Hundreds of Chinese and international teachers and managers from Dipont’s international high school programs gathered near the shores of Taihu Lake for the 2025 Dipont Annual Conference, held at the InterContinental Hotel in Wuxi on August 24 and 25.
The theme for this year was “Honoring Tradition, Embracing the Future,” a tribute to more than two decades of Dipont’s work in education and a launchpad for the year ahead. Over two days, teachers from many different backgrounds brought open minds and a collaborative spirit to explore curriculum innovation, professional growth and the future of teaching.
CEO Zhang Bowen opened the conference with a warm welcome for new teachers and heartfelt thanks to long-serving colleagues. He looked back on Dipont’s journey as a pioneer of international education in China. In 2004, Dipont worked with the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China to set up an international curriculum center registered with the Ministry of Education. Since then, combining a deep understanding of Chinese and Western education with a spirit of innovation, Dipont has built and refined systems for running international programs, managing academic quality and supporting international teachers, setting standards that are widely recognized across the sector.
Past success, he reminded everyone, belongs to the past: education is about the future, and only continued innovation will keep Dipont ahead. He called on everyone at Dipont to continue to raise standards, welcome more outstanding educators and keep improving the support Dipont offers partner schools, parents and students.
Celebrating our teachers
Stephen Fulton, Director of Education for Dipont’s high school programs, then celebrated teachers who have served with Dipont for ten years or more, thanking them for their dedication and for passing on Dipont’s values through their continued professionalism. Several of them took to the stage to share how their careers have developed.
New and returning teachers then teamed up in mixed groups for lively discussions on teaching ideas and classroom practice, laying the foundations for a year of collaboration.
Global expertise for every center
The conference also highlighted how Dipont continues to bring world-class resources to its centers:
- UK office: a team of tutors with Oxford and Cambridge backgrounds now helps students explore their subjects in depth and guides applications to Oxbridge and other leading UK universities.
- US office: dedicated staff connect Dipont’s centers with admissions teams at US universities, strengthening school profiles and giving students more precise university guidance.
- Research: Dipont is also building a research team of outstanding faculty and graduates from leading overseas universities, to offer students personalized research opportunities.
A focus on great teaching
In the afternoon, Stephen Fulton gave a keynote titled “The Road We Will Travel Together.” He reviewed the past year’s rollout of the Dipont center support system and set out the support available to new and returning teachers.
Student-centered learning remains at the heart of Dipont’s approach, he said, but teachers’ expertise must still lead the classroom. The best lessons combine direct teaching with active learning rather than relying on any single method. He encouraged teachers to adapt their strategies to their students, and to explore how new tools such as AI can make lessons more effective.
Nearly 60 workshops
Over the two days, managers, the academic quality team and teachers ran nearly 60 practical workshops across the A-level, IB and AP curricula, covering everything from lesson preparation to classroom teaching and follow-up support. Sessions ranged from subject-specific case studies and classroom interaction to experienced teachers’ advice on lesson planning, quizzes and exam analysis, along with structured guidance for new teachers on getting to know their students, classroom management and feedback. Center principals, university counselors and support teams also shared their experience and the latest news from the sector.
Every session was led by Dipont staff, and it was wonderful to see the breadth of expertise in our community. For experienced teachers, the conference was a chance to reflect and share; for new teachers, a practical guide and a confident start.
Looking ahead
As the conference drew to a close, the conversations carried on. Wherever they come from and whatever their background, Dipont’s educators share a common mission: they will keep learning, reflecting and innovating to give students an education that is both excellent and caring. Together, Dipont and its teachers are ready to build an even brighter future for partner schools and their students.
