The Merchiston International School (MIS) in Shenzhen signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Tencent’s youth technology learning center on Wednesday last week, to help bring cutting-edge technology to the next generation. The cooperation will be centered around Tencent’s Mini E series of innovation projects and computer programming training. Officials of both the school and Tencent’s learning center were present at the agreement signing ceremony. MIS is the first overseas campus of the 188-year-old Merchiston Castle School, a top-ranked independent school in Edinburgh, Scotland, the United Kingdom. The boarding school, which provides a British education for those aged 4 to 18, opened in 2018. The Tencent youth technology learning center is a program of the tech giant to invest in education and teach teenagers computer and Internet knowhow and foster in them the spirit of innovation. Murray Tod, principal of MIS, who believes that digital technology is a necessity to help bring about innovation in education, appreciated Tencent’s willingness to share its expertise. Ling Yun, director of Tencent’s learning center, said the cooperation with MIS dates back to 2019. “The Mini E series of projects and computer programming trainings will offer students a platform to sharpen their skills, participate in real-life projects and present their innovations. The students will learn such technology as AI, digital art, games developing and programming for other purposes,” she said. Student representatives also shared their past experiences of participating in Mini E projects. The projects helped them brush up their computer skills and gain inspiration in choosing their future university majors and career paths, they said. Lyu Jianjun, board chairman of MIS, said that his school and Tencent share a similar vision, as Tencent insists “tech for good” and MIS believes “education for good.” “Hopefully, the cooperation with Tencent will infuse innovation and vitality to the school, and in the course the staff will continue their mission to cultivate in the young high moral standards and a sense of social responsibility,” he said. (Li Dan) | 