Savremena’s principal among selected speakers at Cambridge Forum in Bucharest

On Thursday, 18 May, Svetlana Belić Malinić, the Principal of Savremena International School, participated in the first Cambridge Principals’ Forum for school leaders from Central and Eastern Europe, held at the British Embassy in Bucharest.

On this occasion, the principal introduced the concept of Savremena International School, emphasising the importance of bilingual education and enriching the National Programme with a special Cambridge subject – Global Perspectives.

Savremena’s principal among selected speakers at Cambridge Forum in Bucharest

Seminar gathering the best of the best

The first Cambridge Principals’ Forum was open both for schools already operating according to the Cambridge Programme, and for those that are still considering whether to adopt a segment of this type of education.

While opening the forum, Adam Sambrook, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Romania, expressed his satisfaction with the fact that this country got the chance to host the first Cambridge forum. CIE’s Regional Director for Europe, Martin Nuttall, followed, briefly describing the concept of education advocated by Cambridge.

The process of obtaining accreditation from the University of Cambridge, the professional development and qualification programme, the latest news regarding Cambridge and the presentation of selected schools were among the most important topics discussed on that day.  

Savremena Case Study: Bilingual education and Global Perspectives

Savremena International School, together with a school from Turkey and another one from Romania, was among the three case studies presented at this forum.

Principal Svetlana Belić Malinić used this invitation in the best possible way to present all the advantages of bilingual education, the kind that the students of the Combined Bilingual Programme have at Savremena International School.

– We combine global trends in teaching methodology and the most modern technology in the creation of the scheme of work and curriculum – said the principal, pinpointing that Savremena’s bilingual programme is actually a combination of the National and Cambridge programmes, which, as such, gives students both the knowledge and the skills necessary for their further education.

Bilingual education and Global Perspectives

Svetlana Belić Malinić also touched upon the importance of Global Perspectives, the subject that brought Savremena to the official Cambridge website, explaining that it had become a part of National Programme as well.

– During Global Perspectives lessons, the students can think outside the box. This way, they develop problem-solving skills, independent critical thinking, and also manage to explore the world around them successfully and communicate and collaborate with others.

The principal’s hour-long presentation, attentively listened to by the heads of renowned European schools, ended with a discussion on Savremena International School, and was awarded with a round of applause.

The internationally accredited qualifications of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), which is a part of the University of Cambridge, represent a stepping stone enabling students to continue their studies abroad and advance towards renowned universities around the world. We are well aware of this at Savremena, which is why since the very beginning, the school has proudly carried the title of not only the most modern Cambridge secondary school in Serbia, but also a Cambridge Global Perspectives School.

I am extremely pleased and proud to be the parent of a Savremena student. During my first encounter with the school management, when I asked about my child’s potential enrolment, I saw how much love, enthusiasm and professionalism you put in your work. I was impressed by your approach, ideas and methods. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in our country! It doesn’t take long to realise that this is a school you would recommend to everyone. Creativity, modern technology, top-quality education, and most of all, the humaneness that can be seen throughout the school, make it truly different and worthy of its name – Savremena Gimnazija. With such an approach, the success of this school and, consequently, our children’s success, is unavoidable. Congratulations! Jelena Đorđević, Andrija’s mum
Contemporary in any sense of the word, our school offers functional knowledge and quality preparation for tertiary education in Serbia and abroad. Implementing modern and creative teaching in the classroom, where the teachers’ pedagogy and students’ performance are aligned with the highest academic standards for the high-school finals, our school develops linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, cultural, technical and ICT competence, which is a prerequisite for further education and professional development. Teaching is supported by the interactive whiteboards and educational software, whereas practice exercises research and critical thinking.