Yew Chung International School (YCIS) believes the holistic approach to education is the way to nurture confident, responsible contributors and leaders of the future. The forward-thinking school has developed an innovative curriculum to help young people adapt to the ever-changing world. YCIS bridges the Eastern and Western cultures and incorporates this into its learning philosophy from Early Childhood Education to IB DiplomaProgramme (Years 12 and 13).
Globalisation is concealing international borders, challenging global citizens to adopt a broader vision for the next generations. This upholds the reasoning behind YCIS adopting its international curriculum, combining the core essences of the East and the West. This also led YCIS to choose the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in 2000, one of the first in Hong Kong, as the pre-university programme, which equips students with the skills and vision needed to participate in the global community. The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) states the “IB Diploma programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.”
YCIS students gain expertise and intricacy in thinking throughout its whole school style. Ultimately, in Years 12 to 13 YCIS’s wide course selection, morning assemblies, leadership programmes and community service participation, the faculty help ground students in the understanding and ethical foundations of global citizenship.
Subject Diversity
With a strong focus on both the liberal arts and sciences, the IB Diploma programme is very well rounded. YCIS Hong Kong, being part of an established international network and education foundation, offers a diverse selection of IB subjects that provide students with ample opportunities to identify their fields of interest before starting university. These include:
Opportunities for Independent Studies and Activities
The IB Diploma structure requires students to complete three additional compulsory components: an interdisciplinary course entitled the Theory of Knowledge, a 4,000-word Extended Essay and a Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) programme, to which students must devote no less than 150 hours. The Theory of Knowledge course fosters critical thinking and independent study skills, while the Extended Essay is completed on a research topic of the student's own choice, based on independent research with only supplemental assistance from teachers. Some CAS activities may include on and off campus channels; in Year 12 students travel to disadvantaged areas in Thailand or Vietnam.
The YCIS Pre-IB Programme for New Students
With the evident advantages of the YCIS IB Diploma programme, many parents are transferring their children to YCIS from other systems. For those lacking the necessary skills and knowledge base, YCIS has been offering Hong Kong’s first Pre-IB programme for a few years to help pave the way for prospective candidates; this is geared towards 15 – 16 year olds.
This unique Pre-IB year’s course is a comprehensive and rigorous one-year programme that helps students’ transition from their previous academic system to the two-year IB Diploma programme. The courses are designed in accordance with the IB Diploma structure to prepare students for a comprehensive and well balanced education, enhancing their knowledge base plus aiding in the development of vital skills such as critical thinking, creativity, research and writing, organisation, time management, oral presentation, exam writing and independent learning.
YCIS University Acceptance Profile
“The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is recognized and respected by the world’s leading universities, and evidence suggests that higher rates of DP students go on to university and higher education study than non-IB students”. Quoted from www.ibo.org
YCIS graduates of 2015 proved this to be true. Universities today are seeking those individuals who display a solid development and interesting personal statements that give a clear insight to their potential. The class of 2015 is now enjoying further studies; amongst the impressive acceptance profile were:
UK: University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, King’s College London, Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester, St. Andrews, Nottingham, Bath and many more. *
USA: Brown, Cornell and New York Universities, University of Southern California, and Pennsylvania State and more. *
Hong Kong: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Canada: Universities of Toronto, British Columbia, Waterloo and York University.
*Refer to www.ycis-hk.com for the complete list.
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