YCYW celebrated its 90th anniversary in the 2022-2023 academic year. During the 2023-2024 academic year, we are delighted to commemorate another significant achievement—the 30th anniversary of YCIS Shanghai, the first YCIS school established in the Chinese mainland. YCIS Shanghai is the first independent international school in Shanghai officially recognised by the Chinese Government, underscoring its pivotal role in YCYW's ongoing development in the Chinese mainland.

She said, "In September 1993, we opened our first YCIS Shanghai campus with only 63 students from different countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Today, we take great pride in having more than 2,200 students across our various YCIS Shanghai campuses in Hongqiao, Gubei, Regency Park, Century Park, Ronghua, and Lingang. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our history."

Over the past 30 years, YCYW has continued to pioneer and innovate in the field of international education. YCYW adheres to belief that international education must integrate the finest elements of both Chinese and Western educational philosophies; YCYW is committed to being a trailblazer in contemporary Chinese international education.

Dr Chan explained, "We hold the view that international education should not be confused with western education. In the current global landscape marked by a multitude of challenges, international education must integrate the essence of both Eastern and Western cultures. The new generation must possess a deep appreciation of the unique values inherent in both Eastern and Western cultures. They should be equipped to distinguish excellence from mediocrity, capitalising on their strengths while addressing their weaknesses, and effectively leveraging diverse cultural resources to tackle future challenges."

She elaborated: "In line with this philosophy, we not only instil traditional Chinese virtues in our students, but we also place great emphasis on fostering a robust bilingual foundation, nurturing a diverse cultural understanding, cultivating a broad global perspective and encouraging flexible thinking. Our goal is to prepare them to become capable, creative, open-minded, and compassionate global citizens."

On this special occasion, YCIS Shanghai staff members, parents, and alumni shared their fond memories of the school. Additionally, YCIS Shanghai alumni from around the world extended anniversary wishes to their alma mater through video messages.

YCYW students and teachers at various locations, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Qingdao, Yantai, and Tongxiang in China, and Silicon Valley in the US, gathered virtually on 13 October to witness the exciting new developments within the network.

The event included a video introducing YCYW's EdFutures Division, a significant addition made this year. This division is committed to enriching and diversifying educational experiences through a dynamic fusion of cross-school activities, collaborative initiatives, and forward-thinking programmes to prepare students to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

In commemoration of YCYW's 90th anniversary, a memoir, Nurturing the Future with Love was published this year. The book chronicles YCYW's story, its profound influence, and its visionary outlook for education. Nurturing the Future with Love outlines the development of Yew Chung Early Childhood Education. The book also invited numerous people who have experienced YCYW at various stages of its development to tell their stories and share their feelings about YCYW.   

During the event, Dr Chan expressed her gratitude to Mrs Winnie Kwong, the book's donor, and presented her a trophy of appreciation. A group of Primary students from YCIS Shanghai also joined them on the stage to read touching excerpts from the book.

To help sustain the dreams of our student teachers at the Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education in as they become ECE educators, we're inviting you to unleash your inner dinosaur at YCCECE's Dinosaur Charity Run 2023 on 26 November. Watch the video to learn more!

The YCYW Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 2020 to recognise YCYW graduates who have made outstanding contributions to the community. This year, the fourth presentation of this prestigious award, welcomed two additional distinguished alumni.

Mr David Chau was YCIS Shanghai's very first student, and had the student number 001. After graduating from the University of British Columbia, Mr Chau has dedicated himself to the advancement of contemporary art, combining his entrepreneurial expertise to make a significant impact on various industries.

To date, 12 children from Mr Chau's family have received their education at YCIS.

"YCIS is the first place that shows me the world. It was the first place I was introduced to English, to foreign students, to sports. It was here that I learned to get knowledge, not just studying for grades, but for the ultimate goal of receiving good education.

I'm not saying that getting good grades and going to good universities are not important. They are, but I also believe it is essential to learn who you truly are, to find your dream, aim for your goals and strive for the ultimate trophy.

To fellow students at YCIS, if there is one piece of advice I can offer today, it would be: pursue knowledge, find your true passion in life, work as hard as you can, and you'll leave your legacy in this world."