History

Since 2004, heads from schools in China and leading partners in education from around the world discussed ways to develop enhanced understanding and cooperation between schools. From these discussions grew the desire to create a formal association of selected leading schools, part of them from China and part of them from the West. The World Leading Schools Association was established in 2011 at the 5th World Leading Schools' Forum, which would eventually become the WLSA Global Educators Conference.

WLSA has a rich history hosting events that bring together leading experts in the field of education to promote cooperation, academic exchange, discussion and research of innovative and stimulating educational topics. School heads, senior faculty, admissions officials, college counselors, students and others working in the field of education from secondary schools, universities and independent educational organizations have worked together at our conferences to support cultural awareness and understanding and to encourage meaningful, long-term collaborative activities across continents.  

Prior to the launch of WLSA at the 5th World Leading Schools Forum, New York, July 2011, International Forums of Leading Schools were hosted by the CHEER Foundation. These conferences were designed to act as a platform to support the world's leading head teachers in increasing international communication and co-operation between China and the West. These events appear on the timeline below.

Past Events

2019

July 19

2019 Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding Between WLSA and Tsinghua University

July 18

2019 CAN Reception

July 17

2019 Launch of the WLSA Charitable Foundation

July 17

2019 Global Educators Conference in Prague (CZ)

May 14

2019 British Secondary Schools Conference in Shanghai

2018

November 5

2018 CAN College Admissions Open Days

The 2018 College Admissions Open Days CAN events were held between 5 – 6 November at WLSA associate schools Millfield School and Oundle School in the United Kingdom.

July 16

2018 WLSA Student Conference and CAN Conference

The 2016 WLSA Student Conference and CAN Conference were held between 16 – 21 July 2018 at the Korea International School Jeju Campus on Jeju Island, South Korea.

May 27

2018 College Admission Network (CAN) Conference Tour

The WLSA College Admission Network (CAN) brings together secondary school counselors and university admission officers from around the globe. The CAN Conference Tour took place in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xi’an, China between 27 – 31 May 2018. Learn more about the College Admission Network.

April 18

2018 Chinese Consortium at Tsinghua University High School (CN)