At ISA, we build platforms to shine for every talent and every effort. Over the years, leveraging the resources of the ISA International Education Group and wider society, we have continuously developed the ‘ISA CUP’ series of competitions. These encompass three key areas: language, arts, and sport – including the 2023 ‘ISA CUP’ Inter-school Fencing Challenge, the 2023 ‘ISA CUP’ Public Speaking Competition, the 2023 ‘ISA CUP’ International Junior Swimming Championships, and the 2024 ‘ISA CUP’ International Piano Competition.
Through these high-calibre sporting and arts events, we provide students from diverse educational backgrounds with opportunities to compete on a shared platform and interact. Concurrently, we create avenues for them to showcase their talents, foster personal growth, and nurture their passions.
ISA International Academy, in collaboration with the Collaborative Innovation Center for the Education of International Understanding (CICEIU) and LEAD Language Power (Critical Thinking & Expression), organised the ‘ISA CUP’ Public Speaking Competition. The event featured multiple rounds, including preliminaries, semi-finals, and the grand final. Outstanding young participants from various schools took to the ISA stage to demonstrate their linguistic prowess and critical thinking skills. They delved deeply into topical issues such as artificial intelligence, extraterrestrial life, and social media pressure, showcasing their critical thinking abilities and sense of social responsibility. This competition not only inspired students to speak with confidence but also fostered cross-school collaboration and the development of an international outlook, highlighting the power and influence of language.
ISA International Academy, jointly with the Collaborative Innovation Centre for the Education of International Understanding (CICEIU), hosted the 2023 ‘ISA CUP’ Inter-school Fencing Challenge. Over 200 young fencing enthusiasts from more than 120 schools in cities such as Guangzhou, Hong Kong SAR, Shenzhen, and Shanghai gathered at the ISA Science City International School. They competed across 28 age categories in the disciplines of foil, épée, and sabre. The event showcased this international sport’s unique blend of strength, aesthetics, and strategy. It fostered communication and friendship amongst students, nurtured etiquette and sportsmanship, and broadened participants’ international perspectives alongside sporting literacy.
The 2023 ‘ISA CUP’ International Junior Swimming Championships & X-CEL International Invitational, co-organised by ISA International Academy, the Collaborative Innovation Centre for the Education of International Understanding (CICEIU), and the X-CEL International Swimming Club, was successfully held at ISA Science City. A total of 324 talented young swimmers from over 120 schools and swimming clubs across the nation competed in fierce contests. The championships not only provided a platform for athletes to demonstrate their abilities and challenge themselves but also promoted international swimming exchange and cooperation, fostering team spirit and sportsmanship among the competitors while underscoring the vital role of sport in the holistic development of young people.
The 2024 ‘ISA CUP’ International Piano Competition and UK International Piano Open Elite Selection was held successfully at ISA Liwan. Talented young pianists from numerous schools and training institutions gathered to demonstrate outstanding performance skills and artistic expression. The competition served not only to assess participants’ professional standards but also as a platform for them to showcase their talent and passion. It enhanced musical literacy among young people, inspiring them to pursue excellence in their artistic journeys while promoting cross-school cultural exchange and expanding international artistic horizons.
From 11 to 23 March 2025, the 2025 ISA ‘Consulate Cup’ Football Tournament, conceived and organised by ISA International Academy, was held at ISA Science City School, Guangzhou. Twelve elite teams from nine foreign consulates general in Guangzhou, mainstream media organisations, and the ISA parent community showcased superb skills and unwavering determination on the pitch. The tournament attracted the attention of over 1,000 Chinese and foreign spectators, both online and offline. This was not only a football feast but also a brilliant stage for cultural exchange and intellectual collision in Guangzhou: sports enthusiasts of different skin colours and backgrounds connected through football, writing a new chapter of friendship and unity together. ISA International Education Group will continue to use sports as a bridge, disseminating the spirit of sports, cultivating students to be grounded in the local context and mindful of the world, and facing future challenges with openness and inclusiveness.
On 21 September 2024, the ‘2024 TEDxISA Guangzhou Youth Conference’, organised by ISA International Academy and themed ‘Our Changing World’, successfully concluded at ISA Science City School, Guangzhou. The event started in March with auditions across the four campuses, followed by an emblem design competition in June. Finally, eight speakers and one emblem designer stood out. During the summer holidays, the ISA mentor team guided students in repeatedly polishing their scripts, covering English writing, logical thinking, and stage delivery. Through this repeated polishing, they completed their transformation from immaturity to maturity. On the day of the conference, the 10 speakers took the TED stage in their most dazzling manner, sharing with the audience the collision of ideas and the sparking of inspiration. The conference was not only a feast for youthful voices but also a brilliant stage for cross-boundary dialogue within Guangzhou’s international community: people from different cultures and educational backgrounds connected through ideas, jointly envisioning an inclusive and innovative future. ISA International Education Group will continue to build the TEDx platform, enabling students to be grounded in the local context and mindful of the world through critical thinking and creativity, facing the challenges of the times with openness and courage.
