career pathways of its students by creating connections between the school and the world of work. This includes internships, panel discussions, and recorded video conversations with industry partners from a wide range of disciplines.
- The Harbour School, Hong Kong won the Teaching and Learning Award for its Marine Science Program which is embedded into the school’s curriculum. It effectively uses the local environment to teach students experientially about their world and themselves.
In addition to the category winners, the judges offered praise to three additional international schools:
- Still I Rise School, Kenya,
- Al Bayan International School, Kuwait,
- European Azerbaijan School.
All three schools were commended for the impacts made by their initiatives and how they met very specific student needs.
Winner of the International School of the Year Award 2022
The culmination of the ceremony was the announcement of the International School of the Year 2022 which was awarded to the International School of Zug and Luzern, Switzerland. The school was selected by the judging panel for this prestigious education award for implementing such outstanding, innovative, and inspiring initiatives.
Sponsors for this year’s International School Awards
We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Pearson, the headline sponsor of the 2022 International School awards. Thank you as well to our individual category sponsors: BrainPOP, Komodo, Education Perfect, Nasen, Metanoia, Community Brands, Explore Learning, Nearpod, Navitas, Jigsaw PHSE, Cognia, and EtonX. Without your support, none of this would have been possible.
You can view a recording of the awards ceremony and learn more about the award-winning initiatives here.
