What to Look for in a School in the Middle East, Africa and Europe

When: Thursday 19th Nov (2pm GMT)

Click on the image above for the webinar replay for: What to Look for in a School in the Middle East and Europe

Jane Constantinis, BBC Worldwide presenter and Fiona Murchie, Managing Editor Relocate Global will discuss with their expert panellists including Dr Sergio Pawel of ISL Qatar, Dr Timothy Stuart of International Community School of Addis Ababa, Fiona McKenzie of Carfax Education UAE and Catalina Gardescu of American International School of Bucharest, what parents need to know to choose the right school for their child.

The webinar will explore the benefits of the curriculum on offer, what it means to be a global citizen, the importance of extra curricula activities and settling the family successfully in the new region. In addition the importance of health and wellbeing for children and the impact of the Covid pandemic will be discussed as well as technology in the future.

Discover what parents need to know to about the admissions procedure and why parent relations and the school community is so important.

Our panellists:

Dr Sergio Pawel, Head of School, International School of London Qatar

Dr Sergio Pawel has over 30 years of experience in the field of education in the UK, South America and the Middle East. Dr Pawel holds an MSc in Nuclear Physics, MPhil in Philosophy of Science and PhD in Sc Education. He participated in the development of the Science English National Curriculum, the IB Science in the Middle Years and the IB Diploma Physics Programmes.

He held various roles as an IB coordinator, IB DP Physics examiner, IB workshop leader, IB evaluator visitor, chair of CIS and NEASC accreditation, and Head of school. He has also worked as a consultant for setting up new international schools and lectures courses at Western University for a Master's programme in school leadership.

Dr Sergio Pawel has been involved with the development of ISL Qatar since its inception as the Chief Academic Officer of the ISL Group and is currently serving as its Head of School.

Dr Tim Stuart, Head of School, International Community School of Addis Ababa

Dr Tim Stuart is the Head of School at the International Community School of Addis Ababa. Previously, Tim served as the Executive Director of Strategic Programs at Singapore American School. He is the former High School Principal of Singapore American School and the former High School Principal of Jakarta International School. He has been an international and cross-cultural educator for 29 years serving schools in Ethiopia, Turkey, Switzerland, Indonesia, Singapore, and on the Navajo reservation in the United States.

Dr Stuart is the co-author of Personalized Learning in a PLC at Work, Solution Tree 2018 and the editor and co-author of Global Perspectives: Professional Learning Communities at Work in International Schools, Solution Tree in 2016. Dr Stuart’s research and writing reflects his passion for creating optimal school environments so that all kids can learn and engage at the highest levels.

Catalina Gardescu, Manager of Admissions & External Relations, American International School of Bucharest

Catalina Gardescu currently heads the Admissions, Communications and External Relations Department at the American International School of Bucharest. Catalina’s portfolio of work includes parent interviews, admissions projections, publications and communications, parent relations, fundraising, alumni relations and strategic marketing. She is part of the leadership team of the school and helps create the school budget, marketing and communication strategies, as well as conducts the school fundraising program. She sits on the tuition support committee and heads the school’s scholarship committee.

Catalina was involved in creating the first ever ECIS Admissions Committee, Open Apply admissions workshops – of which she designed and led Admissions Certification Courses in Shanghai, Singapore and Sofia - founded the International Admissions Bulletin (currently published by Open Apply) and continues to support the profession in any way she can.

Fiona McKenzie, Head of Carfax Education UAE

Fiona's comprehensive understanding of the education sector has been built up over 30 years of working in schools and education consultancy, in locations as varied as South Africa, Australia, the U.K., and the U.A.E. Fiona has worked with hundreds of families guiding them to make the best educational choices for their children whether at school or university level.

As Head of Global Consultancy at Carfax Education, Fiona’s team advise families from across the globe, including the Middle East, Russia and China. They offer bespoke solutions for each family’s education needs with schools’ guidance, private tutoring, residential placements, homeschooling, university preparation and career mentoring. Fiona regularly contributes to education journals, radio shows and panel discussions in the UK, and the UAE.

Meet the speakers

Find out more about all of the speakers and panelists who participated in the autumn 2020 Great International Education & Schools Fair.

Find the perfect school from the comfort of your home

Now is the ideal time to discover the right school for your child. As schools hosted Open Days and Virtual Events throughout the autumn, we used the opportunity throughout November to showcase the schools around the world that welcome relocating families and international students, not only at the beginning of a new academic year, but also at any time, with rolling admissions to meet the needs of families on the move.