
The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) is happy to announce its second nomination in a row at the annual Think Relocate Awards 2021 ceremony under the ‘School Providing Outstanding Relocation Support’ category. ISKL had previously earned the coveted ‘Highly Commended Award’ in the same category back on May 12, 2020. As a school that values its Dynamic Community and Culture of Care and Empathy, ISKL is delighted at this year's nomination. The ISKL community has worked tirelessly to support and assist families to enjoy a well-coordinated transition in and out of school.
Relocating overseas rhymes with changes for expatriates and their families. A million questions come into mind, what will the culture and lifestyle be in the new country/city, which neighbourhood to live in, how is the weather/food and many more. There is also the added question of finding the right school for families with children.
ISKL understands that transitioning can be challenging during these uncertain times. It has not been easy, with border restrictions, lockdowns, and fluctuating periods of on/off campus learning. However, ISKL believes that with every challenge, there is an opportunity to rethink, reframe, and reimagine the ways to help ease the transitioning process for its relocating families.
The pandemic has granted an opportunity for ISKL to think innovatively on how it can deliver a high-quality, ‘PAWsitive’ relocation experience personalized to the needs of its diverse community. A clear path was communicated to families to explain the transition process, as well as helping with relocation planning, steps on how to alleviate stress and also included interactive Q&A sessions with ISKL’s Head of School and Principals. Additionally, ISKL’s ever-supportive Parent Teacher Association (PTA) introduced the ‘Adopt A Panther Parent’ initiative to connect relocating families with our current families.
The school also reimagined its Panther Cares Relocation Program to focus on well-being and actively address and reduce any uncertainty and isolation associated with relocating during these challenging times. For example, our new faculty received goodie bag dinners delivered by Principals, as well as virtual opportunities to ‘Meet the Panthers of ISKL’ for families and client companies to assist with their decision-making and relocation.
In addition to regular support activities, ISKL reframed its approach as responsive, agile, and adaptable that responds successfully to change. New initiatives and communication methods were introduced to serve different preferences, including a new dedicated Panther site for in-depth information and eNewsletters for quick takeaways. ISKL also leveraged the usage of its Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube channels to help bridge the gap and create an authentic grassroots experience for relocating families looking to interact with the broader community in Kuala Lumpur.
It is remarkable to see ISKL communities coming together, showing their support for each other- keeping the Panther spirit alive no matter the circumstances.
The Think Relocate Awards is an awards program hosted by Relocate magazine, a digital and print relocation publication based in the United Kingdom. The publication has held an annual award ceremony since 2015, recognizing numerous institutions that embraced the changes across international management and global mobility. The award is open to schools that provide outstanding support to relocating families on the move, locally, regionally, or globally.
Find out more by ISKL and its initiatives on the newly revamped website!