Sikandar Jamal, Director of Billabong High International School, Bhopal, shares what the Bronze Award means for the school and its global learning journey.
Why is global education important to you and your school?
Global education lies at the heart of our vision to “nurture a value-based community of globally competent, lifelong learners skilled to lead change”. In today’s interconnected world, it is no longer enough to prepare students for local success; we must equip them to understand, contribute to, and thrive in a global society.
Through global education, we foster curiosity, empathy, and critical consciousness in our students. It allows them to see beyond borders, to understand diverse perspectives, address shared challenges, and act with integrity. For us, global education is a mindset that informs everything from curriculum design and classroom practices to how we build relationships in our community.
Through this lens, we empower our students to become not just consumers of knowledge but thoughtful changemakers—individuals who can lead with insight and responsibility in any corner of the world.
How will the Global School Alliance benefit you as a teacher and the opportunities for your school?
Our partnership with the Global School Alliance can be an enriching experience, expanding both our perspective and our practice. It can enable us to forge meaningful connections with like-minded schools and educators across the globe — opening doors to rich, cross-cultural learning experiences for both our students and our staff.
Through GSA, our teachers can access a dynamic professional learning community — one that values innovation, equity, and shared growth. This global dialogue will strengthen our ability to provide a curriculum that is not only academically rigorous but also globally relevant.
This partnership reinforces our school’s commitment to building globally competent learners. Whether through collaborative projects, cultural exchanges, or exposure to global best practices, our engagement with the Alliance continues to elevate the quality and depth of learning we offer.
What benefits do you think this award will have on the whole school community?
This award is a celebration of our collective commitment to global education and a reaffirmation of our school’s vision. It recognizes the dedication of our educators, the engagement of our students, and the support of our broader community in building a school culture that is values-driven, globally attuned, and change-oriented.
It brings visibility to the work we have been doing quietly but deliberately by integrating international perspectives, promoting intercultural understanding, and helping students find their voice in a global context.
Beyond recognition, this award serves as a powerful symbol of what our school stands for. It encourages every member of our community to take pride in being part of a learning ecosystem that is forward-looking, inclusive, and rooted in purpose.
Beyond recognition, this award serves as a powerful symbol of what our school stands for.
How will you use this award to motivate students and staff?
We will use this recognition as a springboard to deepen our commitment to our vision by building new international collaborations, investing further in teacher development, and offering students even more opportunities to connect their learning with the world beyond school.
For our students, this award underscores that their efforts to learn with curiosity, compassion, and courage truly matter. It affirms their role as future-ready learners and potential leaders of global change.
For our educators, it is a moment to reflect on the impact of their work and to be inspired to keep pushing boundaries. We will use this award to catalyze internal conversations about how we can keep evolving as a community of lifelong learners and transformational educators.
