This is my educational philosophy: ‘An international education that promotes culturally sensitive global perspective, academic excellence and inquiry-based lifelong learning through commitment to peace, sustainable environment and respect for individuals, communities and nature, in order to become an outstanding citizen anywhere in the world.’
As a motivated international business educator in this increasingly globalized world, I am passionate to inspire students to purse the highest academic achievements by promoting creative and critical thinking in business education. I also wish to contribute to school and student life in a variety of ways, so we can both work towards creating a good, culturally aware and sustainable global community.
Every international school needs to aim for being a place that gives a priceless opportunity for students to acquire a balanced mixture of theoretical and practical skills that they need to flourish on the international stage in the twenty-first century.
Every international school needs to empower students to achieve full potential, self-realization and fulfillment at their own levels.
And finally, every international school needs to respect each individual and trust in his or her abilities, so he or she is not afraid to innovate to constantly improve the world.
To reach those aims, these are the traits of international education I consider the most precious for students, teachers and administrators – the inspirations of tomorrow come from values that govern our decisions and the way we behave.
Academic excellence
The purpose of education is not only to convey academic knowledge, but to enable students to learn methods and tools to find truths through inquiry-based learning – students are active participants in the learning process thus they can develop analytical, critical and creative thinking ability.
Personal responsibility for learning is fostered through the understanding of the cause and effect of actions. Nurturing a spirit of inquiry and self-motivation can be achieved through knowledge, creativity, and passion. Students need to learn by themselves, and not only through instruction. Teachers should seek to cultivate in them a spirit of intellectual inquiry and to give them the basic skills that such inquiry requires – focus on practical skills that will lead to rapid academic gains.
Respect for myself, others and nature
Students should cultivate a strong sense of self worth and respect for others by being open-minded any time they experience new challenges. It is important that they are aware of their own cultural background, while understanding and appreciating other cultures.
Children from diverse backgrounds and abilities should be give a chance to study together in a safe and secure environment without prejudice and injustice. Trust must be within the school community and the relationship between teachers and students needs to be full of warmth and trust. Disciplined but fair human relations should be appreciated. It is the responsibility of each teacher to show the young people that leading by example is the essence of integrity, inclusive communication builds trust and compassionate actions benefit communities.
Nature has offered great opportunities for education and it is important to teach students to preserve our precious natural environment.
Life-long learning
Students must be prepared for lifelong learning in order to meet challenges, and to become outstanding citizens anywhere in a world of accelerating change. It leads to self-discovery and personal meaning which is necessary for success as challenging experiences are opportunities for learning and growth. Thus teachers should encourage students to focus on the future, and give daily pastoral guidance and regular college counseling to help them to do so.
With lifelong skills, competencies and inner strength of character, students will be able to appreciate cultural diversity of people of various ethnic backgrounds, while at the same time taking pride in their own culture and heritage. This view of themselves and the world will propel them to work towards attaining a national and global community that is prosperous, compassionate and humane.
Global perspectives
We are usually citizens of one nation, but also citizens of the world. By uniting opposites students should always try to find the best solution to conflicting aspects of particular issues, such as ourselves as individuals and ourselves as members of the society, reality and rules. The ability to be able to appreciate alternative interpretations and consider different perspectives with a critical eye is a skill that requires commitment from the entire school community.
Today, more complex global challenges require internationally-minded people with a broad perspective and courage, who believe that the Earth is precious. It is no longer the time when students can be successful by studying in one country; in one language and on one campus as they themselves shift from languages, cultures and national belonging.
Teachers should provide students with the international outlook that they need to flourish in the modern world. International mindedness should be promoted – a set of skills, behaviors and values which enable students to embrace diverse opinions and cultures, care about local and global communities and the environment, and take action to make positive changes. The communities that students belong to allow opportunities to ponder their identity and sense of place in the world.
The mission of every international school should be providing its students with a learning environment that puts emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving skills to equip them to respond to real life situations as national and global citizens.
The mission of every educator should be commitment to ensure a holistic education that addresses the development of the child as a whole being: intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically.
If your school and faculty comply with the aforementioned missions, thank you for helping the young people, who are not only your clients but also your children, to truly understand the world, and encourage them to create a better future for all of us.
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NOTE: I wrote this educational philosophy a few years ago, but it is of course still valid because good things are universal.
