Encouraging sharing of information
One way international schools in the mainland are encouraging networking and communication around the country is through the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS). This began with a meeting of five international school representatives from different regions of the mainland at Shekou International School, Shenzhen, in 1999. The initial aim was to organise sports and cultural exchanges. But horizons soon widened and in May 2000, 11 schools came together in Beijing to formalise the arrangement into an association.
ACAMIS now has more than 25 member schools in China, Mongolia and Hong Kong. David Shawver, head of the American International School of Guangzhou and recent president of ACAMIS, was one of the school heads at the first gathering five years earlier. Student activities and exchanges had been of most interest originally but as the number of schools in the association grew so did its agenda, he said.
'We have entered into sharing information about sourcing, governmental relations and professional development for teachers,' Mr Shawver said. 'It is a young organisation and still forming.'
With the rush of schools opening, ACAMIS is set to expand further both in numbers and programmes. 'Growth has been so quick. A few years ago, we just had five schools doing exchanges, now we have three divisions doing sports,' he said.
ACAMIS is open to international schools in China and Mongolia at all levels. The association defines international schools as those of 'international character' that provide an educational programme with English as the main medium of instruction and that are governed by their own school boards or other competent authorities.
The Hong Kong members of ACAMIS are Chinese International School, Hong Kong Academy Primary School, Hong Kong International School and the Australian International School Hong Kong.
