Socially Responsible Leadership

All schools are learning organisations. Dr Sudha Govindswamy examines the building blocks of learning organisations and provides examples of how schools can develop as learning organisations and how we demonstrate organisational learning at CIS.

As 2025 draws to a close, we recognize the CIS global community’s legacy of bold ambition, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to guide and support the young people we educate. Read the highlights.

Curious about how schools tackle identity-based harm? This blog walks you through the ways communities can support everyone involved—those who caused harm, the witnesses, and families—using restorative practices and cultural shifts. While international schools are making promising strides, the real change comes from keeping equity, inclusion, and well-being at the heart of everything we do.

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.

In our work leading institutional improvement, we focus on social responsibility. We help school leaders and governing bodies to improve how they model social responsibility and how they educate students to develop as socially responsible citizens.

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?

It’s been a remarkable year for the CIS community, filled with new initiatives and significant changes. Read our reflections as we celebrate the great strides we're taking forward together.

School safeguarding specialist, Leila Holmyard, explains how identity-based harm and the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion intersect with child protection and safeguarding. She also shares student feedback and how schools can take action to support and protect them.

Whether you are a leader or teacher, whether you work in a school or a university, you are a role model who is watched closely by your students. Your actions and words matter. Learn more from Jane Larsson on why and how we must address the agency gap.

Debates and debating skills are highly valued in education. 'I often wonder what the world would look like if students spent as much time learning to dialogue in school as they do debating.' Hear more from Marine Galvez.

'I often hear from those who wish to achieve a sense of belonging for every student but are worried that their initiatives will inadvertently stoke division or backlash within the community.' Learn more from Dr Emily Meadows and see how her framework can help you and your school.

As international schools continue to expand their horizons with off-site educational trips, the importance of student safety during these excursions has never been more important. Leila Holmyard outlines ten practical steps all schools can follow to ensure off-site adventures are not only educational and enriching but also safe and secure.

As we reflect on the past year, it's with a sense of pride that we share the milestones and innovations that have marked our journey. 

Gaps persist related to gender, ethnicity, and contract type. Learn what the 2023 data shows about the salaries and benefits of 373 heads of school in 106 different countries and what you can do about it.

'The latest iteration of the CIS Vision calls for our organization to support the development of socially responsible leadership through international education. When asked how I would describe my role here, the term critical friend comes to mind. I'm here to support the internal transformation.' Hear more from Dr Nneka Johnson