ISA PLC 破壁・共生・致远 | 第7届爱莎专业学习大会

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The ISA International Education Group’s 7th Professional Learning Conference (PLC) unfolded in Guangzhou this week, transforming ISA Science City campus into a bustling hub of ideas, collaboration and inspiration. Following the success of last year’s conference, which drew nearly 1,000 participants and offered over 150 workshops, this year’s PLC expanded its scope even further. On Friday 6th March 2026 and Saturday 7th March 2026, ISA welcomed more than 1,000 educators, leaders, parents and partners from across its network and the wider education community for two days of learning and celebration.

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Participants were spoiled for choice. The programme included nearly 200 workshops, seminars, panel discussion, keynote addresses and teambuilding activities, with sessions carefully designed to suit a range of professional interests:

•Themed workshops were grouped by audience – academic early years and primary, academic secondary, whole school, support services, creative disciplines, leadership, non academic and all staff – so that participants could tailor a personalised learning journey.

•Across all sessions, topics ranged from curriculum design and assessment practices to data driven decision making, creative arts, restorative practices and leadership development.

•Interactive seminars and job alike sessions allowed colleagues to discuss common challenges, share best practices and develop action plans for their schools.

•Keynote addresses from ISA’s leadership team and visiting experts reinforced the conference’s theme of excellence and innovation. Presentations explored assessment practices, global perspectives and the importance of language proficiency.

•External experts included Dr Matthias Dörrzapf, College Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics, Director of Studies, Assistant Undergraduate Admissions Tutor (Sciences); Dr Xiaofeng Wan, Former Deputy Director of Admissions and Director of International Admissions at Amherst College; Celine Xiao, National Level II Psychological Counsellor (China); Gina He, Director of VIP Service of Garden Hotel; and Nick Alchin, Head of College UWC South East Asia

•Team building activities fostered camaraderie. From collaborative games to reflective discussions, staff from different campuses forged new relationships and strengthened ISA’s sense of community.

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In his opening remarks, Vice President of Education Mr Paul Bawden emphasised that the PLC is more than a training event; it is a celebration of learning. This was evident in the breadth of the audience. Educators from every ISA school joined parents, board members and invited guests. 

Workshop facilitators encouraged interactive discussion, with many sessions restricting attendance to around 25 participants to ensure high-quality and focused engagement. Larger seminar style sessions were also held in lecture theatres and auditoriums to accommodate bigger audiences.

ISA schools and programmes present 

a distinctive flag ceremony

爱莎各校区和项目带来别致的入场仪式

Building on momentum from the 6th ISA PLC, which successfully concluded with nearly 1,000 participants and more than 150 workshops, the seventh conference saw even greater turnout. Participants remarked on the vibrant atmosphere, noting how cross campus collaboration enriched discussions and sparked new ideas. 

Many commented that the conference’s success stems from ISA's commitment to continuous improvement and professional growth, a theme highlighted in the PLC blueprint: workshops are designed to expand knowledge, exercise voice and choice, enhance skills and clarify roles.

ISA students delivered wonderful opening performances

爱莎学生带来精彩开场表演

Student volunteers provided support for the conference

学生志愿者积极为大会提供支持

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Sessions such as ‘From the Brain to Classrooms: Embed Science of Reading in the International Early Years Chinese Literacy Teaching’, ‘Design Thinking Across Grades and Subjects’, and ‘From Data to Decision: A Hands-on Workshop on Data Visualization for Faculty & Staff’, demonstrated ISA’s commitment to evidence based teaching practices. Participants left with practical strategies they could implement immediately.

Workshops on middle leadership development and collaborative facilitation helped emerging leaders cultivate skills for mentoring colleagues and driving school improvement.

The programme reflected ISA’s multicultural community, with bilingual workshops in English and Chinese. Cultural awareness sessions encouraged staff to appreciate differences and build inclusive environments.

Parent workshops and keynote talks underscored ISA’s philosophy that education is a partnership between school and family. Parents learned about assessment practices, global university admissions and how to support their children’s learning at home.

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By closing time on Saturday afternoon, the smiles, laughter and enthusiastic conversations testified to the success of this year’s Professional Learning Conference. With hundreds of learning opportunities and over a thousand participants, the event showcased ISA’s dedication to life long learning and cross campus collaboration.