CIS News: October 2025

This quarter, we have launched new tools, new events, new preparatory evaluation visits under our new accreditation protocol, and more!

A portrait photo of Jane Larsson Executive Director at CIS 2022

We are witnessing significant shifts in international education, driven by evolving governmental policies and the ongoing need to adapt our practices to new realities. In response, CIS is proud to introduce a suite of innovative tools designed to help schools, universities, and educational leaders assess and enhance the effectiveness and relevance of their current approaches. Developed collaboratively with voices from across our global community, these resources are grounded in socially responsible leadership and a commitment to our shared values.

In this issue, you’ll learn about our new frameworks and professional learning opportunities: the CIS International Accreditation Framework; a developmental programme for school governing bodies and leadership teams; and a comprehensive support pack of practices to help students transitioning from secondary to higher education. By fostering cross-sector collaboration and focusing on the needs of diverse governance structures, we aim to empower schools and higher education institutions to offer meaningful support to their communities. My colleagues and I look forward to connecting with you at upcoming events and to learning about the impact of these new tools on educational outcomes.

—Jane Larsson, Executive Director

	We’re offering a new Developing Socially Responsible School Governance and Leadership course, designed specifically for school leaders across all governance structures.
	At CIS, we understand the importance and impact of well-supported educational transitions. When handled with care, these moments can strengthen a student's academic trajectory and personal development. To support our members in creating positive transitions, we developed the research-based Educational Transitions Framework to improve student outcomes through five key elements of transitions-care programming.
	We then launched the Secondary to Higher Education Transitions Support Pack, built on the framework, to help our members support their students in their transitions to life beyond secondary school. This collection of guidance, videos, discovery questions, and research all use a shared language to bring international schools, universities, parents, and carers together to guide and prepare students for this pivotal step in their journeys.
	To further support our members in creating positive transitions within their institutions, we launched the Foundations of Transitions-Care course—an engaging five-week online course for schools and higher education institutions eager to empower their communities with practical strategies and lifelong skills for navigating transitions.

Transforming School Improvement Worldwide

CIS International Accreditation—Developing Socially Responsible Learning Communities

The redesigned CIS International Accreditation framework and process are driving a global shift in how schools approach improvement—emphasizing developmental growth and empowering schools to align accreditation with their own strategic priorities. Schools across diverse regions are reporting strengthened governance and leadership practices, with boards engaging more meaningfully in the accreditation process, and benefiting from new insights.

The CIS International Accreditation Framework, launched earlier this year, represents an evolution in how schools engage with accreditation, placing strategic school improvement and socially responsible leadership at its core. Designed to be developmental rather than inspectorial, the framework empowers schools to align accreditation with their unique strategic priorities, enabling meaningful, contextually relevant school improvement.

The process begins with a review of schools’ Cornerstone Expectations, to establish evidence of core operational and strategic systems and rigour. The framework’s multidimensional structure — centered on embedding Guiding Principles, fostering Well-being, and advancing Learning — enables the creation of development initiatives that foster deep reflection and organizational learning through accreditation. Schools co-construct an Accreditation Plan that reflects their school’s goals and needs, driving change through a process of research-informed innovation.

Early adopter school communities and volunteer evaluators alike have praised the protocol’s agility and relevance, noting its transformative effect on school culture and alignment with future-ready educational values.

	We released findings from our 2025 Head of School Salary research which shows salary gaps persist in relation to gender, ethnicity, and type of contract.
	We published new resources and blog posts to educate our members about important Child Protection and Safeguarding concerns. Get the answers to six frequently asked questions about international safer recruitment in our recent post.
	Students and counsellors from CIS member schools around the world met with almost 250 different higher education institutions at our series of International University Fairs.
	83 schools achieved CIS International Accreditation or re-accreditation this year, demonstrating their school community's commitment to high-quality international education.
	88 schools and universities have joined the CIS membership community so far this year.

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The CIS membership community is a highly collaborative, global network of schools and higher education institutions, committed to developing socially responsible global citizens through international education. Learn more about CIS membership for schools and universities.