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Wellington College China started as just an idea in 2008 , in just over 9 years , we have grown to become one of the most reputable international education providers in China .
Quite often people ask me the question , why does Wellington College in the UK want to form these overseas partnerships ?
In a recent report on 21st century skills by The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce , a group formed by top educators and business leaders in the US , ‘ understanding the world ’ came first on the list of the top 4 essential skills . Our world is getting smaller , technology has blurred the boundaries of nations and cultures . It is also changing and evolving at an everfaster pace .
In China , our GDP growth has averaged nearly 10 percent a year for the past 40 years . This is the fastest sustained expansion by a major economy in history . Take the bullet train network for example , the first line between Beijing and Tianjin was completed in 2008 . Now we have a network of 20,000km connecting over 400 cities . This is more than the rest of the world combined . By 2025 , we plan to double it again . The same speed and scale can be seen in many sectors in China .
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For a lot of my friends overseas , the developments in China are mind-blowing and fascinating . Many of them want to understand more or be part of it to capture the amazing opportunities available there . The world is eager to connect with us . At Wellington College China , being bilingual is the norm for most of our pupils , many are trilingual or multi-lingual . As a community of more than 40 nationalities , we are naturally globally minded and connected . Our pupils will grow up to be mini ambassadors , each with the privilege and responsibility to connect China with the rest of the world .
So here lies the value in the Wellington College global partnerships . In time , our worldwide network of schools will create a community of like-minded people , united by the Wellington values and identities , who are deeply rooted in their own countries , who will form cross-cultural bridges with one another . This will offer endless potential in business partnerships , increase understanding and appreciation across cultures , facilitate the exchange of ideas and ultimately , contribute to world peace .
That is something worth being part of .
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High quality governance is essential for our schools to be effective and achieve the very high standards set by the Wellington College China board .
From summer 2018 , our governance and leadership across the group will be further strengthened by the appointment of a Wellington College China CEO , who will also serve as a governor on the Wellington China Board . We are delighted to be able to appoint Helen Kavanagh to this position . She previously served as International Business Director for Wellington College in the UK and comes with a wealth of experience and expertise in leading school groups in the UK and internationally . She has served on the Wellington China Board as the Deputy Chairman since August 2014 and already has a deep understanding of our needs as a fast-growing organisation .
Helen is a native of the UK who was employed as the International Business Director for Wellington College , quality assuring the schools in China and leading business development globally .
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With over 30 years experience in education Helen has operated in a wide range of contexts in the UK and internationally . After two successful Headships in England she became a Senior Inspections Manager with responsibility for the quality of inspections in over 1500 schools , and from there went on to lead a school reform project in the UAE before being promoted to Regional Director Middle East . She was next appointed as Executive Vice President of an American education company providing advice and guidance to schools in the US , UK , UAE , Qatar , Turkey , India and Jordan .
Helen has represented employers nationally and internationally up to government level . She has mentored many Head teachers over the past 12 years and still gains a buzz from being in the school environment . She has a BA ( Hons ) from Sheffield University ; a PGCE ( Leicester University ) and 2 further postgraduate degrees in Education Management from Manchester Metropolitan University . Her elder daughter is a teacher in the UAE and her younger daughter is a graduate of Wellington College in England . She enjoys travel , keeping fit and food .
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