Mr. Stephen West, Director of the Institute for Education and Human Development (EDI) emphasized: The philosophy of happiness in education is a key factor in building a future where our children not only achieve academic success but also develop as happy and well-rounded individuals.
Happiness is a process, not a destination
Recently, TH School (Chua Boc campus, Hanoi) was chosen by the Institute for Educational Research and Human Resource Development (EDI) as the venue for the "Happiness in Education 2024" Conference. The conference took place over 2 days, gathering leading educational experts from the country and around the world with a series of nearly 20 presentations, workshops sharing skills, methods, structures, and models to create a happy learning environment for students.
Mr. Stephen West, Director of the Institute for Education and Human Development (EDI) shares happiness in schools.
At the opening session, Mr. Stephen West, Director of the Institute for Education and Human Resource Development (EDI), shared his journey to find happiness and frankly looked at happiness in education today.
Mr. Steven said that 6 years ago he planned to come to Vietnam to try working for 2 years, however, the wonderful experiences here made him change his decision to stay longer. He assessed that Vietnam's education is in a "revolutionary era", with conditions to make big changes.
The director of the EDI Institute recounted that he did not study well in his home country of Australia during his high school years, only getting a C because at this level there was no connection between subjects and no comprehensive approach. While many people wanted him to go to university, he stopped to work on his family's rose export farm. After that, he experienced many other jobs such as photography, air force, technology... At the age of 30, he returned to university and competed with young students. At this time, he clearly understood his learning goals and continuously got A's. After graduating, he became a lecturer and loved and was very interested in this job.
From his own story, he concluded: Happiness is an important part of life. Happiness is the whole process, not the destination. We learn from mistakes and gradually improve ourselves.
TH School students enthusiastically participate in class.
What is happiness in education?
According to Mr. Steve, happiness in education is the goal that many countries in the world are aiming for. In fact, according to his personal experience, not all schools in "advanced education systems" - as Vietnam says - are truly happy educational environments.
Speaking about happiness in education, Mr. Steve shared: "The philosophy of happiness in education emphasizes the importance of building a positive emotional and psychological environment in schools. This philosophy believes that happiness is not only the ultimate goal but also an indispensable part of the learning process. This philosophy encourages the development of emotional intelligence, perseverance and a sense of connection in students - factors that contribute to happiness, personal satisfaction and academic success.
Key elements of happiness in education include:
Mental Health: Prioritize the mental health and emotional well-being of students and teachers.
Engagement: Create an exciting learning environment that encourages creativity, curiosity and a love of learning.
Community: Build strong social relationships among students and within the educational community to promote cooperation and mutual support.
In Vietnam, the integration of emotional and psychological well-being into education is receiving increasing attention. Schools have begun to integrate educational programs that not only focus on academic achievement but also promote emotional development, life skills and team spirit. Activities such as soft skills education, arts, sports and extracurricular activities are all important factors to help students develop comprehensively and feel happy.
However, the implementation of happiness in education still faces some difficulties, such as lack of resources, difficulties in changing the awareness of some teachers and parents. Besides, building a happy learning environment also requires close coordination between stakeholders such as teachers, students, parents and the community.
Despite many challenges, the trend of bringing the happy school model into Vietnamese education is growing and is expected to bring positive changes to the education system, helping students not only succeed in their studies but also develop well emotionally and mentally.
A happy school is one where students feel they belong.
Impressive numbers on happiness in education at TH School
Mr. Steve said that teachers of TH School System are regularly trained and updated with skills through courses of EDI Institute and imbued with the philosophy of happiness in education. The school promotes and facilitates the implementation of these philosophies, creating happy lessons and a school environment that helps develop children's personal potential.
Right from the first day of the school's establishment, Labor Hero Thai Huong, founder of TH School, stated her opinion: "Let's build TH School with the heart and soul of a mother, by imparting the world's advanced education and the quintessence of Vietnamese studies. TH School creates true happiness for students, creating a golden human resource of international standards for a strong Vietnam".
And at present, the Director of EDI Institute assessed that TH School is one of the leading units in applying the philosophy of happiness to its educational model, integrating many methods to nurture happiness for students. In fact, TH School has implemented the philosophy of happiness since its establishment. One of the core values of the School is "For true happiness," along with other values such as Comprehensive development; Dedication, Gratitude and humanity; Global thinking; Pride in Vietnam.
TH School students confidently demonstrate their abilities at international education conferences.
Lessons at TH School are specially designed to promote emotional and social skills. The comprehensive curriculum focuses on life skills development, sports, and arts.
Not only does the school have a team of experienced teachers imbued with the philosophy of happiness, it also has School Counselors and Career Guidance Counselors, working with teachers to improve mental health and support student orientation.
Steve said the EDI Institute – which plays a key role in training TH School teachers on the philosophy of happiness in education – has equipped TH School teachers with the tools and strategies needed to create a positive learning environment. For example, workshops on mental health, teaching methods that promote student engagement and supportive classroom management techniques.
By providing professional development resources and guidance, EDI helps teachers at TH School effectively practice the philosophy of happiness, ensuring they can create classrooms where students feel valued, safe and happy.
Founded by Labor Hero Thai Huong, over the past 10 years, EDI Institute has affirmed its position in the field of education in Vietnam, promoting the comprehensive development of human resources - especially human resources in the education sector - through training programs, specialized seminars and conferences, sharing knowledge and updating advanced educational trends. In which, EDI focuses on the field of teacher training. EDI is committed to working side by side with schools and teachers nationwide in developing creative and effective teaching programs, creating "happy lessons".
Not only stopping at spreading knowledge, the Institute also aims to spread happiness in learning and teaching, creating conditions for both teachers and students to find joy and meaning in every learning journey.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/director-of-education-and-human-resources-edi-th-school-is-one-of-the-first-units-in-applying-the-philosophy-of-happiness-2024112816333047.htm
Comment (0)