School Profile of Shanghai International Studies University, Xiwai International School
2019-10-31 Xiwai Xiwai
Motto: Seek Truth; Cultivate Character; Pursue Goodness
Xiwai International School, affiliated with Shanghai International Studies University, is a learning community dedicated to empowering and empowering students for the journey ahead. Living and studying in the school environment, our students help and respect each other, and are invited to participate fully in the teaching and learning processes. Our enthusiastic and committed teaching staff guide and support students not only in their academic studies, but in every aspect of campus life.
Established at a time in a time when China vies for a place on the world stage, Xiwai International School focuses on preparing students not only for higher levels of education, but, more importantly, for an increasingly boundary-less world. The School aims to cultivate within each of its students a balance of Chinese values and a global perspective. The School strives to achieve this mandate through the delivery of high-level programs that foster excellence in all areas of a student's development—all within a stimulating and nurturing residential environment. Students are encouraged to think independently, creatively and critically, and are motivated to achieve their intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential.
Xiwai founders and Advisory Board members are passionate about contributing to the development of education in China. A number of the school's Advisory Board members hail from the private sector, and draw upon a wealth of knowledge and experience, including such figures as Mr John Thornton, ex- President of Goldman Sachs and Nicholas Rockefeller, from the Rockefeller Foundation. Others have a lot of experience in the area of education, both in China and internationally, and at such prestigious institutions as Fudan University, Harvard University, Yale University, Oxford University and Leeds University. They include such respected scholars and educators as Professor Tony Saich, Harvard University; Dr Laura Newby, Oxford University; Professor Xu Tian, Yale University; Professor Dai Weidong, President of Shanghai International Studies University; Mr Tang Shengchang, Principal of Shanghai High School; Mr Rong Xinmin, ex-Acting Principal of Shanghai International High School (affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University); and Professor Ye Lan from East China Normal University, a well-known Chinese education expert.
Xiwai International School aims to be a multi-cultural community marked by a sense of integrity, and respect for self, for others, and for the natural environment. The Xiwai experience hence nurtures in its members a life-long commitment to develop what is finest in themselves and others, and create the best for others and themselves.
As a multi-cultural community, Xiwai fosters a spirit of unbridled support, regardless of a student's background, and encourages every member of the community to contribute to the wider community. With both Chinese and English as the official languages of the community, students and teachers communicate in two languages, an approach that embodies a true form of bilingual education, and enables Xiwai's students to prepare themselves to reach out to the wider world. The school's residential management has adopted the English House Master system, in order to enrich the range of extra-curricular activities and provide a stimulating and nurturing environment for students.
Xiwai is an active, participating community. Xiwai encourages students, as well as parents, to participate in the school's management and the teaching and learning processes. The school's learning environment is interactive and discussion-oriented, using a “round table” approach wherever appropriate. It will also organizes seminars, given by prominent speakers from home and abroad, including scientists, theorists, educators and artists, who will also participate in the school's curriculum development. As a result, Xiwai students are able to expand their horizons and make valuable contributions not only to their school, but also to the wider community.
Xiwai has opened its doors wide in order to recruit the most highly qualified and dedicated teaching and administration team. A look at the composition of Xiwai teaching staff (including kindergarten and primary section staff) reveals that more than 98 % possess at least a Bachelor's degree; more than 40% hold a Master's or Doctoral degree from home and/or abroad; a high percentage have had experience studying and working in the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand; and over 60% are competent in bilingual education. We thus have a range of excellent, committed teachers in the classroom, representing a balance between the young and energetic, and the highly experienced, to enable students to benefit from a variety of teaching styles and approaches. The school has, in addition, invited municipal and district researchers, as well as subject experts from East China Normal University and Shanghai Normal University, to advise and help coordinate the school's academic program.
I. Basic Information
Xiwai International School is a joint venture between Xiwai Investment and Management Co. Ltd. and Shanghai International Studies University (national 211 Project university). The school's Advisory Board members have a cross-cultural, international background. Some are from private sectors, whilst a number possess doctoral degrees from well-known Western institutions, and have taught in Chinese and Western universities, including Fudan, Harvard, Yale, and Oxford Universities.
Enrolling students from K to 12, the school has the capacity to accommodate four thousand boarders. It covers more than 110,000 square metres, with facilities that encompass a library and information centre of more than 10,000 square metres, including several language, digital and computing labs and multi-media teaching facilities. It also has eight teaching blocks, containing approximately one hundred teaching rooms and science labs. The school boasts a 400-metre running track, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and facilities for basketball/volleyball, table tennis, badminton, etc. A specially designed Arts Centre combining visual and audio facilities provides resources for students to engage in drama, dance, music, and fine art.
One of the major characteristics of the school is its international focus and its emphasis on foreign language teaching. All students are required to study a foreign language. In addition, a number of subject courses, such as mathematics, physics and information technology, are taught in English, as well as Chinese, and well as bilingual resources.
II. Curriculum
Xiwai International School established its International High School in 2008, and in 2014 became one of the 21 International Curriculum Pilot Schools licensed by the Shanghai Education Bureau. Two years ago, the school obtained certification from Cambridge International Examinations to offer IGCSE and A Level courses and certification by the College Board to offer AP courses. This makes Xiwai the first international high school among the 21 approved Shanghai schools to offer both Cambridge and AP programs.
1) Teaching Characteristics
According to their English competency, students are places into one of two streams: Honors and Regular.
2) Course Introduction
Graduates who have completed three years of high school education and passed the High School Graduate Test in Chinese, Politics, History and Geography will attain a dual diploma—one that is recognized in China, and also allows them to go directly into a four-year university program abroad.
At Xiwai, we currently offer IGCSE courses for students in Grades 9 and 10 A Level courses for Grade 11 and Grade 12. At the end of each course, students take an examination that is marked externally by Cambridge Assessment. We also offer AP courses in Grades 11 and 12. There are two components to every AP course: the course itself, which takes a full year to complete; and the AP exam, which students take in May and which is marked externally by the College Board.
a) The Cambridge Program
IGCSE students are expected to take a combination of humanities, math, science, and art courses. To help students build a well-rounded IGCSE portfolio, we offer the following selection of courses for Grade 9 and Grade 10 students:
IGCSE Mathematics
IGCSE English as a Second Language
IGCSE English Literature
IGCSE History
IGCSE Biology
IGCSE Chemistry
IGCSE Physics
IGCSE Economics
IGCSE Global Perspectives
IGCSE Computer Science
IGCSE Drama
b) The AP Program
The following AP courses are offered:
AP English Literature and Composition
AP European History
AP Chemistry
AP Physics 1 & 2
AP Microeconomics
AP United States History
AP Calculus (AB)
AP Calculus (BC)
AP Macroeconomics
AP Statistics
AP Psychology
In the coming years, we plan to open additional AP courses in diverse subjects based on student interest.
c) A Level Program
A Level Math
A Level Physics
A Level Chemistry
A Level Economics
III. Acceptance of Foreign Universities in 2019
Against the high competition in the 2019 application for U.S. universities, our graduates had amazing achievements by getting plentiful offers from prestigious higher education institutes, with 30% of the students admitted into top 30 American universities, while 90% into top 50. The elite universities include New York University (member of New Ivies and Association of American Universities), University of Rochester (12 Nobel Prize winners and 12 Pulitzer Prize winners), Georgia Institute of Technology (top 3 technologically-focused universities in America), University of California Santa Barbara (leading research university) and University of Washington (top-ranked research university). Additionally, some students were admitted into the two famous liberal arts colleges—Hamilton College (top 16) and Franklin and Marshall College (top 36). According to the statistics, our graduates were awarded scholarships totaling 1.6 million RMB for four years in the 2019 U.S. application process.
In terms of acceptances to European universities, student performance was just as impressive, with students receiving offers from such institutions as the University of Edinburgh, the University of Warwick, University of Bristol, Durham University, University of Aberdeen and University College Dublin. In addition to American and European application, Xiwai graduates also received offers from the University of Melbourne, University of Sydney and the Australia National University.
Following are the details of admission into foreign universities for the 2019 intake, according to incomplete statistics.
|
Surname of Student |
University Admitted |
|
America |
|
|
Lin |
University of California, Berkeley |
|
Georgia Institute of Technology |
|
|
University of Washington |
|
|
University of California, Irvine |
|
|
University of Lllinois Urbana-Champaign |
|
|
Purdue University |
|
|
Lin |
University of California, Berkeley |
|
Hua |
Hamilton College |
|
Fan |
New York University |
|
Pepperdine University |
|
|
Rutgers University |
|
|
Zhang |
University of California, Santa Barbara |
|
Pennsylvania State University, University Park |
|
|
Fordham University |
|
|
Purdue University |
|
|
Yao |
University of California, Irvine |
|
University of Rochester |
|
|
University of California, Davis |
|
|
Pennsylvania State University, University Park |
|
|
Ye |
Northeastern University |
|
University of California, Santa Cruz |
|
|
He |
Bentley University |
|
Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg |
|
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