KinderWorld raises bar for education
KinderWorld raises bar for education
Singapore is ranked in the top five countries in terms of reading and science, and is one of the top two performers in mathematics. Considering that its national literacy rate was only 72.7 per cent in the 1970s, the country has made remarkable progress in education. VIR’s Duc Hanh examines one of Singapore’s best educational exports, KinderWorld Education Group, which has a long-standing presence in Vietnam.
Stable background
Founded in 1986 in Singapore, KinderWorld Education Group operates fifteen campuses under the brand names of Singapore International School (SIS), KinderWorld International Kindergarten (KIK), Singapore Vietnam International School (SVIS) and Pegasus International College (PIC) in Vietnam, as well as Pegasus International School (PIS) in Malaysia. Its campuses provide international and integrated education for students from pre-nursery to university foundation level, as well as higher and continuing education throughout Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Nha Trang) and in Malaysia (Johor).
Singapore International School in Vietnam offer both integrated and international educational programmes that are a combination of the Singapore curriculum set out by the Ministry of Education in Singapore and the Cambridge curriculum from the United Kingdom. These schools provide a high quality and holistic education programme for students to gain admission into universities across the world.
The Singapore curriculum is highly acclaimed throughout the world for its excellence in English, mathematics, and science. Singapore’s education excellence has been proven by its top ranking in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) which assesses key knowledge and skills in reading, mathematics, science and problem-solving skills among 15-year-old students. PISA results ranked Singapore in the top five highest-performing countries in reading and science, and within the top two performers in mathematics.
The Grattan Institute Report noted that “The world’s centre of high performance in school education is now East Asia”. Singapore ranks in the top five of the school system’s Performance, Equity, Participation and Efficiency.
The latest report from the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published in May 2015, showed that Singapore featured highly in the world ranking for mathematics and science.
KinderWorld has earned a significant position in the international education market in Vietnam, where for the last five years it has been lauded as the best international school system by the Vietnam Economic Times. Students from KinderWorld’s group of schools consistently achieve top results in international examinations, and many have continued their education in well-established universities in America, Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
“We believe that education should equip our students with the essential knowledge and skills needed for a technology-driven and globalised world, and at the same time preserve and nurture the significant values and cultures of Asia,” said Ricky Tan, chairman of KinderWorld Education Group. “Our students’ excellent achievements reflect KinderWorld’s ability to provide quality education and prepare students for life-long learning and global citizenship.”
Higher education
To provide quality education beyond high-school, Pegasus International College was established to offer Vietnamese students ASEAN and international pathways and qualifications in Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, Business and Commerce, and English Language courses. The college in Phu My An new urban area in the central city of Danang inaugurates the group’s foray into providing higher and continuing education.
Pegasus promotes innovation and excellence in professional and skill-based education and training with a firm commitment to enhancing knowledge and skills, as well as increasing productivity. Students graduating from Pegasus will be immediately employable, with skills ready to meet industry needs.
Pegasus offers three-tiered qualifications which are aligned to national requirements like the Vietnam Tourism Occupational Skills Standards (VTOS), the Malaysia Qualifications Framework (MQF), the Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum (CATC), and the trans-national Australia Qualification Framework (AQF) which feeds into other undergraduate programmes.
VTOS, under the administration of the Vietnam Tourism Certification Board (VTCB) is the national framework in this field developed for Vietnam. Programmes are aligned to the ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals (ACCSTP), and meet the requirements of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP). In Vietnam, Pegasus is the only private foreign education provider certified by VTCB as a VTOS Training & Assessment Centre, and can offer qualifications that are recognised by ASEAN members and beyond.
As mandated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, all 4- or 5-star hotels are required to ensure that at least 70 per cent of their service staff and 100 per cent of their management staff are certified under VTOS or Vocational College and / or Higher Education qualifications in Hospitality and Tourism.
The MRA-TP (the ASEAN Mutual Recognition on Tourism Professionals), taking effect in 2015, aims to facilitate mobility of skilled labour within the ASEAN bloc. The CATC involves five qualification levels across 6 labour divisions: Front Office, Housekeeping, Food Production, Food and Beverage Service, Travel Agencies, and Tour Operations. Upon obtaining recognised qualifications in accordance with the CATC, students will be eligible to work in the hospitality and tourism sector anywhere in the region.
Through an agreement between Pegasus International College and Edinburgh Napier University in the United Kingdom, upon completion of the two-year Advanced Diploma at Pegasus, students can articulate into the third year of the Bachelor of Business (Hospitality and Tourism Management) at Edinburgh Napier University, and receive an international Bachelor’s degree within three years.
“Additionally, Pegasus has also entered an agreement with Northern Sydney Institute, part of TAFE New South Wales, Australia, to provide students with articulation pathways and dual badging qualifications, and to establish a branch campus of Northern Sydney Institute in Vietnam and other ASEAN countries,” said Ricky Tan.
Furthermore, Pegasus UniCollege, a training arm of KinderWorld, was set up in Australia to offer international scope to KinderWorld’s educational pathways. Administered as a Registered Training Organisation with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), Pegasus UniCollege provides the relevant resources to conduct training and assessment services for Pegasus as well as authorise the issuance of parchments, Statements of Attainment, Certificates, and Diplomas accredited by ASQA.
Future development
Following the grand opening of Pegasus International College in Danang on May 22, the group aims to complete “through-train” education by establishing Pegasus International University, which will develop knowledge and skills from a global perspective and foster globally-competent graduates.
As part of KinderWorld’s complete approach to education, the development of Outward Bound Vietnam was initiated to inspire and appreciate social, cultural, and community differences. Outward Bound Vietnam – to be developed in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, the central province of Thanh Hoa, Danang, Quy Nhon, and Phu Quoc – introduces a unique programme which fosters interpersonal, leadership, and survival skills. Additionally, it instils social and environmental responsibility through unique outdoor activities and adventure-based experiential learning. Participants will be encouraged to move beyond their perceived limitations, face challenges, cement friendships, have fun, and develop a strong sense of self.
The programmes and courses offered at Outward Bound Vietnam underpins a commitment to the ten key concepts of Inspirational and Authentic Leadership, Developing Courage, Teamwork, Excellence and Quality, Effective Communication, Community, Cultural Intelligence, Social Awareness, Conservation & Preservation, and Reflection.
KinderWorld will introduce the Singapore Education Metropolis as part of its future development. The metropolis is an education-based urban development that houses an array of educational institutions to provide continual education from the nursery stage through to university, as well as vocational and professional training, complementary commercial facilities, and student residences. KinderWorld is planning to develop this metropolis in the university township of Vinh Yen city in Vinh Phuc.
