Principal Linda Lee, along with Mr Mike Lam (Deputy Director, Administrative Operations), Mr Andrew Tee (Head of Boarding), Ms Esther Lee (Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications), Mr Geoffrey Aw (Head of Estate and Facilities) and Ms Zhang Yun (Head of Admissions and Student Services) embarked on a cultural and learning trip to Guangzhou from 7 to 11 April 2025.
Our visit began with an exploration of Guangzhou’s iconic cultural landmarks, deepening our appreciation of the local heritage. Shamian Island, with its historic architecture and bronze statues, offered a glimpse into the city’s rich colonial past. In contrast, the bustling Beijing Road Pedestrian Street showcased the vibrancy of contemporary retail culture, providing us with an immersive experience. We also visited the beautifully landscaped Yuntai Garden and the Guangdong Romance Park, where we learned more about the region’s history and traditions through captivating performance art infused with cutting-edge technology.
Our key learnings began with a visit to Guangzhou Singchin Academy (SCA). We toured the school campus, including its boarding facilities, and were particularly impressed by the intentionality behind its infrastructure design. Notable highlights included strong visual brand consistency, flexible space usage (e.g. removable badminton floor mats in the sports hall), and a forward-thinking approach to sustainability (e.g. EV charging stations in the carpark).
We had the opportunity to meet with SCA staff from the Admissions & Marketing, Estate Management, and Boarding departments. Through open discussions and sharing sessions, we exchanged best practices and gained valuable operational insights. The visit to SCA provided the HCIS team with a wealth of practical takeaways.
We also visited the China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute in Guangzhou Knowledge City, where we learned about advanced research initiatives in science and technology. We then returned to SCA for lunch, followed by a quick tour of their school kitchen, which offered insights into the design layout and rationale behind their food preparation operations.
In addition, we visited the Guangzhou Institute of Technology and Xidian University, where we toured the Guangzhou Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Innovation Center and explored the university campus, including its student boarding facilities. The day concluded with an enlightening visit to Biosyngen, a company specializing in cell therapy research focused on advancing cancer treatment.
This trip was truly rewarding. Each location offered unique cultural experiences and valuable learning opportunities. The sharing sessions with SCA staff were particularly enriching. Beyond the knowledge gained, the journey allowed us to connect and bond on a deeper level. We returned with fresh insights, renewed inspiration, and a strengthened sense of shared purpose and collaboration.