The ISA Academic Centre serves as the core platform for academic coordination and strategic development within ISA International Education Group. It is committed to promoting curriculum consistency, the continuous improvement of teaching quality, and the alignment and optimisation of educational practices across all campuses.
While the Academic Centre does not directly engage in day-to-day teaching, it plays an integral role in curriculum design, teaching evaluation, and professional development. Many of its members also hold key leadership positions within schools, ensuring that strategic vision is closely connected to frontline practice.
With the Academic Centre in place, every ISA student - no matter the school or curriculum - benefits from a unified, high-quality, and forward-looking educational experience.
The Academic Centre provides three categories of services – Executive, Research & Development, and Advisory.
Executive services： include the choice of school curriculum systems; development of curriculum and wellbeing frameworks; development of whole-school curriculum standards; development of professional standards for teachers and leaders; professional appraisal (teachers and leaders); school review; and compliance with Chinese and non-Chinese systemic regulations. It also plays a leading role in the development of ISA templates for how schools consider the development of their curriculum and wellbeing documents. Executive services are provided with prior ISA Board endorsement and in close collaboration with ISA Heads of School and the Heads of Schools’ delegated representatives.
Research & Development services： include research into broader economic, social, demographic and technological trends that impact on school development, marketing, admissions, learning and teaching, research is based on the analysis of peer-reviewed journal articles and related resources, on the analysis of school systems and practices worldwide, and on action research involving ISA school communities. Research reports, with executive summaries and recommendations are shared with the ISA Board, with ISAIEG teams, and with ISA school communities.
Advisory services： include the development and facilitation of professional learning activities for teachers, leaders and other school personnel; development of curriculum resources for teachers and students; mentoring and coaching school personnel; hosting educational forums; and establishing professional networks across ISA schools. The ISA Academic Centre also publishes a comprehensive weekly newsletter for Guangzhou and Guangdong to visit.
