CIS Perspectives Blog

Learn how the CIS Educational Transitions Framework is helping schools and universities strengthen transitions-care, student well-being, belonging, safeguarding, and support for internationally mobile students moving between schools and cultures and onwards to higher education.

Key insights from our team's recent programme of engagements in India, including student voice, stronger school–university pathways, practical learning, and how India is helping shape the future of international education.

Understand the real drivers of student anxiety during the secondary-to-higher education admissions experience—and what schools can do about it. This article explores common thinking patterns, practical strategies, and simple ways educators and parents can help students build confidence, maintain balance, and navigate uncertainty with greater perspective.

How do we guide students when our language about success feels too narrow? Nick Alchin explores pressure, purpose, and education, inviting a broader, more honest conversation about what it means for young people to thrive.

Key takeaways and practical actions from the 2026 CIS Summit of University & School Leaders (Hong Kong). Schools and universities tackled shared challenges and opportunities in school-to-university transition, admissions, and assessment. Read key themes and practical ways to use the report.

Why present at the 2026 CIS Global Forum in Prague? We share seven reasons to submit a proposal by 7 May showing how presenting supports professional learning, builds school-university trust, and strengthens how we support students moving to higher education.

Ahead of our inaugural CIS Institute in India, keynote and cultural futurist, Dr Ulcca Joshi Hansen, reflects on identity, belonging and AI’s impact and provides a practical perspective for student‑focused teams working across international schools and universities worldwide.

A new initiative from the University of Saint Joseph in Macao offers generous financial awards to learners in the CIS community, recognising their intercultural strengths and commitment to ethical, globally focused education while expanding pathways to an international, diverse academic environment.

International education faces increasing scrutiny and regulation worldwide; the need for informed, courageous advocacy is fundamentally essential. If there were no barriers to progress, how might international education change in 2026?

Our roles as advocates for international education have never been more important: collaboration with a purpose is a powerful form of change. Over 900 global education professionals gathered in Seville for our Global Forum to tackle evolving admissions challenges and share strategies for student success. Explore highlights and insights.

Just launched! The New Metrics International School (NMIS) program, by CIS and Melbourne Metrics, unites 23 schools worldwide to rethink student assessment. Read highlights from the launch, their focus on shared language, student agency, and organic change to drive long-term transformation in education, and the inspiring Australian schools already driving change in this area.

Join us in celebrating three individuals whose passion, dedication, and leadership have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of countless students and inspire colleagues worldwide.

Louie Barnett reflects on the new initiative championing teacher-led, strength-based assessment that empowers students to showcase their talents and supports learning that benefits both individuals and the planet. 

CIS school members are committed to exploring, understanding, and adopting leading practices in international education. CIS membership is a mark of quality, signaling to the rest of the world that the school shares a commitment to socially responsible leadership.

International students in Asia are facing increasingly complex post-secondary search and enrolment experiences, as the global higher education landscape grapples with a post-pandemic era and more recent uncertainties.

In an era marked by unprecedented global mobility and shifting educational paradigms, the transition from secondary school to university has become increasingly complex, especially for internationally mobile students.

When faced with frightening headlines and ever-shifting policies, I’m reminded of Mr. Fred Rogers (a reassuring TV presence in my younger life!) who reminded us to “look for the helpers.” In international education, those helpers are the school counsellors, university representatives, and student services professionals who continue to show up for students—even when the path forward is anything but clear.

Jane Larsson reflects on emerging role models and the importance of language and tone. How are we helping emerging leaders understand the power of their words and the importance of communicating effectively? How can we empower them to become thoughtful, effective leaders who act ethically, think critically, and lead with social responsibility?

We’re excited to hear Keynote Hector H Lopez in Bogotá. His initiatives for underserved communities have connected US $28 million in funding to students in Latin America. He brings a wealth of expertise in leadership development and cross-cultural collaboration to empower future generations.

Learn from Dr Spencer Striker in this short Q&A about digital literacy challenges and how interactive media and game-based education can enhance the university research and admission experience for secondary school students.