Human-AI Synergy, Reaching New Heights | 2025 Xiehe Principals Summer Retreat

The 2025 Xiehe Principals Summer Retreat was successfully held from 22-24 August. With the theme “Human-AI Synergy, Reaching New Heights”, the retreat brought together 78 participants, including senior leaders from all SUIS schools, both Chinese and expat, as well as directors from various departments of Xiehe Education Center, to discuss the educational management wisdom in the era of AI.

Team Building by Visiting an Exhibition and Watching a Museum Theatre Production

On the afternoon of the first day, all participants visited an exhibition of Aesthetic Life in The Tang Dynasty, and to watch the museum theatre production of Chang’an in Full Bloom in Fengxian Museum.

Far-reaching Theme of the Retreat

The morning session of the second day was chaired by General Principal Maxine Lu. She began by explaining the meaning of the theme. In the present day, the use of AI tools is essential for good education management, but it is still the management wisdom of leaders that plays a leading and central role. The “Human-AI Synergy” is the hope that the management wisdom of Principals, with the support of AI tools, will help the school’s new development. “Reaching New Heights” means that Xiehe education should make new breakthroughs, “cultivating high plateaus, building great peaks, reaching new heights steadily”, and every school strives to stand higher, look wider and go further.

Inspiring Keynote Speech

Professor Cui Yun Kuo, Director of the Institute of Curriculum and Instruction at East China Normal University, delivered a keynote speech on the theme of “AI+Teaching and Research and Deepening Curriculum Reform”. He used wise and humorous language, combined with some research data and cases, to guide the participants to think about how to be a good educator nowadays, and support students to grow up healthily.

New Senior Leadership Team

Ms. Wang Li Qiang, Secretary of the CPC United Party Branch of Xiehe Education, announced the new appointments of Principals for some SUIS schools. In the new school year, the new senior leadership team will present a new look to take new challenges in the new era.

Curriculum Development Heritage and Breakthroughs

Alex Shen, Supervising Principal of Xiehe Education, shared the report “2025 Guide to Xiehe Middle School Curricula” (hereinafter referred to as “the Guide”). He made a presentation on six aspects of “the Guide” project, namely, background, progress, value, characteristics, expectations and questions. “The Guide” charts a practical path for designing, implementing, and evaluating school-based curricula across SUIS campuses.

The Thematic Breakout Session

The afternoon programme were composed of thematic breakout sessions, with two rounds running in parallel.

Topic1: Programming with AI to Create Your Innovative Classroom

Lecturer: Prof. Li Jiahou, Department of Educational Technology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University

Professor Li led us to learn and experience the application of different AI tools in education and teaching. From the dual perspectives of “application of tools” and “transformation of thinking”, he analyzed how education managers can optimise the teaching process and innovate the evaluation method with the help of AI technology, which would help to improve the effectiveness of teaching and the digital transformation of education.

Topic 2: AI Empowering Xiehe Education: Building and Practicing the Digital Foundation

Facilitators: Li Guoxing, Director of Digital Transformation Working Group of Xiehe Education , Group Member: Gu Yu, Huang Hua

Based on the needs of the large-scale development of Xiehe Education, this session analyzed the core value and implementation framework of building a digital foundation. Drawing on case studies from Xiehe Education Center, the session focused on sharing technical architecture design, multi-campus collaborative management models, and typical application scenarios, offering practical pathways for the digital transformation of Xiehe Education.

Topic 3: 2025 Guide to Xiehe Middle School Curricula

Facilitator: Alex Shen, Supervising Principal of Xiehe Education

The 2025 Guide to Xiehe Middle School Curricula has carried forward existing curriculum concepts while also breaking new ground in terms of school-based curriculum samples (e.g., capstone project – community action). There was a lively discussion on how SUIS schools can follow up the implementation of the standards, create school-based curriculum implementation plans and organise the corresponding educational and pedagogical evaluations (for learning, of learning and as learning).

Topic: 4: “Peak Plan” for High Schools

Facilitators: Maxine Lu General Principal of Xiehe Education

In today’s increasingly competitive high school landscape, this session focused on shaping “Peak Plan” for SUIS high schools. We would take a rational look at current strengths and challenges, with particular attention to school scale, compliant development, top student cultivation, and faculty team building. Together, we drew on our collective wisdom and efforts to explore the actions that the Xiehe Center and SUIS schools should undertake.

Topic 5: Publicity and Promotion

Facilitators: Sylvia She, Director of Business Development & Consulting Department of Xiehe Educaiton

This session focused on several topics and participants communicated the positioning strategies, goals, best practices, and challenges of each campus, engaging in in-depth exchanges to support future improvement.

The plenary session on the morning of the third day was very informative. It consisted of three main sections: sharing of project information and reporting on the construction of AI experimental school, exchange of information on thematic group discussion and reflections on the new school year plan.

Cross-campus Interaction Learning from Each Other

Raina Lin, Director of the Institute for Quality Assurance of Xiehe Education, presented on the “Progress and Reflections on Middle School EMW Math Education Project”.

Bight Liu, Principal of SUIS Gubei, introduced the “SUIS Middle School EMW Cross-Campus Science Education Quality Monitoring Plan”.

Sunny Huang, Principal of SUIS Qingpu, reported on the Construction and Progress of Artificial Intelligence Experimental School.

Information Sharing on Thematic Group Discussion

Cayor Zhu, Deputy Director of School Management Department of Xiehe Education, shared the information of discussion on “Peak Plan” for High Schools.

Sylvia She, Director of Business Development & Consulting Department of Xiehe Education, shared the discussion about Publicity and Promotion.

Sailing in September, Steady as We Go

Principals shared their reflections on the new school year plan. Although the background and focus points of each school are different, they all have made full preparations and plans for the upcoming new semester. With the support of artificial intelligence, they will enhance their management wisdom and inject new energy into the development of whole-person education.

Finally, General Principal Maxine Lu summarised the event and informed the follow-up work. In the new school year, the School Management Department will strengthen the development of senior leadership team and enhance team cohesion by optimising the working mechanism, innovating forms and enriching contents. Meanwhile, they will further clarify the objectives and responsibilities, establish precise management standards, and continue to promote the development of the curriculum, support relevant teaching and research, and help SUIS schools improve the quality of teaching and learning. The Center will join hands with SUIS schools to develope our digital infrastructure and promote the implementation of various “AI+Education” projects.

The theme of this retreat is “Human-AI Synergy, Reaching New Heights”, which reflects the spirit of Xiehe Education to keep abreast of the times. Whenever entering a new stage or facing critical challenges and opportunities, all SUIS schools, under the guidance of the Center, has consistently captured the pulse of the times, implemented initiatives with creativity, and propelled Xiehe Education to new heights!

分类： Groupnewssuiseditor 2025-08-28