Canada's prestigious private school, 'Branksome Hall', will open an international campus on Jeju.
On July 7 (Toronto local time) on campus of Branksome Hall in Canada, Jeju Free International City Development Center (Chairman Jong-Il Byon, 'JDC') and Branksome Hall agreed to establish an international school in Jeju Global Education City, reaching agreement regarding the school's academic curriculum (definitive agreement), etc.
Founded in 1903, Branksome Hall is one of Canada's most renowned private schools running an internationally certified International Baccalaureate ('IB') program in all grades starting with Kindergarten. It is the leader among schools in Ontario, Canada, being recognized as a top-tier school for the outstanding academic performance of its graduates, 100% of whom go on to university and 75% of them are admitted to their first-choice university.
The new campus to open on Jeju will be tentatively named 'Branksome Hall Asia', which will be a girls' school providing a 3-step integrated education program from kindergarten to 12th grade*. The school will feature world-class facilities to accommodate 1,030 students from Korea and abroad (Both genders to be allowed from kindergarten to grade 3, dormitory optional).
Primary Years Program (kindergarten-grade 6), Middle Years Program (grade 7-grade 10), IB Diploma Program (grade 11-grade 12)
The new campus will offer the same education programs as those of Branksome Hall in Canada and run a student exchange program with the Canadian campus. Accordingly, its students will acquire both a domestic degree and a degree from Canada's Branksome Hall upon graduation.
Also if a student takes the IB program, highly recognized by universities around the world, he/she can enjoy various admission benefits such as priority admission, preferential admission and scholarships when enrolling in prestigious universities in the UK, US and Canada.
In particular, the campus is expected to attract students from Korea's neighbors like China, Japan and Taiwan, contributing to reducing on ever-increasing deficit in the education sector's balance payments*.
As of early 2008, a total of 27,349 Korean elementary school, middle school and high school students went overseas for study, contributing to a deficit of 4.43 billion dollars.
An international school founded in Jeju Global Education City will be granted considerable discretion in its admission requirements, admissions and other school operations under ｢The Special Act on the Establishment of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Development of Free International City｣.
In addition, under the Act, there is no admission policy discriminating among Korean or foreign applicants, and for-profit organizations may establish schools. .
In addition to Branksome Hall's decision to open its Jeju campus, another foreign school to open its Jeju campus is Britain's renowned private school, North London Collegiate School ("NLCS"). Currently, America's Saint Albans School is negotiating a similar agreement. If this school accepts the offer, Jeju Global Education City will be home to three globally prestigious private institutions from the US, UK and Canada, making it an unprecedented top education city.
Tae-shin Kwon, Chief of the Prime Minister Office, said, "The opening of Branksome Hall Jeju campus, NLCS (private) and Jeju International School (public) proves that Jeju Global Education City offers the best environment for English education and that is destined to become an education hub in Northeast Asia."
Meanwhile, JDC Chairman Jong-Il Byon stressed, "With Jeju's pristine natural environment and its ambitious vision for a free international city, Jeju Global Education City is the perfect place to take advantage of world-class educational programs without going abroad."
Jim Christie, Branksome Hall Board of Governors Chair, said, "Branksome Hall is honored to have been invited by the South Korean government to open a school on Jeju Island. The international campus will be in keeping with our vision to be globally minded and with the spirit of the International Baccalaureate Program."
Principal Karen Murton said, "When our current students graduate from Branksome Hall, they will go on to study and work in a global environment. As such, increased access to global opportunities and global understanding will only help them in their efforts to shape a better world." Branksome Hall Asia will "complement our existing programs through student exchanges and residential trips," she added. "It will also allow access to a Branksome education for students throughout Northeast Asia."
The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office fully support the design and construction of the campus facilities, the selection of teachers and the promotion to attract students for a successful opening of Branksome Hall's Jeju Campus.
In particular, they will make all-out efforts to ensure that all public utilities and services and other facilities are fully in place at least 2-3 months prior to its opening, thereby promoting convenience for students and residents.
Provided by KPR & Associates Inc.
