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School News
School News
11 Oct, 2024
11 : 44
On 10 October 2024, YCYW campuses worldwide celebrated the annual Founder's Day, honouring the 92-year legacy and the vision of Founder Madam Tsang Chor-hang, as we look forward to the infinite possibilities of education driven by innovation.
Founder's Day this year coincided with the 10th anniversary of YWIES Guangzhou. Established in 2014, and rooted in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, YWIES Guangzhou has been dedicated to fostering lifelong learners with academic excellence and global perspectives. This commitment aligns with YCYW's philosophy of blending the best of Chinese and Western education.
During the past ten years, YWIES Guangzhou graduates have been admitted to prestigious universities worldwide, such as the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Imperial College London. In 2023, the school was designated as one of the first Guangzhou Internationalisation of Education Demonstration Schools.
YWIES Guangzhou 10th Anniversary Video
At the ceremony held at YWIES Guangzhou, Dr Betty Chan Po-king, CEO and School Supervisor of YCYW, reminisced about her mother, Madam Tsang Chor-hang, who founded the first YCYW school in Hong Kong, China in 1932, and congratulated YWIES Guangzhou on its achievements during the past ten years.
She said, "As we celebrate Founder’s Day and the 10th Anniversary of YWIES Guangzhou, I’m reminded of the words that have guided us for generations: 'It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to raise people.' Let's honour the remarkable journey that has brought us here, and look ahead with renewed determination as we continue cultivating the seeds of greatness in our students who will shape a better future for humanity."
Dr Betty Chan Po-king CEO & School Supervisor, YCYW Education Network
Starting from the 2025-2026 school year, YWIES Guangzhou and YCIS Shanghai will offer the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) programme, in addition to the existing A Level programme and the IB programme. With the second phase of its campus now nearing completion, YWIES Guangzhou will reach new heights in providing diverse and high-quality education to more families.
In her speech, Dr Chan highlighted another recent achievement of YCYW. The Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) has successfully achieved institutional accreditation for operating postgraduate degrees. The school will launch the new Master of Education and Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education in the 2025/26 Academic Year.
This milestone not only extends YCYW's educational provision beyond the current 'B to B' (Babies to Bachelor Degrees) spectrum but also marks a significant moment for Hong Kong SAR, as YCCECE becomes the first private institution to offer postgraduate degrees in Education.
YCYW released its new corporate video on Founder’s Day. The video focuses on the learning and growth journeys of our students, and showcases YCYW's people-centred approach to inspire students and nurture them to meet future challenges.
YCYW Corporate Video
In March this year, YCYW announced the launch of the inaugural Future School programme at YWIES Zhejiang Tongxiang. The goals are to create an innovative curriculum and to transcend the boundaries of traditional campus education. The newly upgraded campus space at YWIES Zhejiang Tongxiang was also unveiled on Founder's Day. The campus space, which integrates multiple functions for STEM learning, art creation, interactive displays, is impressive and stimulates the imagination about the future of education.
YWIES Zhejiang Tongxiang Future School
Dr Chan reaffirmed YCYW's commitment to continuous innovation. She described Future School Programme as a rethink of education. Through a university-style modular learning approach, the students will have greater opportunities to explore cutting-edge disciplines and customise their studies according to their personal interests and goals. The programme also includes a component on entrepreneurship, equipping students with the skills and mindset needed to innovate and succeed in a rapidly changing global economy.
YCYW plans to expand the Future School Programme to other campuses in the future.
The EdFutures Division is a key component of YCYW's "Seeds for the Future" programme. The division maintains active collaborations with prestigious institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research (OSCAR), Tongji University, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. These partnerships enable the students to engage with industry experts and immerse themselves in real-world scenarios, enhancing their educational experience and preparing them for future challenges.
During the ceremony, Mr Hubert Hu, the representative of EdFutures, introduced the division's innovative projects carried out during the past academic year. These included the ChinaOne experiential learning programme, the Smart Farm, underwater robotics, and the immersive medical experience programme. Students and teachers from YWIES Guangzhou took to the stage to share their experiences participating in these activities.
To honour graduates who have made outstanding contributions to the community and epitomise the YCYW spirit, YCYW established the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020, and presents the awards annually on Founder's Day. On 10 October, 2024, the YCYW Alumni Hall of Fame welcomed two distinguished alumni.
Mr Andrew Chang, a founding student of YCIS Shanghai Pudong Campus, is now the Operations and R&D Manager at Shanghai Omni Biologics.
Prior to establishing Omni Biologics with his brother, Mr Chang was a research scientist at Stanford University where he studied genetic heart diseases. His pioneering research at Omni Biologics has yielded many results, including the development of a new metabolic drug and an advanced drug delivery system.
Mr Chang's active involvement in the job shadowing programme exemplifies his dedication to the YCIS community. He has generously provided valuable internship experiences to both current students and graduates, inspiring them to explore their passions and pursue their goals.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Chang said, "YCYW is not just confined on producing straight A students, but focusing on personal growth and advancement, treating individual students as single entities, allowing them to flourish in their interests. I'm very pleased to see how the YCYW community have grown and excited to be part of the continued revolution and evolution of education for future YCYW students."
Mr Andrew Chang YCIS Shanghai, Class of 2012
Dr Mengran Liu obtained her Higher Diploma at Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) in 2018 and is now an Assistant Professor in YCCECE, where she has made significant contributions to the field of Early Childhood Education.
After graduating from YCCECE, she worked as a kindergarten teacher. Her passion for early childhood education led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Education at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. During her studies in New Zealand, she participated in the research, teaching, and the revised learning outcomes of the Te Whāriki project, which aims to enhance the understanding of the revised New Zealand's early childhood education curriculum framework and develop digital resources for teaching and learning.
As an Assistant Professor, Dr Liu is now dedicated to integrating Chinese educational values with Western knowledge systems; promoting cultural understanding; and addressing critical issues related to the professional development of teachers, children's learning, and the quality of early childhood education.
Dr Liu received the Alumni Hall of Fame trophy at YCCECE. She said, "Nine years ago, I studied here as a student, towards the Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education. I learned the ways to teach and I got inspired by the educational practice built on relationships and respect. And I realised being an early childhood educator is challenging and privileged."
Dr Mengran Liu - YCCECE Class of 2018
On Founder's Day 2024, we reflect on our founder's mission of "Honouring China." After 92 years, we remain committed to the value of education for individuals, society, and the future. In response to rapid developments, our answer is innovation. We look forward to working closely with like-minded families, communities, and organisations around the world as we continue to pioneer and innovate, taking education to new levels as a future-oriented endeavour.