As Deputy Principal Wellbeing, I recently had the privilege of visiting three of our key partner schools in Japan — Tamagawa Academy, Meikei High School and Osaka International High School — to promote the continuation and growth of our international exchange programs.
The personal visits were warmly welcomed and very positively received, with all schools expressing a strong commitment to strengthening relationships with IGS and continuing to welcome our students. IGS now holds Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with each of these schools, formalising our shared commitment to student exchange, cultural immersion and ongoing collaboration. These agreements ensure long-term partnership stability, regular reciprocal exchanges and rich educational opportunities for our students.
Key outcomes of the visit include the re-establishment of the senior student exchange program with Tamagawa Academy, confirmation of a new reciprocal STEM-focused exchange with Meikei High School for 2026 and the continuation of our long-standing relationship with Osaka International High School, whose innovative four-story library-style campus fosters literacy, calm learning environments and global citizenship. Discussions are also underway to explore a future music exchange with Tamagawa Academy.
These strong partnerships directly support our Japanese language immersion programs and provide our students with meaningful global learning experiences, preparing them to thrive as thoughtful, connected citizens of the world. I look forward to building on this momentum to create even more opportunities for our students and School Community in the years ahead.
Thank you to our colleagues and partner schools in Japan for the warmth of their welcome and for their ongoing commitment to providing rich educational and cultural experiences for our students. Together, we are building a global future for the next generation.