On the occasion of the launch of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the Academic Center for Excellence, Eastwood College organized a ceremony at Sursock Museum in Ashrafieh, gathering parents, faculty members, university representatives as well as a number of friends.
Najib Naimy, Kfarshima School Director, welcomed guests to the celebratory occasion, who were then treated to a speech by Père Selim Daccache, President of USJ and Chairman of Eastwood College’s board of directors, who described Eastwood College as “a school with a big heart, leading international education in the region”.
Michel Khoury, Mansourieh School Director, introduced the International Baccalaureate programme, explaining: “The IB is recognized by leading universities worldwide as one of the best passports a student of the 21st century can hold in her or his hand. Bringing it to Eastwood College draws new horizons for our learners, and opens wide the gates of quality higher education and Ivy League universities for them”.
The event was also an occasion to shed the light on other initiatives launched by Eastwood College, namely the Academic Center for Excellence aiming to raise the academic standards of all teachers.
“We have created the regional Academic Center for Excellence for IB Diploma teachers, administrators and directors, to provide them with a training academy offering workshops for numerous topics ranging from teaching and learning, to educational and academic curricular innovation”, explained Michel Khoury. He added: “It is true that we have been able to, along with other private schools, achieve great educational goals. However, Eastwood College is going the extra mile towards raising the academic standards of all teachers through sharing knowledge and expertise with public school teachers, and providing them with the same training programs given to our teachers – all for free”.
The school also announced its partnership with Harvard University, supporting teachers in their professional development; not only does professional development contribute to their personal growth, but it also equips them with the best teaching tools and techniques, which ultimately leads to improved outcomes for students.
Guests also witnessed the unveiling of the drawings and perspectives of Eastwood International School’s Jamhour campus, as explained by Panos Georganas, Architect Engineer, who focused on the future outlook of education with regards to school designs. He explained: “We are always keeping an eye on innovative solutions for education when it comes to designing learning spaces; they are so important and are constantly changing with the advances of technology”.
It is also worth noting that Eastwood College received their IBDP authorization at the start of February 2016, two years after launching the iPad Programme, a programme centralizing books and papers into a single digital device, further verifying their continuous commitment to constantly developing and updating the academic curricula and educational practices.
The event was followed by a cocktail reception in the Museum’s courtyard.