Asia is about 44 million square kilometres in size and covers approximately 30% of the Earth’s land area. It’s home to 4.8 billion people, which account for 60% of the world’s total population. It’s the “continent of contrasts” and for good reason: the sheer amount of diversity and talent available.
Amongst its 48 countries, you will find no shortage of innovation. From Nintendo and Samsung to AliBaba and Grab, the region’s creative and technological force is now undeniable. Much of this is due to how countries like Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong have made themselves highly ranked amongst the best education systems in the world. Their standards are inspirational and going to school in these countries is an exercise in preparing to be the best.
The following schools in Asia are standouts in quality and future-proof learning:
Nexus International School (Singapore)
Nexus creates an exciting learning environment – one that forges independent learners through challenge and real-world learning. Source: Nexus International School (Singapore)
Gone are the days of linear learning and rigid, boxed-in classrooms. At Nexus International School (Singapore), its purpose-built campus lets innovation and resilience shine. Here, learners aged three to 18 explore, connect, and grow. Founded in 2011, Nexus embraces learners not only for their individuality, but also for their mistakes. It’s all part of the learning process – by reflecting on the past, learners become stronger for the future.
The school’s International Baccalaureate programme embodies this. The journey starts by asking learners, “What questions do you want to solve?” and then follows by giving them personalised guidance as they discover their passions. It takes them beyond the typical classroom and pushes for creativity through project-based learning. It preps them to thrive at the likes of Imperial College London, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Sydney.
This immersive journey takes place in Nexus’s state-of-the-art facilities – and sometimes, even far beyond. Every room is enriched by a warm community representing 60 nationalities and advanced technology as an Apple Distinguished School. As families enter the campus on Aljunied Walk, it’s normal for them to see learners engaging with their peers in open spaces, or letting their ideas come to life in arts and design studios equipped with 3D printers, music technology studios, and a 65-metre Science Mega Lab.
As cutting-edge as the equipment and facilities are, by no means does technology replace the most important factor of any child’s education: their teachers. Here, every learner receives support from dedicated Nexus teachers, with 80% of the faculty having more than five years of teaching experience. Educators and industry experts from around the world visit the campus to impart their wisdom, like how a volcanologist recently gave the Year 3 learners a glimpse into his work as a real scientist. As learners navigate the next chapter of their learning journeys, they have access to mentorship programmes like the NexSteps Careers Workshop and tailored tutelage to shape their next steps in Year 12.
Shanghai Community International School
SCIS was one of the first international schools to be founded in Shanghai. Source: Shanghai Community International School / Facebook
At Shanghai Community International School, no student goes unheard. The IB World School houses a community of students from nursery to grade 12 across 60 nationalities, yet the way it provides individual care and attention ensures they never have to face the world alone. It started in 1996 with seven teachers and fewer than 50 students. Today, that number’s grown to 1,800 students across three campuses, and the progress isn’t looking to slow anytime soon.
SCIS prioritises the development of the whole student – so while academics are emphasised, the school is just as focused on fine arts, physical education, and community service too. It’s an approach that allows them to pursue many interests. They could participate in national sports competitions in volleyball, table tennis, swimming, and more. They could grow their artistic prowess by immersing themselves in music programmes that transcend genre and style, or crunch numbers like a pro in the High School Math Olympiad.
Throughout it all, innovation makes the day-to-day culture at SCIS. In state-of-the-art facilities equipped with smart boards, an audio-visual media lab, a 10,000 square foot Black Box theatre, and spacious classrooms, SCIS provides students with a foundation of critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. With the guidance of 189 faculty members who are 100% certified to teach in their fields and their project-based learning approach – there’s plenty of opportunity for students to grow into passionate community members who change the world.
“When you look at SCIS from the outside, it’s just a school. To me, though, I will always think of it as somewhere I’ve experienced, laughed, cried, succeeded, failed, and learned a lot,” graduate Cindy Chen says. “There’s a saying, ‘home is where the heart is.’ That’s what SCIS is to me.”
Learn more about Shanghai Community International School.
Branksome Hall Asia
Experiential learning at BHA ensures that students have the opportunity to develop both their knowledge, and their relationships. Source: Branksome Hall Asia / Facebook
Care, collaboration, and excellence. These are the three core pillars of Branksome Hall Asia, a co-ed boarding and day school that empowers its students to make a positive impact on the world. Founded in 2012, BHA is uniquely positioned as the only IB World School in Jeju Island – and its success speaks for itself.
This year, the graduating class received 106 offers from the top 100 universities in the QS World Rankings. They’re going to cement their names in prestigious institutions like Brown University, the University of St. Andrews, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in many fields. It’s a testament to the school’s impact; it’s the reason its shelves hold awards like its 2021 International School of the Year title.
Students develop the independence, confidence, and leadership to reach for their dreams through a stimulating curriculum that exercises critical thinking, problem-solving, and global citizenship. They embark on hands-on projects across a wide range of subjects offered, from the arts to science and technology to languages. Throughout the Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma programmes, students receive guidance from world-class educators who give them individualised support and the right amount of challenge.
BHA may be the only IB World School on Jeju Island, but that’s not all that positions the school as one-of-a-kind in South Korea. In the Design Technology programme, the students integrate STEM and humanities subjects to innovate and advance their creative ideas. They have access to technology like 3D printers and robotics that aren’t found in many other schools nationwide. Dynamic learning opportunities like this, that are experiential and collaborative in nature, allow these young minds to grow into change-makers of the future.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
