This article is taken from the 2021 Relocate and Think Global People Awards supplement.Click on the cover to access the digital edition or on the links below to read all of the articles on our website.

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Vietnam is one of the most vibrant economies in Asia with huge economic growth potential and as a result is attracting major brands to invest and open offices and factories in the country.When the Covid pandemic hit Asia, Vietnam was quick to respond. The International School Ho Chi Minh City’s entry for this award is a testament to the ethos of the school, which comes across as engaging and highly supporting. It tells the story of a tight-knit school community that is agile and resilient with a strong ethos and an exceptional team to ensure the safety, wellbeing and continuous learning of their students. The rapid impact of the virus emphasised the importance of communication and making sure staff were empowered with the knowledge, understanding and skills to operate and find solutions to new challenges.

Support for families

The judges were impressed by their active steps during the pandemic to provide a personalised experience for families and to support them, particularly during periods of disruption such as in quarantine. Their entry also showed the considerable emphasis placed on engaging staff and supporting their wellbeing.As the Head, Mrs Kim Green, explained in their entry statement, “In a year of disruption, we at the International School of Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) have transformed the way we help families relocate and transition to our community. We have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety, wellbeing and continuous learning of our students and families as they relocate to Vietnam.“With the onset of Covid-19 we quickly realised that families needed to feel safe and settled before arriving in-country. As such we developed one of Asia’s first virtual school tours. With borders closed and uncertainty at an all-time high we crafted a personalised virtually guided tour specific to each family’s needs and interests, fostering familiarity before arrival.”The school is particularly proud of their Transition to Campus Learning (TTC) programme. The TTC provides online learning to students in case they are unable to access the campus. For relocating families requiring quarantine, the TTC runs for three weeks, including a week of onboarding prior to leaving their home country.Once families arrive in Vietnam, ISHCMC delivers a care package to their quarantine hotel, ensuring students have everything they require for their 14-day quarantine-based learning. Parents also receive information packs on the city and are added to WhatsApp groups with parents of similar language and/or nationality to get help with settling in.There are practical tips for relocating families provided in very accessible formats that are easy to use and maximise the use of QR codes to provide lots of information. An integrated AI chat-bot supported the virtual and later hybrid school tours. Investment in specialised training for communication in a globalised digital environment, advanced customer service and empathy skills cemented a culture of care. The school was also committed to the safety of faculty and staff and their mental wellbeing.Their proactive approach kept everyone energised, engaged and empowered.Tight-knit community“At ISHCMC we aim to create a vibrant, safe and tight-knit community, making our families feel at home throughout the entire relocation process,” Kim Green explains.Speaking at the Virtual Awards Ceremony to accept the award she said, “It's an honour to receive this award. I know it's been a really challenging year for many of our families as they've transitioned globally. Through the agility and skill of our teaching team, and the commitment of our community, I thank our parents for their trust as we have looked after every child, every day as they’ve transitioned into our campus. Thank you so much.”www.ishcmc.com

The 2021 Relocate and Think Global People Awards Supplement - Out Now

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