As a pioneer in international education in southwest China, Malvern College Chengdu proudly marked its 10th anniversary with a landmark celebration that brought together distinguished guests from across the globe. Nearly 1,000 people including representatives of eight Malvern campuses worldwide including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Qingdao, as well as business leaders from the British Chamber of Commerce Southwest China and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Sichuan, gathered alongside a vibrant community of students, parents, alumni, educators, and industry leaders to commemorate this significant milestone and to engage in meaningful dialogue on the future transformation of education in the AI era.
Notable attendees included Mr. Keith Metcalfe, Headmaster of Malvern College UK; Ms. Jacqueline So, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Malvern College International (Asia Pacific); Mr. Rob Breare, Chief Executive of Malvern College International; Mr. Allan Walker, Director of International Schools of Malvern College International; Mr. Wayne Maher, Director of Education of Malvern College International; Ms. Rebecca Roberts-Gawen, Associate Director of Education, Malvern College International and Mr. Michael Chan, Director of Malvern College International (Asia Pacific). Headmasters from across the wider Malvern College Family of Schools also attended, including Mr. Michael Urquhart (Chengdu), Dr. Robin Lister (Tokyo), Mr. Paul Wickes (Hong Kong), Mr. Iain Ruck (Qingdao) and Mr. Andy Nuttall (The Downs, Malvern). Guests were treated to an insightful discussion on blending traditional educational excellence with emerging digital technologies.
Founded in 2015 by a group of passionate Chinese educators — alumni of Harvard, Columbia, NYU, and other top global institutions — Malvern College Chengdu was established to bring the rich legacy of British holistic education to Southwest China. Reflecting on this journey.
Ms. Jacqueline So
Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Malvern College International (Asia Pacific)
“Malvern College Chengdu pioneered holistic K–12 education in the region and is committed to developing well-rounded individuals. Our pupils’ achievements in global and national competitions across economics, mathematics, sciences, the arts, and sports highlight the strength of our educational philosophy. Impressively, 67% of our graduates have secured admission to universities ranked among the world’s top 50 by QS.”
Mr. Allan Walker
Director of International Schools at Malvern College International
He emphasized the school’s transformative role: “The seed sown ten years ago has grown into a vital connection between East and West. The Chengdu campus not only embodies the 160-year legacy of Malvern College UK’s education but has also established a future-looking model of ‘global vision with local practice’.”
As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, Malvern College Chengdu hosted a thought-provoking forum titled “AI and the Future of Education”, bringing together educational leaders, technology experts, and students to explore artificial intelligence’s transformative role in education.
The panel discussion featured seven unique perspectives and included representatives from the Malvern Family of Schools, technology industry leaders, current pupils, alumni, and even an AI assistant participating in real-time discussion. Key themes included:
Academic Frontier
Bill Yang, a 2022 Malvern graduate, currently studying at Imperial College London, shared practical insights on AI applications in higher education.
Strategic Vision
Rebecca Roberts-Gawen, Associate Director of Education at Malvern College International, outlined the strategic considerations for global education strategies.
Educational Heritage
Keith Metcalfe, Headmaster of Malvern College UK, reflected on balancing tradition with technical innovation in established academic institutions.
Foundation Learning
Annie Zhang, Principal of Malvern College Chengdu Prep School, examined AI’s potential in early years education development.
Technology Ethics
Jianyu Zeng, technology entrepreneur and Malvern parent, proposed a dual-track model for ethical AI adoption in schools.
Student Voice
Mandy Zhao, a Year 8 pupil, presented the student perspective, sharing how her generation uses technology in everyday learning.
AI in Practice
Virtual assistant MO delivered a real-time demonstration of AI-enabled education support tools.
Annie Zhang: Principal of Malvern College Chengdu Prep School
She emphasized the profound transformations occurring in education due to technological advancements. She identified three fundamental shifts:
Understanding Machine thinking and its Limitations: Developing awareness of how AI systems ‘think’ and understanding their inherent boundaries.
Evolving Teaching Methods: Moving from teacher-led instruction to collaborative human-machine learning approaches.
Personalising Education: Transitioning beyond standardised teaching to tailored personalized learning experiences for each child.
Zhang noted: “Education must always prepare children with skills for the future. Our responsibility is to help our pupils understand the boundaries between humans and AI machines, and teach them how to use technology wisely, while still valuing human thinking.”
Rebecca Roberts-Gawen: Associate Director of Education at Malvern College International
She commented on the ethical considerations of AI adoption in education. “As educators, our responsibility is to teach our pupils to recognize the biases in AI. Classroom teaching should focus on developing critical thinking skills to ensure pupils understand how we evaluate information.” Roberts-Gawen also noted: “while examination boards are adapting to AI, Malvern schools are already ‘ahead of this curve’ in developing AI competencies and assessment methods.“
Keith Metcalfe: Headmaster of Malvern College UK
He proposed that AI’s greatest impact has been in eliminating routine tasks, enabling teachers to focus on inspiring students. He explained: “Truly intelligent people understand that combining human intellect (IQ) with AI expands their intelligence. Our role is to guide pupils in making decision about how to leverage AI to enhance their cognitive abilities, not to use it as a substitute for genuine learning or to do the work for them.“
The panel examined concerns about technology’s potential to widen the gap between well-resourced and under-resourced establishments.
Keith Metcalfe acknowledged the dual responsibility of elite educational institutions: “Our role is to develop our pupils ability to excel, preparing them to be global leaders of the future, and at the same time, we must ensure they recognize their privilege in an unequal system. Malvern graduates have a responsibility to address the question of inequality and in the long term, through their leadership, we can strive to create a fairer system that benefits everybody.”
Jianyu Zeng: Tech Expert and Malvern parent
He offered an optimistic view on technology’s potential to level the playing field by asserting: “Emerging technologies are opening up innovation. By making resources more available, easier to use, and more affordable, these tools are helping to close the gaps, giving everyone more equal opportunities for learning and innovation.”
Mandy Zhao: Year 8 Pupil
She emphasised why creativity and independent thinking are so important: “As students, we need to hold onto our imaginations, our creativity, and our thinking. We should use AI as a tool to develop our thinking and to complete our ideas, not let it do the thinking for us.”
Bill Yang
A 2022 Malvern Graduate, Studying at Imperial College London
He facilitated the discussion and demonstrated real-world AI applications by incorporating a virtual assistant into the forum.
The AI assistant reinforced the importance of three key principles: Maintaining intellectual curiosity, Committing to lifelong learning, Balancing the use of AI tools with the development of uniquely human interpersonal skills.
The forum exemplified Malvern College Chengdu’s proactive commitment to preparing students for a rapidly evolving technological landscape without compromising academic rigour or ethical standards.
As Bill Yang concluded: “AI is neither a threat nor a solution. – it is a tool that can help us but not lead us. We must decide how best we’re going to use it and set clear guidelines for how to use it effectively in education.
The event underscored the Malvern family of schools’ dedication to fostering critical thinking, curiosity, and ethical awareness as essential components of education in an AI-driven future.
Ms. Jacqueline So
Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Malvern College International (Asia Pacific)
She emphasized Malvern’s commitment to digital advancement: “A cornerstone of our future is the development of a digital education ecosystem. By incorporating advanced tools and platforms, we prepare our students not just to adapt to change—but to lead it.”
Mr. Michael Urquhart
Headmaster of Malvern College Chengdu
He added: “AI in education is not about replacing teachers, but empowering students. We are determined to ensure pupils master AI, rather than be mastered by it.”
The Malvern College Family of Schools Leadership Conference, traditionally hosted in the UK, marked the opening of the 10th anniversary celebrations and was held internationally for the very first time—further affirming Malvern College Chengdu’s pivotal role in global education. Speaking on the conference’s theme, “The Value of Family”, Mr Keith Metcalfe commented: “True educational globalization lies not in unified textbooks and curricula, but in cultivating a shared culture of values, respect, and intellectual curiosity.”
Outstanding Malvern alumni from across the world returned to join the celebrations and to inspire current pupils. Among them were Dorothy Gan (Michigan State PhD), Nian Yi (Arizona State AI master’s), and Kathryn Wang (University of Hong Kong Law PhD), as well as students from LSE, Carnegie Mellon, Imperial College London, and more. Their journeys perfectly illustrate Malvern College Chengdu’s enduring influence, the connection they feel to their alma mater and the global impact they have made.
Looking forward, Malvern College Chengdu is launching three strategic initiatives to solidify its position as a pioneer in education:
A deep integration of emerging technologies into curriculum design, equipping students with future-ready digital competencies.
An expansion of personalized learning pathways, including targeted support to meet pupils’ specific needs, and a Gifted and Talented programme as enrichment for advanced learners.
A broader global university placement services, preparing students for academic success across the UK, US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions.
As Malvern College Chengdu embarks on its second decade, it remains committed to its mission of bringing high quality education to Chinese families, honouring its heritage, whilst forging new, meaningful pathways in international education—developing global citizens who are as intellectually capable as they are ethically grounded.
