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    YCYW Founder’s Day 2025: Building a Century-Old Dream Together

    News

    17 Oct, 2025

    17 : 48

    On 10 October 2025, YCYW campuses worldwide celebrated the annual Founder’s Day, honouring the 93-year legacy and vision of Founder Madam Tsang Chor-hang, as we look forward to the infinite possibilities of education driven by innovation.

     

    2025 also marks the 30th anniversary of YCIS Beijing and the 10th anniversary of YWIES Shanghai Lingang. The two campuses celebrating their anniversaries have demonstrated YCYW's accumulated experience in building high-quality education.

    • 01 At thirty, we stand firm, with flourishing and accomplished students

      YCIS Beijing has developed over three decades as a model of a multicultural campus. It has blossomed into a vibrant, cross-cultural community, uniting families and students from more than 45 countries and regions. YCIS Beijing was our first school in the Chinese mainland to introduce our transformative Co-Principal Model, thereby setting a benchmark for global educational practices in Beijing.

    • 02 It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to raise people

      In 2015, YWIES Shanghai Lingang was established as the first international education school in the Lingang Special Area. YCYW transformed a building formerly used by the government into our dynamic, modern campus today, creating a place that blends heritage and innovation to inspire learning.

       

      During the ceremony held at YWIES Shanghai Lingang, Dr Betty Chan Po-king, CEO and School Supervisor of YCYW Education Network, reminisced about her mother, Madam Tsang Chor-hang, who founded the first YCYW school in Hong Kong, China in 1932, and congratulated YCIS Beijing and YWIES Shanghai Lingang on their achievements.

       

      Dr Chan said, “The core of education is trust. In alignment with China’s policies to build a strong nation through education, we have established a ‘Yew Chung and Yew Wah’ dual-brand, through-train educational pathway spanning Beijing and Shanghai. We offer students a seamless bilingual and multicultural journey from their early years through secondary education. By adhering to the highest standards, YCYW has earned the trust of families worldwide.” 

    03 Expanding University Pathways to Meet Diverse Developmental Needs

    In the area of career and university guidance, YCYW's Careers and University Guidance Office (CUGO) provides systematic support to students from the lower secondary level until they graduate. In alignment with China’s policy of encouraging the orderly expansion of educational openness, CUGO continues to strengthen its cooperation with universities and industries worldwide. CUGO is expanding pathways for student success through internships, job-shadowing, global exchanges, and course articulation agreements. CUGO closely monitors trends for studying abroad and makes targeted strategic adjustments. It has also introduced additional language and support services for university appplications to help students in achieving diverse tertiary education options, continually optimising YCYW's comprehensive career and university guidance services.

     

    In the 2025-2026 academic year, YCYW introduced the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) as an additional upper secondary programme option, further enriching the students' pathways. This empowers all students with choices to pursue the qualifications that align with their aspirations. During the 2025 university admission season, YCYW students achieved outstanding results in international examinations such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), AS/A Levels, and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), and gained admission to the G5 Super Elite universities, such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, as well as to top US science and arts colleges. These accomplishments reflect YCYW's sustained efforts to maintain educational quality and holistic development.

     

    In her speech, Dr Chan highlighted another recent achievement of YCYW. The Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) is the first private higher education institution in Hong Kong SAR to offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (ECE) and a Master’s Degree in Education. YCCECE has welcomed its inaugural cohort. To enhance educational inclusivity, it recently launched a master's programme with Chinese as the medium of instruction. Moreover, YCCECE recently received additional accolades. Its President, Professor Kerry Lee, and Vice President (Academic), Professor Eric Cheng, have been recognised in the 2025 rankings published by Stanford University as part of the “World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists”, a testament to the global academic influence of these YCCECE leaders. 

     

    During the Founder's Day celebrations, YCCECE announced that its signature Dinosaur Charity Run will return on 30 November 2025. This community event brings everyone together to raise funds for student scholarships and to support families in need. We invite you learn more about the event and to participate in a collective spirit of friendship and compassion. For details, please visit: www.dinorunkids.com. This Hong Kong SAR event is just the beginning, and the fun and meaningful Dinosaur Charity Run will soon be rolled out across all YCYW campuses!

    04 Following national guidance; Remaining at the forefront of education

    Dr Chan reaffirmed YCYW’s commitment to continuous innovation. YCYW has actively integrated into China's modernisation, emphasising technology and the cultivation of scientific research talent. YCYW has also established partnerships with world-class institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Oxford, and the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, to offer seminars and summer programmes. These collaborations have provided the basis for nurturing future innovative talents by enabling our students to engage with leading scientific organisations, broaden their horizons, and explore their passions for science.

    05 YCYW Alumni Hall of Fame 

    YCYW established the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 to honour graduates who have made outstanding contributions to the community and epitomise the YCYW spirit. Each year, YCYW presents the awards on Founder’s Day. On 10 October 2025, the YCYW Alumni Hall of Fame welcomed three distinguished alumnae.

    Ms Haerim Jang

    Ms Haerim Jang

    Class of 2014, YCIS Beijing

    Ms Jang attended YCIS Beijing for primary school. After returning to the Republic of Korea, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a Master of Arts in Asian Art History at Ewha Womans University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Arts Management at Seoul National University.

     

    Ms Jang works as a curatorial assistant at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, where she focuses on cross‑disciplinary curation and research on the art market. Her goal is to connect tradition and innovation and to broaden public participation. She has gained expertise in multilingual and international projects, through her cross‑cultural experience at Cheil PengTai Beijing, a subsidiary of the Samsung Advertising; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Christie’s. She is now leading a contemporary art initiative centred on K‑pop, and supported by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. For this project, she is developing strategic media partnerships. In her work, Ms Jang continues to expand the intersection of art, investment, and cultural policy to foster a more inclusive and sustainable arts ecosystem.

     

    In her acceptance speech, Ms Jang said, “To me, this award is not just a recognition of my past, but a general reminder to keep living out the YCIS spirit, and to think and listen across cultures, languages, and ideologies. Thank you once again for this beautiful encouragement. I will do my best, to be the kind of alumna who not only honours where she comes from, but also helps carry the values of Yew Chung International School into the future.”

    Ms Michel Mak

    Ms Michel Mak

    Class of 2012, YCIS Hong Kong

    Ms Mak is an alumna of YCIS Hong Kong. She earned her LLB (Bachelor of Laws), from The University of Hong Kong with outstanding results, and completed an LLM (Master of Laws), at Queen Mary University of London with a focus on International Arbitration, graduating with distinction. She gained experience at leading international law firms through summer internships, and secured a two‑year trainee solicitor contract, thereby gaining a rigorous academic and professional foundation for cross-border development.

     

    After transitioning into the media industry, Ms Mak spent two impactful years at Phoenix TV Hong Kong Channel, where she planned and hosted “Hong Kong New Perspectives”. Her programme explored technology and social issues, featured in‑depth interviews, and linked with global correspondents for major international stories. At the 9th Hang Seng University of Hong Kong Business Journalism Awards, “Hong Kong New Perspectives: The AI Art Shift”, she won Silver in Best Business Technology News Reporting (Audio‑Visual). This marked Ms Mak’s first journalism award after joining Phoenix and established her personal brand of “technology foresight + in‑depth reporting”.

     

    In her acceptance speech, Ms Mak shared, “I spent 18 years of my life with Yew Chung. YCYW isn’t just a school for me—it is a home. YCYW is the very ground that shaped my character and the place that gave wings to my dreams. YCYW taught me to ask questions, to think critically, to have compassion, and most importantly, to believe that I can be anything. To students who might be struggling in finding your path: that is okay. Don’t hesitate to change course. Your journey will never be a straight line; it is an adventure. Have the courage to be different, and to listen to your heart.”

     

    She also urged her fellow juniors to carry with them two things as they step into the future. “First is the heart of gratitude. Always remember your family, your teachers and friends who supported you, and the unique community that believed in you. Trust me, they are going to be your strongest support. And second is the commitment to give back. Lift others as you climb, share your stories, be the person who inspires.”

    Ms Kay Shi Qi Tu

    Ms Kay Shi Qi Tu

    Class of 2012, YCIS Shanghai

    Ms Kay Shi Qi Tu, an alumna of YCIS Shanghai Gubei (Class of 2012), graduated from University College London with a Master of Arts in Architecture. As a UK‑registered architect and founder of the company TU by TU, she believes architecture and design should enrich human experience, seamlessly integrating function, beauty, and sustainability.

     

    Her professional practice spans London, Hong Kong SAR, and Shanghai, integrating local culture specificity with innovative solutions. As a former Lead Architect at Zaha Hadid Architects, she has contributed to delivering large, complex projects and continually pushed the boundaries of architectural innovation. She has also contributed to the London Southwark Design Review Panel, helping to raise the overall quality of urban development. Her work has garnered awards and has been featured in leading professional media such as the Architects’ Journal and ArchDaily.

     

    In her acceptance speech, Ms Tu said, “I still remember our school trip to Thailand, where we spent days laying bricks for a local school. It was hot and exhausting, but the joy of helping others to build their own space stays with me. And two years later, when I went to London to study architecture, I realised that the seed of that decision was planted there, in that moment of shared purpose.”

     

    She also recalled that “the art room was where everything began”, where she “learned to create freely, to think visually, and to explore ideas without fear.” She reckoned that education is not about what we know, but who we become. “Life is not only about chasing happiness, it is about having the courage and confidence to face any fear or challenge—and to keep going.”

    06 Celebrations across YCYW

    YCYW has a long-standing tradition of hosting sporting activities on Founder’s Day. Students not only to enjoy the excitement of sports, but also to learn the virtues of fair play and integrity.

     

    On Founder’s Day 2025, we reflect on our founder’s mission of "Honouring China". The 93rd anniversary marks an important milestone in YCYW's developmental journey and lays a new foundation for its centennial educational mission. YCYW's global alumni network now exceeds 30,000 worldwide. Amid the centennial changes, YCYW will forge ahead, continuously advancing its educational service system and promoting synergistic development across its campuses, to provide innovative support for nurturing globally-minded talents.