WellingTEN Talks with the Master: Skills for the 21st Century

In celebration of its fifth anniversary, Wellington College International Tianjin – the first overseas partner school of the prestigious Wellington College in the UK, held its inaugural WellingTEN Talk. Having launched in the international school’s sister College in Shanghai, this series of talks was successfully held in front of a captive audience of pupils, parents and educators.

Both Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College, together with Michael Higgins, Master of Wellington College International Tianjin plant a Peach Blossom Tree on the Tianjin campus.

Panelists for the WellingTEN included Mr. Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College in the UK, Madame Kang Xiuyan, Director of Tianjin Nankai Xiangyu School Group and 6th Principal of Tianjin Nankai Middle School, Dr. Kang Sungbong, Headmaster of the Tianjin Korean International School and Mr. Michael Higgins, Master of Wellington College International Tianjin. Sharing a wealth of experience in international education, the panel discussed the topic ‘Educating for the Future’, offering insight and opinion on which skills are the most beneficial for success in a complex global environment.

Pupils from Wellington College International Tianjin present a gift to Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College. The scroll bears a Chinese proverb meaning "good teachers have pupils all over the world".

With 157 years of history, Wellington College introduced the WellingTEN talks to their offerings recently in the UK, following which they were introduced to NE China. A WellingTEN Talk is a short lecture that delivers inspiring ideas to audiences, engaging viewers by highlighting areas for further intellectual development and exploration. One of the primary goals of the lecture series is to highlight the importance of cultivating the next generation of 21st century leaders and taking advantage of the “Golden Age” for UK-China relations.

Since opening in 2011, Wellington College International Tianjin has established a reputation for academic excellence as well as offering a broad range of extra-curricular activities. 2016 marks the fifth anniversary of the College in Tianjin, and the third year of graduating senior school pupils. 

WellingTEN Talks in the Seldon Theatre at Wellington College International Tianjin
From Left to Right: Madame Kang Xiuyan, Director of Tianjin Nankai Xiangyu School Group and 6th Principal of Tianjin Nankai Middle School; Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College; Dr. Kang Sung Bong, Headmaster of the Tianjin Korean International School; Michael Higgins, Master of Wellington College International Tianjin;

Speaking on the achievements of pupils at the College in Tianjin, Mr. Michael Higgins, The Master, said the following: “Since our first cohort of senior school graduates, our pupils have continued to gain offers from some of the world’s top universities. With offers in 2016 from Cornell, UC Berkeley and University College London, we are proud to say that the College currently has a 100% success rate for pupils gaining acceptance to universities, we have quickly gained the reputation amongst higher education institutions for being a breeding ground of academic talent.”

Representatives of Wellington College cut a cake together to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Wellington College International Tianjin.

Based in Central Tianjin, the College shares with the local and international community a unique vision and mission for educating pupils in the 21st century. “We chose Tianjin as the location to open our first overseas international school five years ago due to the municipality’s reputation as a hub for innovation and creativity at the frontier of Northern China,” Higgins says. ”In an increasingly international city, it remains our hope that pupils engage positively and proactively both within the school environment but also with the wider community outside the classroom – this is why we added “united” into our Mission Statement. In empowering pupils to share the Wellington values of courage, integrity, respect, kindness and responsibility with this community, we can help pupils to gain a better understanding of the demands of a modern society, allowing learners to properly cultivate skills for the 21st century.

Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College, spends time with members of the Wellington team in Tianjin who have been with the School since the opening five years ago.

Master of Wellington College, Mr. Julian Thomas, further complimented the accomplishments of its sister school in Tianjin: “Being guided by the Wellington curriculum system and Eight Aptitudes learning approach, Wellington College International Tianjin truly delivers high-quality education – a tradition which has been embedded within the UK school since its inception 157 years ago. Running a challenging and diverse international curriculum here in Tianjin and by successfully introducing the IB Diploma Programme, the College has become one of Northern China’s leading international education institutions, offering a curriculum that meets the standards required for talent development in the 21st century.”

Press Conference with over 20 representatives from local, regional, domestic and international media groups

Further expanding on equipping pupils with the skills necessary for facing 21st century challenges, Thomas shared the following: “Our Mission Statement and Values are based on the fundamental belief that all pupils can achieve, succeed and thrive, and it is therefore the goal of everyone within the College to ensure we provide pupils with every opportunity in allowing this to happen. We recognise that – whilst a pupil’s academic performance must always remain central, it is responsibility, respect of others and the building of self-esteem that is of key importance to success during adulthood. Paying constant attention to the all-round development of an individual in accordance with our Eight Aptitudes – which includes Moral and Spiritual, Cultural and Physical, Logical and Linguistic, Social and Personal, we attach great importance to the development of personality both inside and outside of the classroom. Acquiring knowledge from all areas is crucial to the all-round development of our pupils.”

Workshop with Wellington Masters and Principals of local Middle Schools, on the subject of how to develop international talents in schools.

Having been at the forefront of Chinese education for many years, both Madame Kang Xiuyan, Director of Tianjin Nankai Xiangyu School Group and 6th Principal of Tianjin Nankai Middle School, and Dr. Kang Sungbong, Headmaster of the Tianjin Korean International School, agreed that traditionally Tianjin is a centre of excellence for secondary education and a central hub for teaching professionals and educators. As the largest port in Northern China and an important destination for foreign trade, the Tianjin of today has great demands on international talent. It is for this reason that the acquisition of skills and respective delivery of school education is in line with the requirements of the 21st century.

Meeting and greeting parents