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Quarter Four, 2008
Message from the Regional Director
This is our fourth and final enewsletter edition for 2008. We would like to thank the many schools which have again supported our work this year, by hosting workshops, and/or releasing workshop leaders, committee members and authorisation team members or by joining schools to schools and responding to the call for volunteers. We wish the November session schools success with the Diploma examinations and a happy, relaxing and safe summer break.
Mumbai Attacks
The IB offers our condolences to the victims of the Mumbai attacks and, especially to B D Somani International School over the loss of their teacher, Ms Rupinder Randhawa. Ms Rupinder was tragically caught in the onset of the terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Hotel while she was having her dinner in the restaurant. The sheer scale of this disaster is horrific. We feel the utmost sympathy for all those who have been involved and for the families and friends of those who have died.
In a letter to B D Somani International School, Director General, Jeffrey Beard says: "Unfortunately, this is not the first time an IB teacher has been a victim of a terrorist attack. This is a tragedy for you and your school. Many of us travel and we know that this tragedy could have easily happened to any of us or our loved ones. The IB feels for you and your school in this time of grief."
Our hearts are also with the Dhirubhai Ambani School community.
These tragedies affirm the need for our ongoing commitment as educators who aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Become an IB fan on Facebook
This September, the IB launched an official Facebook fan page. This is a pilot project to experiment with ways to leverage social networking for the IB. The components of the page include: news, photo albums, featured IB community members, videos, announcements and more! Through Facebook and beyond, we hope to facilitate a greater sense of IB community, worldwide.
Please visit the IB Facebook page and become a fan.
The long term goal of the Facebook page is to design an approach to social media that may translate to any platform. This project is part of the IB’s Digital Space Initiative (DSI), a three year programme to enhance the experiences and functionality that the IB offers its stakeholders in an online, web-based environment. As part of this initiative, the IB’s own virtual community is planned for beta testing in 2009, scaling up to a full launch in 2010.
Branding your school
The presence of the International Baccalaureate is growing in the IB Asia Pacific region. We know that IB World Schools are justifiably proud of being part of the IB world community and hope that the recognition and regard for the schools offering IB programmes will also grow.
To strengthen awareness of the IB and its presence at your school we are encouraging schools to increase your visual links with the IB on your website and use the IB World School logo on your stationery, advertising and publicity material. Many of your websites already display it, either on the homepage, or on an information banner, but in addition to this you could also add a link to your own school page on the IB website. This can be done by adding an IB banner or button to your website, as well as the IB World School logo. The files and guidelines for use of the logo are available for you at and banners and buttons can be downloaded from the IB website, along with instructions on how to place them on your websites and make the link to your school page. There are four different options available. Please always follow the guidelines and make no changes to the graphics. If you have any problems with this, please contact web@ibo.org.
Joint Synchronous Accreditation/Evaluation Visits
Many schools will be pleased to know that we are making some progress with initiatives to offer joint evaluation and/or joint accreditation/evaluation visits in the future. Following four pilot visits, a full day meeting was held with the Programme Manager, Marilyn George from WASC and representatives from CIS on 11 December 2008. Issues regarding the further development of documentation, the nature of the visiting teams and Organizational requirements with respect to reports were discussed.
Regional Council
The Regional Council met in Singapore on 6 and 7 November 2008. The focus of discussions were the restructuring of services to schools regionally and globally, forward the work of the Advancement Office in Asia Pacific and the establishment of a global centre in Asia Pacific.
Regional Council members with Judith Guy at the IB Singapore office
Indian Development Council
Members of the Indian IB Development Council met again at HR College, University of Mumbai on 15 November 2008 The IBIDC Council will meet again in Mumbai in April 2009 to further discuss issues of University Recognition, the IB’s commitment to Community Service and Access Projects in India and Regulatory issues.
Email Protocol
We regularly get a lot of email from yahoo or hotmail accounts – we would once again remind correspondents to state their name and school name in full as it is not always possible to know where you are from.
Our best wishes to you all for a happy and safe Christmas and New Year break.
Judith Guy, Regional Director
IB Asia Pacific
Email: ibap@ibo.org
HOT OFF THE PRESS!
IB Asia Pacific Staff Changes
Welcome
Wong Poh Chee
HR Manager
My career in the education sector began when I started teaching at the National University of Singapore upon completing my MBA from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and ten years’ experience as a HR practitioner in various industries. After three years in NUS, I moved to an education organization where I worked for six years on HR change management, people development and business development. During my employment, I have had the opportunity to work with children at a learning centre, an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed and cherished.
Currently pursuing an Executive Masters in HR and Global Leadership with Baruch College (CUNY), I want to continue my pursuit as a HR professional in the education sector. I am excited with the given opportunity to work in IB and to be part of the growing team.
Farewell
We bid farewell to Han
Nguyen in October 2008 who
has decided to further her
studies in Law. Our best
wishes to her as she
embarks on another phase
of her journey in learning!
Staff Changes
Three important promotions
in the Regional Office in line
with the restructuring of the
Schools Division in the
organisation include:
Nigel Forbes-Harper has assumed the role of Head of
Regional Programme Services from 1 August 2008.
Ed Lawless will assume the role of Head of Regional Professional Development from 1 January 2009.
John Switzer will assume the role of Head of Regional Development and Recognition from 1 January 2009.
IB Americas region →
The IB Americas includes IB World Schools in 31 countries and territories in Central, North and South America. IB World Schools in the Americas are state/public, private, magnet, charter, international, parochial and secular and serve a broad and diverse range of students in urban, suburban and rural communities.
Useful links →
IB Africa, Europe, Middle East region →
IB Africa, Europe and Middle East (IBAEM) covers a diverse range of cultures, languages and economic realities. In a continually changing region, the IB delivers its education standards beyond borders. More than 80 countries in the region offer IB programmes today.
Useful links →
IB Asia Pacific region →
The IB Asia Pacific region supports more than 400 schools offering more than 560 programmes in 27 countries. We are responsible for authorizing new schools, evaluating IB World Schools, providing professional development services in the schools and in sub-regional locations, and ensuring that the IB Diploma Programme is recognized by universities worldwide.
Useful links →
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