International education is a growing global trend, and Asia leads the way
International education remains a growing global trend, with Asia leading the way - and it looks set to stay that way, writes Linda Yeung
Simon Giddings was unlike most backpackers when he arrived in Beijing from London in 1997. Not content with aimless travelling, he came with a clear purpose - to teach at an international school. Hoping to make a change in his life and live in a different part of the world, Asia - a region undergoing dynamic growth - seemed a natural choice.
His career flourished. Having moved to Hong Kong several years after arriving on the continent, he began teaching at one of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) schools. He switched to the Kellett School seven years ago to steer the growth of its senior section. Last September the school opened its new sprawling campus in Kowloon Bay, adding 100 to the number of senior places offered by the school.
[Overseas teachers] see Hong Kong as a very vibrant city and an attractive place to work
As senior school head and deputy principal, Giddings expects more expatriate teachers to follow in his footsteps by opting for a career in international education.
Kellett has recruited about 80 teachers over the past seven years. The number of vacancies will only increase as the school braces for a growing student population beyond the current total of 1,000 at its Kowloon and Pok Fu Lam campuses - it's due to open Year 13 classes next year. There are up to 100 applications from around the world for each teaching position.
"We have an increasing number of very strong applicants for the jobs we offer," says Giddings.
He expects the soaring demand for international education in the region to continue. Globally, the number of qualified teachers needed for international schools is expected to grow from 320,000 today to about 570,000 by 2023, according to the UK-based International School Consultancy Group (ISC).