It was our pleasure to be able to host the Global Issues Network (GIN) Saigon Conference 2021 at BIS last weekend on 27th - 28th March. The BIS GIN admin team, alongside their teachers, have worked extremely hard to organise the first-ever virtual GIN conference with over 100 participants from international schools all over HCMC. Read below what our students had to say.
The theme chosen for this year’s conference was “Propulsion”. With the uncertainty arising from numerous socio-political movements over the past months and the pandemic’s devastating effects, all types of activities have ceased and plunged our world into a state of stagnation. With this in mind, “Propulsion” is closely linked to the image of a rocket launching off; similarly, it is our ideas and initiatives that serve as the propelling thrust into an exploration of a future that is equitable for all.
Although the conference was virtual, Ms Quyen from LaiDay Refill Station was our honourable keynote speaker touching upon the hot issue of a zero-plastic lifestyle and how students can join hands to help alleviate the scars on our Earth.
We also had the appearance of NGOs: The Blue Dragon Foundation, Operation Smile, Endangered Asian Species and Vinacapital, responsible for organising workshop sessions to provide educational opportunities around major social issues.
The main activity of the conference is the 10 GANG groups representing 10 different global issues. GANG Leaders led participants to carry out a collaborative awareness project and present it creatively. It is here that we witness the energy of the youth, from the heated debate to answer the question “Does artificial intelligence jeopardize the future of humankind?” to a creative song about plastic pollution. Moreover, participants enjoyed tuning in to student-led TED-style talks touching on topics of: Social and Gender Construct, Gender Inequality, and Consumerism and Fast Fashion.
The main lesson to take away from this unique experience is, rather than blaming the past, look to the future with optimism where the youth will speak their voice and that voice will signal the paradigm shift in our world for the better.
To have access to the full video of TED-style talks, speeches and the projects of GANG groups, please refer to here.
Bao Tran Nguyen, Bach Lam, and Jenny Nguyen
BIS GIN Council
The BIS Community Rugby Co-Curricular Activity (CCA), in partnership with Rugby Cung Nhau (Rugby Together), is a powerful collaboration rooted in a shared vision: using sport as a tool to uplift and empower young people.
At BIS HCMC, leadership is more than just a title — it’s about inspiring others, fostering a sense of community, and embracing personal growth. This year’s Head Students, in Year 13, — Atom, JaeYeon, Tim, and Serena — embody these values with authenticity and dedication, each bringing their unique strengths, creativity, and passion to their roles.
We are thrilled to announce that a record three students from the BIS HCMC Class of 2025 have received offers from the University of Oxford, ranked number 3 in the world, and the University of Cambridge, ranked number 5 in the world. A huge congratulations to Quynh An, YeongSeo (Judy) and JaeYeon on their extraordinary achievement that sets a new benchmark for BIS students.
These achievements come as BIS students begin to secure outstanding offers from top universities around the world, including USA, UK, Australia and Asia and these numbers will only continue to rise as more decisions will be made over the coming weeks.
