In the current wave of globalization, the boundaries of education are continually being expanded. International education, in particular, serves as a window through which children can gaze upon the vastness of the world; it is also like a bridge, constructing a passage for the exchange and mutual learning among different cultures.
Over the past four decades, international schools with diverse systems and philosophies have added a splendid chapter to Shenzhen's internationalization. As the first international school in Shenzhen to offer authentic British education and a boarding management system, Shenzhen Merchiston International School has now completed seven years of its journey.
This year, the international school has officially launched aThree-year Action Planfor quality improvement, striving towards the first decade of high-quality development. Recently, the"Exploring Schools" series by South Plus visited Shenzhen Merchiston Longhua Campus, engaging in dialogues with several leaders from Shenzhen Lighthouse International Education Group and Shenzhen Merchiston International School to gain a deeper understanding of the school's internal driving force for development.
When discussing the first international school in Shenzhen to offer pure British education and a boarding management system, it is imperative to acknowledge Lyu Jianjun, the Chairman of the Board of Shenzhen Lighthouse International Education Group and the founder of Shenzhen Merchiston International School.
Chairman of the Board of Shenzhen Lighthouse International Education Group , and the founder of MIS
Venturing into the field of education, Lyu Jianjun's original aspiration was to establish a school that not only excels academically but also goes beyond a mere focus on grades, providing a warm and nurturing education. Over the years, he has continuously built diversified development pathways for students, transitioning from a parent seeking a school for his child to an investor with a deeper understanding of international education.
The original campus of Merchiston is in Edinburgh, UK. In addition to that, Lyu Jianjun's Lighthouse International Education Group nowadays has established MIS Longhua Campus (Main Campus), Songshan Lake Campus, and Qianhai Campus, forming a new layout of "One School & Four Campuses." The word "Lighthouse" has subtly become the power driving the development of these campuses.
Interview Transcript:
Become a Modern International School:
Rooted in China, Forward-Looking,
Warm-Hearted and Academically Excellent
South Plus: You often say that you use the lighthouse beacon to illuminate the bright future of children. What is the beautiful symbolism behind the name of Lighthouse International Education Group? What mission, vision, and goals does it reveal?
Mr. Lyv: The lighthouse provides light, hope, and strength, and guide direction. In education, I believe that the concept of "lighthouse" is extremely valuable in guiding the growth of children and family education.
The mission of our Lighthouse International Education Group is "to illuminate life with love". In my opinion, if love and warmth are absent from the educational process, it is impossible to deliver high-quality education, or it cannot be truly considered as education.
The mission, vision, values, and goals of Lighthouse International Education Group are all clear. We are committed to building an internet of international curricula, building a bridge for global study, and forming a high-quality international education system. This will enable children from different backgrounds to attend school, receive quality education, and have better goals for further studies. Here, children not only acquire knowledge but also learn how to be good people, understand and face future challenges.
Our goal is to develop Lighthouse Education into the most competitive educational institution in the Greater Bay Area, one that deeply understands China and can connect with the world, truly localizes international curricula, and integrates China's high-quality curriculum system and excellent culture.
Over the past seven years of development in Shenzhen, we have experienced both challenges and harvests. At this juncture, we held the Lighthouse Education High-Quality Development Conference at the end of 2024. The principal and the heads of departments jointly launched a three-year action plan for quality improvement. In our first decade, we will provide quality education to families and children who share our vision, allowing more children to enjoy joyful education. We aim to transform terms like "Involution" and "lying down" into more positive and rational concepts, so that children at Lighthouse Education schools can enjoy the growth brought by attentive education and academic excellence.
Adapt to Children's Characteristics & Fully Tap into Their Potential
South Plus: It can be said that it is the energy released by the "Lighthouse" spirit that has given MIS Shenzhen the power and derived the school's adherence to the principle of "Education Is for All Children". How is this principle embodied at MIS Shenzhen?
Mr. Lyv: UK Merchiston Castle School is a prestigious private school with a history of nearly 200 years. In August 2018, Merchiston International School Shenzhen officially became the first overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School globally. What impressed me the most was when the former headmaster said "Education is for All Children" at the our first enrollment press conference in Shenzhen.
At that time, the school organized interviews, which lasted about three hours, including student exams and parent interviews. Some children did not perform as expected. After seeing the looks in the eyes of the children and their parents, the former headmaster told me that at Merchiston Edinburgh, they followed the principle that Education is for All Children. As long as children want to study there, we have to give them an opportunity. This really touched me. We indeed need a school that not only excels academically but also does not solely focus on grades and can provide a warm and nurturing education.
Therefore, from the first year, MIS Shenzhen has accepted children who identify with the school's values, prioritize moral education, and strive for comprehensive development in virtue, intelligence, physical education, aesthetics, a hard-working spirit, and skills. We need to fully tap into their potential and design detailed schedules based on their characteristics.
For example, in the classroom, we adopt stratified teaching. Some children are stronger in English, so they are placed in Class A with more in-depth courses. Some children are new to the school and need time to settle ibn, so we place them in Class B, where they receive guidance and training from bilingual teachers.
The Integration of Special Talents with Academics
South Plus: In recent years, the university admission results of MIS Shenzhen have been particularly impressive, demonstrating not only the school's pursuit of academic excellence but also the students' passion for various industries. How did the school achieve that?
Mr. Lyv: MIS Shenzhen has always adhered to the educational philosophy of "Academic Excellence with Warmth," enabling students to excel academically while also finding their own development path based on their inner passions. This has been fully demonstrated in the majors that our graduates have chosen to pursue in university.
Over the past five years, our graduates have made diverse choices in their university majors, such as finance, biochemistry, astrophysics, and global humanitarian studies. As for art majors, we have students choose interior design and illustration, showcasing a wide range of interests and outstanding comprehensive qualities. Every year, many MIS students with a passion for music or art go on to pursue their dreams at prestigious institutions like the University of the Arts London.
At MIS Shenzhen, we offer academic scholarships and sports/arts scholarships. The aim is to let outstanding students see their own growth and value through these scholarships, gaining recognition and serving as role models for their peers and parents. At the same time, for students from less affluent families who aspire to pursue international education and study abroad, we provide support through scholarships and financial aid policies, enabling them to join our school and exceed their own expectations through our internationally integrated curricula.
Currently, we offer scholarship programs at the elementary, lower seniors, and upper seniors. Particularly in golf program, we have provided full and half scholarships to outstanding Chinese youth golfers for three consecutive years, and tailored individual schedules based on each student's specialized course characteristics, integrating professional training, international competitions, and academic courses.
Through seven years of teaching, we have found that students with strong athletic abilities also excel academically. They are determined and resilient, with great potential for future development. Therefore, we design customized schedules for them, nurturing their sportsmanship through MIS's four academies: Golf Academy, Fencing Academy, Basketball Academy, and the Academy of Water Sports and Winter Sports, which help them enter their dream universities empowered by their athletic talents.
Vocational Education Offered by Our New Campus Completes the Loop of Our Education System
South Plus: You emphasized that the school adheres to the principle of cultivating students in "Virtue, intelligence, physical education, aesthetics, a hard-working spirit, and skills." In terms of skills, is Dongguan Xingzhi School a new exploration by Lighthouse Group?
Mr. Lyu: Dongguan Xingzhi School is a new type of international vocational high school entrusted with the mission of vocational education reform. Lighthouse Group places MIS Shenzhen and Dongguan Xingzhi School different positions, enjoying harmony in diversity, each contributing to the common good.
For example, MIS Shenzhen aims to highlight its characteristics as a British boarding international school that emphasizes happiness, soul and character building, academic excellence, warmth, understanding of China, and a global outlook embracing the future, with the British curriculum system as its foundation.
Dongguan Songshan Lake Campus, on the other hand, is exploring the path of international vocational education, attempting to integrate international curricula with professional courses to empower students, focusing on skill development. It precisely positions its faculty, curricula, and empowerment from Lighthouse Group based on the specific conditions of different regions. Here, there are education centers, competence centers, service centers, and the International Education Research Institute of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting the organic integration of teaching, research, and teacher training.
Dongguan Songshan Lake Campus
Soon, Lighthouse Group will celebrate its 10th anniversary. We hope that the schools under Lighthouse Group will become innovative international educational institutions in the Greater Bay Area that excel academically, with warmth and caring education, and possess core competitiveness. We aim to enhance the vitality of our schools through interdisciplinary learning and social practice, steadily advancing on the path of international education. Our goal is to make ordinary children extraordinary and excellent children stay excellent.
