84 | EDUCATION ASIA | DISCOVER | Interview
John Gwyn Jones MBE is the Chief Executive Officer of FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia)
“Our greatest strength lies in our collective
willingness to help one another.”
W hen FOBISIA was founded in from the one we know today. There were relatively few British international schools in the region, communication was slower, travel was less frequent, and schools often operated in relative isolation. While there was 1988, the educational landscape across Asia looked very different certainly a strong sense of purpose among school leaders, opportunities to learn from one another, share expertise, and build meaningful partnerships across borders were far more limited than they are today. From a Small Association to a Regional Community The founding Members of FOBISIA recognised the value of bringing schools together. What began as a relatively small association has grown into a thriving network of more than 100 member schools across Asia, supporting thousands
of educators and tens of thousands of students each year. The growth of FOBISIA reflects a wider change within international education. Over the past three decades, schools have increasingly recognised that collaboration is not simply beneficial, it is essential. I remember attending some of my first regional gatherings of school leaders and being struck by how valuable it was simply to sit in a room with people facing similar opportunities and challenges. Conversations that began over coffee often proved just as valuable as the formal sessions. There was a willingness to share ideas, discuss challenges openly, and support one another. That spirit remains one of the defining strengths of international education in Asia today.
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