North London Collegiate School Jeju (NLCS Jeju), a prestigious private school in the UK, is finally ready to open its doors in Jeju Global Education City (JGEC), Jeju Island, Korea, with the aim of becoming a cradle for Korea's next-generation of globally minded leaders.
NLCS Jeju, which is the first international private school established in JGEC, operated by Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC), will hold its opening ceremony on September 30, the culmination of a 13-month effort since the ground-breaking in August 2010.
NLCS Jeju has now completed all procedures to welcome its first students, ranging from construction, student admissions, faculty recruitment and entry of foreign staff to Korea, by making the full use of resources offered by JDC.
A total of 1,229 students applied for NLCS Jeju for pre-kindergarten to Year 11, equivalent to the first grade of high school in Korea. Then, the school selected competitive candidates who have reached the required standards through the NLCS UK's admissions procedures. Finally, 435 admitted students, including 21 children of foreign staff, completed registration. In addition, 65 staff were chosen, including 48 educators with UK nationalities, who account for 73.9 percent of the total faculty on payroll.
The Jeju campus, which has a building area of 29,250 m2 and a gross floor area of 83,486 m2 on a 104,385 m2 site, was designed by Master Architect (MA) Itami Jun to create a distinctive, competitive premium education and living environment.
The 11 towers of NLCS Jeju, including study halls, music & art halls, studio, concert halls, sports centers (swimming pool), basketball & volleyball courts, dormitories, gymnasium, auditorium and medical center, are in place to reflect students' daily lifestyle and facilitate their movements for learning. The natural stones and trees of Jeju decorate the exterior of the campus buildings to blend well with the surrounding natural environment, providing a pleasant atmosphere for learners.
The launch of NLCS Jeju is expected to help resolve economic and social issues, such as reducing Korea's educational trade deficit and side-effects arising from sending young children abroad alone to study English and other subjects. "NLCS Jeju doesn't simply represent a school's start, but it also serves as a role model to have a significant impact on Korea's educational institutions," said JDC Chairman Byon Jong-il. "I expect the school to provide a global standard for the country's school management system, including development of educational programs, teaching methods and evaluation."
