Suzhou North America High School: Connecting to the Future
Suzhou North America High School: Connecting to the Future is funded by the Wuzhong Group in partnership with Jiangsu Province Educational Excellence Foundation. The new school is intended to educate students who plan to enroll in top U.S. universities with a curriculum that incorporates creative thinking and problem-solving skills that the American education system emphasizes but is not a widespread practice in China.
Approached to be a creative partner on the project, Dr. Spires and her team helped design the school, including a rigorous and global curriculum, dynamic pedagogies, emerging technologies and collaborative learning spaces. She now serves as their honorary principal. The Friday Institute facilitates a partnership between additional global partners, including Wake STEM Early College High School and other innovative schools.
Through the partnership, the NLC team provides:
- Leadership for the development and implementation of a teaching, learning, and technology plan and a continuous improvement plan, including curriculum frameworks, curriculum-aligned faculty evaluation protocols, and standardized student assessments for math and English.
- Consultation on the physical and technological design of the school facility to ensure that it supports contemporary teaching and learning systems.
- Connections to cross-cultural networks and additional global partners, including Wake STEM Early College High School and other innovative schools.
- Professional development for leadership and educational staff.
- Faculty recruitment services.
Deliverables Teaching, Learning, & Technology Framework Professional Development 2016 China Study Tour 2019 Study Abroad
Partners
Teams
Selected Resources
Book Chapter – Chinese parents’ perspectives on international higher education and innovation.
Since the turn of the 21st century, international academic mobility (IAM) has greatly increased on the part of Chinese students, with many students choosing to study in colleges and universities abroad.
Book Chapter – Connecting to the future: Designing a state-of-the-art high school in Suzhou, China
Globalization, migration, transnational movements, and new economies have led educational leaders worldwide to view schools as key venues to develop global competence in working and learning with people from different cultures.
Since the turn of the 21st century, international academic mobility (IAM) has greatly increased on the part of Chinese students, with many students choosing to study in colleges and universities abroad.
Journal Article – Cross-cultural inquiry in science
This compilation of articles describes three projects aimed at offering students authentic opportunities to develop global competencies.
Book – Digital transformation and innovation in Chinese education
Technology use has become increasingly popular in education.
Journal Article – Educational cosmopolitanism and collaborative inquiry with Chinese and US teachers
As the world becomes more interconnected, educators have opportunities to collaborate across cultures.
Video – NC State University’s STUDY ABROAD CHINA 2019 led by Dr Spires
Dr. Hiller Spires leads NC State’s Study Abroad to Shanghai, Suzhou, and Beijing in May 2019. The focus was on learning about Chinese culture and educational systems.
Video – PBI Global Student Summit – Suzhou, China 2018 <span aria-hidden=”true” class=”nav-arrow right-arrow”><svg height=”32″ version=”1.1″ viewbox=”0 0 32 32″ width=”32″ xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” xmlns:xlink=”http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink”> <path d=”M16.438 9.563l-0.625 0.625 5.563 5.563h-13.375v0.875h13.375l-5.563 5.563 0.625 0.625 6.625-6.625z”></path> </svg></span> Video – Suzhou North America High School 2019
Dr. Hiller Spires provides an update on Suzhou North America High School, which she helped create. The school begins its 4th year in the new facility beginning August 2019.
Project Team
Dr Hiller A. Spires 
Marie Pierson Himes 
Erin Lyjak