Chen Dongmei, 南通市委常委、宣传部部长 met with Ms. Joy Qiao, the founder and Chairman of Wellington College China, and Sir Anthony Seldon, Founding Director of Wellington Education Group on October 31.
Chen Dongmei, on behalf of the 南通市委、市政府, welcomed Sir Anthony Seldon and his team to Nantong and introduced them to the city's overview and socio-economic development. Chen Dongmei mentioned that Nantong, known as a land of education, possesses a rich cultural heritage and abundant educational resources. Over the years, Nantong has closely followed its fundamental mission of moral education and integrated the promotion of educational equity into all aspects and sections of comprehensive educational reform. Its quality of basic education has consistently been at the forefront both provincially and nationally. She expressed her hope that Wellington College China, with its close ties to the prestigious Wellington College in the UK, which has a history of over 160 years and operates more than ten schools worldwide, would foster a tight-knit cooperation. In September 2022, Wellington College China's flagship boarding school, Hiba Academy Nantong, officially opened, blending the essence of Chinese, British, and international education to offer an immersive multilingual and multicultural learning experience for Nantong students. Looking forward, Nantong aspires to deepen its collaboration with Wellington College China to support Hiba Academy Nantong in cultivating more international and versatile talents, providing service guarantees, and creating an environment that supports the development of private education.
During his visit, Sir Anthony Seldon praised the comprehensive work of Hiba Academy Nantong during interactions with the school leadership. In a subsequent symposium, he had friendly exchanges with student representatives including the head girl and head boy, where they shared their learning experiences, growth, and future plans, vividly narrating their "Hiba stories". In the evening, a welcoming banquet was held at the school. Finally, Sir Anthony Seldon engaged warmly with representatives of the parents and on-campus staff.
Sir Anthony Seldon reiterated his hope that Hiba Academy Nantong would fully utilize its resources in teaching facilities, foreign expert teachers, and international curriculum training to foster more cooperation and communication with outstanding educators in Nantong. This collaboration aims to cultivate more students with global perspectives and international competence, thereby serving as a bridge for in-depth cultural exchanges between China and the West.
