IB Asia Pacific Professional Development:
The Role of IB School Associations
The IB Asia Pacific Regional Office acknowledges and values the contributions that regional associations make in supporting the IB. This document is designed to assist associations and to provide them with guidelines as to their purpose and activities. It also outlines the regional office’s role in supporting associations.
The Status of IB Associations:
In the Asia Pacific region, associations are recognized, sub-regional groups of IB World Schools which are established by and for IB World School administrators. While they are independent of the IB, they are formally recognized by the IB through the Associations of IBWorld Schools Criteria for Recognition.
The Purpose of IB Associations:
The purpose of associations is to provide support and communication to schools at all stages of implementation and advocate on behalf of the IB when appropriate.
Communication with the IB Asia Pacific Regional Office:
The contact person between the regional office and IB Associations is:
• IB Asia Pacific Regional Head of Programmes: Nigel Forbes-Harper,
nigel.forbes-harper@ibo.org
Please also cc relevant regional representatives with any correspondence:
• Australasia: Greg Valentine, greg.valentine@ibo.org
• China and Mongolia: Wang Hong, china@ibo.org
• Japan & Korea: Kyoko Bernard, japan@ibo.org
• South Asia: Farzana Dohadwalla, farzana.dohadwalla@ibo.org
It is an expectation of IB associations that they will communicate the following information to the Regional Office contact person:
• Yearly schedule of meetings
• Agendas for meetings
• Minutes of meetings
• Contact people for the association
• Newsletters and any relevant correspondence/information
With this information, the regional office can better support associations. If the regional office is aware of agenda items in advance, then IB representatives may be able to contribute to the discussion and provide guidelines and assistance if necessary.
Association minutes provide the regional office with a higher awareness of the relevant issues and/or discussion points in the region.
IB Asia Pacific Regional Office’s Role in Supporting Associations:
Associations provide support to IB schools and the IB Asia Pacific regional office has a responsibility to assist them in this support. The regional office will attempt to support associations by attending or sending a representative to association meetings, if possible. If a yearly schedule of meetings is provided, the regional office may be able to coordinate attendance around travel schedules.
Associations should contact the regional office at any time so that representatives can assist in supporting IB schools.
Activities of IB Associations:
Associations provide a variety of support to regional schools and the regional office.
Advocacy: Associations promote recognition of IB programmes.
• Liaise with the local regional office and regional representatives to support recognition by ministries of education
• Liaise with the local regional office and regional representatives to support recognition by universities
Community Development: Associations promote communication between IB Schools and with the regional office.
• Liaise with the regional office for input and updates
• Disseminate information to IB schools through newsletters, etc
• Gather members together to
o share good practice
o explore issues/challenges relevant to the country or region and to share strategies and solutions
• Provide feedback to the regional office on relevant topics
Professional Support: Associations promote formal and informal professional development opportunities for and between IB Schools, with activities that supplement recognized regional IB-approved professional development activities. (Important note: In the organization of guest presenters, associations are required to uphold IB Intellectual Property Policies, and respect the terms and conditions for IB-trained workshop leaders and examiners. For further information, please refer to Guidelines for providers of IB-related training activities.)
Please Note:
The above are not IB-approved professional development activities. However, as IB-related activities they do support a school’s fulfilment of Standard A2, Practice 12, which states: “The school takes advantage of the international network of IB schools teaching the same programme through e-mail or personal exchanges and attendance at conferences and workshops.” Schools which support staff participation in association activities are meeting aspects of this practice.
Schools are invited to record the full range of IB-related and non-IB training activities in a Supplementary PD Record, to be acknowledged in the authorization and evaluation process.
IB Professional Development
- Unpacking the Standards and Practices
- Role of IB Networks
- Role of IB Associations
- Associations Criteria for Recognition
- Guidelines for Providers
- In-School Workshops
- Recognition of externally provided development
- Rules and Policy for use of IB Intellectual Property
- Supplementary PD record
- Examiner Terms and Conditions
- Workshop Leader Terms and Conditions
- Workshop Planner
