COVID border closures had an unprecedented impact on International program offerings in schools. The Whites Hill State College Cluster identified a critical need for maintaining the learning of offshore students that enabled a seamless transition into International Programs in various destination schools post pandemic.
Developed in partnership with EQI, encompassing schools across the Metropolitan, Darling Downs and North Coast Regions, the cluster designed a hybrid model of delivery that provided onshore and offshore students equitable access to a quality assured academic English learning program. The result was globally connected classrooms led by expert teachers, in which students at Whites Hill State College and participating high schools shared a classroom simultaneously with their international peers learning from their homes across five different countries and five different time zones.
Student feedback demonstrated the progress of English proficiency and improved digital capabilities, but also highlighted a continuous, strong connection with teachers, peers and their learning. In the broader context, the cluster also played a key role in maintaining global engagement between EQI and international partners that lead the way in attracting thousands of overseas students back into Education Queensland's world class system since the borders re-opened.
We are very proud of our WHSC International Department!