Canadian International School of Hong Kong’s Cambridge Summer School Programme stands alone
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Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) has developed a relationship with several academics from Cambridge University over the last six years. A relationship that has quickly established itself into a highly sought-after summer school opportunity for many teenagers in Hong Kong and abroad.
“We are the only high school in the entire world – not just Hong Kong – that offers a programme fully taught by Cambridge professors,” said CDNIS Upper School principal Tim Kaiser. “It’s truly unique in the world of summer school options.”
This year, 13 professors from one of the world’s top universities will come to Hong Kong – both to impart knowledge and see what the students have to offer. And the best part is, these courses aren’t just available to CDNIS students – as the Cambridge Summer School programme is open to any student between the ages of 15 to 18.
From July 20-27, students will have their choices from around 30 different courses encompassing a variety of topics including law, science, technology and journalism.
Examples include: Quantum Technology, Introduction to Public International Law, Organic Chemistry, Public Speaking, Essay Writing, The Power of Nanotechnology, and much more.
“We offer them on a first-come-first serve basis and we cap the classes at 20 students, so students will get a lot of close personal time with the professors,” said Dove Noel, CDNIS’ after-school activities manager, who noted that CDNIS has various other summer and after-school activities that are open to the public.
Last year, more than 200 students from more than 40 different schools in Hong Kong attended Cambridge Summer School. In addition, several students attending school in the UK flew to Hong Kong just to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“The experiences have been really life-changing for some of these kids,” said Kaiser, who said the idea behind the programmes is not to make money, but to afford students the best opportunities possible. “The value of being able to learn from a Cambridge professor at that age can’t even be calculated.”
To that end, CDNIS offers these courses at a very affordable price of $7,000, which is really just enough to cover the expenses. “It really takes a lot of logisitical work to fly over 13 professors and we have put a lot of time and attention into this,” Kaiser said. “But it has been tremendously successful for us and all of the students involved, and we are really proud of what we have been able to do here.”
“The students will spend 15 hours with the professors in these small classes, so the professors get to know you and really build strong relationships,” Kaiser said. “If you make a good impression, word can travel back to the university about the excellent students they found here. For us at CDNIS, we have several students attend Cambridge each year and every one of them has so far come from the programme.”
For the professors, it’s an experience they also thoroughly enjoy. "In the five years that I have taught at the CDNIS summer school, I have always been very impressed by the high quality of the attending students. They seem to be mature for their age and knowledgeable while displaying pleasing levels of critical thinking. Their contribution to the classes is often unusually clever and witty, showing great potential for study in top global universities. Teaching them has invariably been a pleasure and I have never finished a course at the school without hoping to see many of them again in Cambridge." Dr Cristiano Ristuccia, Cambridge Economist.
"When we teach at the CDNIS summer school, we are not just trying to teach new content, but also to give a glimpse of more advanced approaches and mindsets, and a taste for top tier universities. The magic of a Cambridge education comes from our emphasis on informal small group teaching, which allows students to discuss their work personally with world experts. The CDNIS summer school really captures the same magic: over the week we get to know the students, help them individually, and interact with them just like Cambridge undergraduates.” Dr John Biggins, Cambridge Engineer.
The courses are split up into three different “sessions”, during which students will spend 15 hours studying their preferred course. Ambitious students can participate in all three sessions, which would give them 45 total hours.
Kaiser said the courses are very useful in helping students decide what they want to do in the future.
“At 16-years-old it can be difficult to know what you want to do,” Kaiser said. “Even if you have an idea of what you want to do – for example law – you might not be sure what type of law you want to practice. Here they can experience 15-hours of international law, or whatever it may be – and decide whether or not it’s for them.”
All of the courses will take place on the beautiful CDNIS campus.