The South & East Region organized the PYP Coordinators meet on 10th August 2024. Nearly 130 teachers, Coordinators and Heads of Schools attended this session.

The aLphabet International School Chennai generously hosted this daylong event with warm hospitality and meticulous order.

Ms. Monita Sen, Head- Early Childhood, DAIS. Building a responsive Curriculum in the PYP - Learning Progressions & Transdisciplinary Themes. Experienced PYP practitioners from various IB World Schools led parallel sessions on:

• Cultivating Student Agency through PBL in PYP
• Tracking Skills at the Pre-Primary Level
• Assessing Conceptual Understanding & ATL in the PYP
• Integrating Sustainability and Global Citizenship in the Classroom - Best Practices
• Sessions for new and experienced Coordinators
• Data collection in Education,
• Building a Literacy Framework
• Cultivating Learner Agency through intentional practices & supportive environments
• Math through Inquiry

The first regional meeting of IB Heads in 2024 was hosted by DPS International, Gurgaon.

The second IB Heads meeting, hosted by Shiv Nadar School, Gurgaon.

The final IB Heads meeting of 2024 was hosted by The Shri Ram School, Moulsari.

The Regional Meeting of the South & East, hosted by The Shri Ram Academy, Hyderabad, on 2nd December 2024, brought together IB leaders and educators for a day of insightful discussions and collaboration.

Keynote and sessions led by Heads of schools addressed topics like ‘Progressive Education’, ‘Leadership in Schools’ and ‘International Mindedness’.

A highlight of the event was the Voices – Panel Discussion, moderated by Mr. Rajesh Vasudevan, Head of School, Manchester International School, Coimbatore. This session featured three Heads of Schools and student representatives from PYP, MYP, and DP, who explored the benefits and challenges of IB programmes.

Heads Meet at Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School, Mumbai 22nd January 2025

On Wednesday, 22nd January 2025, a productive meeting was held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School, Mumbai, attended by IB Heads of Schools from the Western Region. Mr. Kedia, an advocate at the High Court & Supreme Court and an advisor for educational institutions, delivered an insightful presentation on matters related to compliance with various regulations, acts and Govt GR’s related to the state. The discussion covered several important regulations, including

• The MEPS Act, 1977, which governs private school employee service conditions;
• The Fee Regulation Act, 2011, which regulates school fees and PTA involvement;
• The RTE Act, 2009;
• The Self-Financed Schools Act, 2012, which governs new school establishments;
• The Sexual Harassment Act, 2013, and Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs);
• The POCSO Act, 2012, which protects children from sexual offenses,
• The DPDP Act, 2023, which focused on digital data protection,
• Other matters discussed covered regulations regarding general staff guidelines related to recruitment, codes of conduct, and disciplinary measures, teacher qualifications under NCTE guidelines.

The meeting provided valuable insights, ensuring compliance, protection, and operational clarity for educational institutions.

On December 6, 2024, the inaugural Librarians' Meet - Western Region was hosted by the Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School in Mumbai.

This one-day conference, led by Abhimanyu Basu Dean and CEO of Dhirubhai Ambani International School and Chair Western region, Merzeen Doctor, Principal of Chatrabhuj Narsee School and Deputy Chair of the Western Region and Priya Anand, Head of School of Mount Litera School International and Secretary of the Western Region, who brought together 36 enthusiastic librarians from 23 renowned IB schools across the western region.
The event was centered around fostering collaboration amongst librarians and celebrated the pivotal role of librarians within the IB ecosystem. It served as a collaborative platform to share innovative ideas, best practices, and strategies aimed at enhancing student learning and engagement.

The agenda included dynamic presentations and interactive workshops, delving into topics such as:

• Supporting IB Approaches to Teaching
• Building Ideal Libraries
• Literacy Initiatives
• Integrating Artificial Intelligence in library practices

These sessions fostered meaningful dialogue and provided valuable insights for participants, while informal networking opportunities allowed attendees to forge connections and strengthen professional bonds. The purpose was for participants to establish a digital network to continue sharing resources and expertise, ensuring that the exchange of ideas initiated at the conference would endure. The IB World Schools Librarians’ Meet was a resounding success, spotlighting the critical contributions of librarians and paving the way for continued innovation and collaboration within IB schools across the region.

At the Heads Meet at Podar International School, Mumbai held on Saturday 10th August 2024, Heads of IB schools from across the Western Region converged to plan the Professional Development Sessions for the year ahead. With collaboration at the heart of the process, they shared best practices in recent months across their schools in the spirit of collegiality.

With the success of the HR meet and Tech Integrators meet School Heads discussed a shared vision of reciprocal learning from the wealth of knowledge within our school communities and proposed two more areas to collaborate towards:

• Librarians Meet
• Social Emotional Learning

Schools volunteered to host the meetings, venues were finalized, and key facilitators were identified.
The 7th PAN India Heads Meet was finalized for 13th to 15th February 2025 in Delhi and suggestions were made towards its planning and theme.
The afternoon ended with a workshop emphasizing the importance of Art therapy for the students with a relaxing and creative session conducted for the Heads by artist Ms Rakhi Shah.

The PAN India DP Coordinators Meet was held at Podar International School, Mumbai on 10th August 2024.

The IB Heads Meet at Kanakia International School held on 30th April 2024 began with a review of the Mission, Objectives and Strategic planning: from the Kolkata conference with an effort to plan for the year’s activities.

The meeting was attended by 31 Heads of school of the Western Region and it began with updates from the Global conference Daegu, was followed a discussion on other mandatory requirements of the state government and details of the DP/CP coordinators meet to be held in August 2024 at Poddar International School were also finalized.

The Strategic Plan for 2024-26 was discussed at length:

• Leadership advancement programme (Heads PD)
• Educator enrichment programme (Coordinators and faculty)
• Student Empowerment initiatives (Collaboration and events)
• Mentorship of newly authorized schools
• University recognition
• Fiscal Health

This was followed by 2 sessions on Best Practices in Leadership conducted by:

• Ms Jasmine Madhani: IB leadership intelligences for self and the team
• Howard Gee: Child Protection.

The session for Tech Integration held at Kanakia International School, Mumbai on 30th April 2024

The session for Tech Integration held at Kanakia International School, Mumbai on 30th April 2024 was a resounding success as 21 tech educators from across the western region collaborated towards a unified purpose – of sharing best practices in relation to technology in education.

The IB Heads Meet held at Mount Litera School International, Mumbai on 8th December 2023 was a meeting of Heads to discuss common areas of concern.

HR Meet at Mount Litera School International on 8th December 2023

HR Meet at Mount Litera School International on 8th December 2023, Mumbai was organized with a view to creating better communication and transparency amongst HR professionals in various schools. The HR Heads of the schools shared their concerns and worked towards establishing common hiring and retention policies for their schools and promoting greater collegiality amongst the HR team across the Western Region.

The Heads Meet at Chatrabhuj Narsee School Mumbai held on 12th April 2023 was a return to physical meetings after a hiatus of 2 years.

The Heads Meet at Chatrabhuj Narsee School Mumbai held on 12th April 2023 was a return to physical meetings after a hiatus of 2 years. Heads discussed shared concerns related to students, realignment of in-school practices and the implications of the IB Board Examinations on the students.

DP/CP Coordinators Meet at Podar International School on 10th August 2024

The IB DP & CP Coordinators Meet held on August 10, 2024, at Podar International School in Mumbai brought together educators from across the region to engage in insightful discussions on curriculum development, student well-being, and IB program advancements. The event began with a welcoming address from Dr. Vandana Lulla and Mr. Abhimanyu Basu, followed by a captivating student performance. Sessions throughout the day delved into critical topics, such as the influence of conceptual understanding on DP curriculum planning, and effective integration of the CP core with CRS and DP subjects. In Session 2, participants explored the evolving landscape of quality assessments in a digital age, with a focus on integrating school vision into teaching practices. Session 3 highlighted strategies for easing students’ transitions into the DP, along with well-being initiatives like mindfulness and stress management. A key highlight was the Q&A on IBCP acceptance by universities, led by Mr. Mahesh Balakrishnan, providing clarity on how the program is perceived by higher education institutions. The afternoon sessions included discussions on the balance between IQ and EQ in the age of AI, language development, and reflective project evaluation. The event provided a valuable platform for collaboration, fostering meaningful discussions and sharing best practices to enhance the implementation of the IB DP and CP programs. It concluded on a positive note, with participants leaving inspired and equipped with new insights to drive excellence in their respective institutions.

Technology Integration Meet At Kanakia International School

The Western Region Tech Integration Meet, held on April 29, 2024, at Kanakia International School, brought together Technology teachers / integrationists. The event served as a collaborative forum for thought leadership, innovation, and strategic discussions on harnessing digital tools to elevate teaching and learning experiences for IB school Technology educators.

Ms. Tina Peji and Mr Nilendu Deb from DAIS, who shed light on transformative trends shaping the future of education. She emphasized the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, the growing significance of personalized learning, and the power of data-driven instruction in fostering academic excellence.Mr. Since Xavier from Mount Litera School International played a pivotal role in facilitating a session dedicated to the integration of digital tools in classrooms. The discussion delved into critical challenges faced by educators in adopting technology-driven solutions while also highlighting emerging innovations designed to enhance student engagement and improve learning outcomes.

In addition to thought-provoking discussions, the meeting provided valuable networking opportunities for different schools, enabling attendees to collaborate, exchange ideas, and contribute to the evolving EdTech ecosystem. The event served as a dynamic platform for fostering innovation, growth, and transformative change in the education sector. The meet underscored the importance of continuous innovation and collective efforts in reshaping the education sector ensuring that technology is leveraged effectively to empower both educators and learners in meaningful ways.