Parental Involvement (PI) and success in International Education

Parent and Child on the way to school

The Importance of Parental Involvement (PI)

Numerous studies have established that Parental Involvement (PI) is a key determinant of a child’s academic success, with children of active parents having almost twice as many chances of outperforming their peers. But the full potential of parents often remains untapped. This is especially the experience of many Chinese parents whose children are studying at international schools.

 

These parents complain that they are prevented from their children’s learning process and point to language and culture barriers, unfamiliarity with the school curriculum or time constraints as some reasons. Although Parental Involvement (PI) is championed by most studies as “positive”, such language usually does not display that the school-parent relationship is also inherently unequal. This overlooked fact has left parents unable to cope with the demands of their children’s schools.

 

BeGo Education, LC Venture’s wholly-owned education brand, is on a mission to change that for its families. Through its Private Family Education Office (PFEO) services, it has been trying to rectify this inherent inequality, providing personalised one-to-one support to its families. Many of these parents express that this support has been crucial for them.

Private Family Education Office (PFEP)
BeGo Education's Private Family Education Office (PFEO)

The Private Family Education Office (PFEO) is a unique service offering parents comprehensive support with their child’s academic growth. Drawing inspiration from the Family Office concept, this bespoke and thorough academic consultancy has been assisting numerous parents in managing their family legacy in terms of their children’s education. These services encompass delivering high-profile one-to-one training sessions with PFEO parents, focusing on curriculum, co-curricular activities, learning approaches, assessments,  school structure as well as assistance in school communication tailored to each child’s school and year group.

 

Private Family Education Office (PFEO) service is also designed to support families through academic mentoring, coaching, school and university application and overall assistance for their child’s education. Delivered by our highly qualified, bilingual, and multicultural team of educational consultants, these activities are an integral component of the its services.

 

Commenting on the support from BeGo Education, one PFEO parent, whose son is studying at one of the prestigious schools in Beijing, mentioned that because of the support from BeGo Education, she has been able to follow her son’s education. She said she was so encouraged by the support that she took up English lessons to improve her English and is now an active member of the PTA (Parents Teacher Association). “Without BeGo Education’s training support, my involvement with my son’s school would have been limited to attending term meetings, which has never been much use to me in the past.”

A PFEO parent sits for a one-to-one training on their child's school at BeGo Education Head Office in Beijing
A PFEO parent sits for a one-to-one training for her child's school at BeGo Education Head Office in Beijing

These trainings focus on:

  • Elevating Parental Roles

A primary goal of the parent training is to inspire parents to be actively involved based on Parental Involvement (PI). The emphasis is on redefining parental roles beyond the conventional drop-off routine and helping them recognise their role in their child’s educational success. Parents are encouraged to follow up on their child’s learning, including how to oversee their homework and other school-based activities.

  • Bridging Language Divides

Essential for effective Parental involvement (PI) is empowering parents to overcome language barriers or confidence gaps that often stem from communication challenges. The PFEO team always remain at the complete disposal of parents always, decoding school messages to enhance understanding of the learning process.

  • Navigating Communication Challenges

Most parents report facing hurdles due to a perceived lack of academic competence, especially in curriculums most are not familiar with. Through the Private Family Education Office (PFEO) service, BeGo Education is helping PFEO parents, boosting their understanding of the curriculum and provide targeted support to students through skill-based coaching and mentoring for children and parents alike.

  • Empowering Educators

Some parents may feel that educators and teachers at their school are not effectively communicating with them. This can result in diminished motivation for Parental Involvement (PI). BeGo Education’s PFEO Team intervenes in these situations, providing support through school visits and attending PTA meetings to nurture a supportive learning partnership between educators and parents. The PFEO Team plays a facilitative role in the parent-school relationship, fostering collaboration from the back benches.

  • Meeting the challenges of modern parenting

Most parents grapple with distractions from daily parental responsibilities, inflexible work hours and the perpetual time crunch. These challenges hinder consistent participation in school activities, creating a gap in the parent-school relationship. The Private Family Education Office (PFEO) services act as a supportive ally, alleviating the pressures of modern parenting via supporting with communication, homework reminders, and other forms of support.

A PFEO parent sits for a one-to-one training for her child's school at BeGo Education Head Office in Beijing
The PFEO Team's in-depth understanding of parent's concerns is key to delivering tailor-made services that are highly appreciated by the PFEO parents

Shaping the Future Hand in Hand

 

According to an OECD study, students only spend about 25% of their time in class. By fostering collaboration and understanding, BeGo Education is poised to collaborate with schools and support parents, ensuring a hands-on and updated approach through our innovative Private Family Education Office (PFEO) services.

 

To find out more about the Private Family Education Office (PFEO) service and book your consultation session, send your email to hello@begoedu.com

BeGo Education’s senior partner Grace Ngau gives a talk on studying abroad in the US

Grace speaks to the attendees

When it comes to securing entry at a choice international education school or university overseas, you need a guiding hand that understands the intricacies of the process. From selecting the right institution and program, to making a strong and competitive application the whole process can be quite complex.

Grace speaks to the attendees

Many families fall to the one-size-fits-all misconception trap in the pursuit of overseas education. In today’s globalised world, where educational opportunities abound, parents and students find themselves ill-advised due to inadequate guidance. Once these students enroll at their “dream school,” the really struggle begins. Many of the students report underperforming due to underdeveloped language proficiency, and, in extreme cases, even expulsion from institutions leading to financial ruin and well-being issues for students.

 

BeGo Education’s mission is to address the situation and make the study abroad experience for the child and family an enjoyable ride.

 

Speaking at a private event held at the CPA Australia headquarters in Beijing, BeGo’s senior partner, Grace Ngau, shared her invaluable insights with a group of young parents exploring study abroad options for their children, with emphasis on those applying to the US. The event was co-organised by CAP Australia and DBS Bank and attending the talk were families in search of the finest schools and universities for their children, shedding light on the ever-evolving landscape of international education.

 

Grace studied at International School of Beijing (ISB) before she travelled to the US to study at Boston University in Chicago.

 

During the talk, Grace emphasised that while study abroad remains a highly viable choice for many chinese parents, there are still numerous common misconceptions surrounding the process. She highlighted that parents need not go through unnecessary trouble or confusion when considering this option.

The Myth of the “perfect” school

One idea that many parents trip on with study abroad is finding the idea od the “perfect” school. While the idea of finding that one perfect institution is appealing, the reality is far more complex.

 

The global educational landscape offers a diverse array of institutions and programs, each with its unique strengths and offerings. This can create undue stress and unrealistic expectations. “While numerous options of study abroad exist for parents to consider, many parents are not sure which school would be a viable and safe choice for their child, with many relying on third party recommendations which is not always ideal, “ Grace said.

 

“Without a well-thoughtout plan, many parents are heading for a rude awakening,” she said and advises that rather than obsessing over the elusive concept of a singular “perfect” school,  a more pragmatic approach involving assessing a range of factors, including academic offerings, location, cultural fit, and personal goals, is needed to determine the most suitable educational path for each student.

Private Family Education Office (PFEO) Services: A Comprehensive Education Solution

In response, Grace unveiled BeGo Education’s Private Family Education Office (PFEO), a boutique but comprehensive academic service for parents looking to send their chidlren to study abroad.

 

The PFEO takes an all-encompassing approach, not only focusing on academic development of every child but also providing invaluable support beyond the classroom. From assisting with school search and placement and university applications to visa processes and settling in, the Private Family Education Office (PFEO) Service is BeGo Education’s answer to many parents plea for a seamless transition.  College applicants also receive guidance on post-graduation career opportunities, and there’s even support for their family businesses or their start-ups through the support team at LC Venture, the investment firm that has the wholly-owns BeGo Education.

Private Family Education Office (PFEP)

LC Venture is a UK-based, venture-backed consultancy firm that provides support services primariy to UHNW chinese families and their children. 

 

Speaking to the Marina Times and the Enterprenuer recently, the Managing partner of LC Venture, Gaston Chee said, “Approximately 80% of the families who signup for our PFEO, have family businesses. We assist them with their global business strategy and help their family business operations navigate the complex web of regulations that constraining their capacity to establish new ventures and fulfill their role as global representatives, not only for their own enterprises but also for their respective countries.”

 

 While applications from Chinese families have traditionally concentrated on few schools and universities, the in-depth knowledge of US land scape ensure that we are also able to recommend hidden jewels of school that most parents will have no chance of knowing.

 

“Regardless of the reasons you’ve chosen to pursue study abroad for your child”, Grace told attendees, “you need to understand that the process is highly nuanced, requiring meticulously crafted plan based on strategically placed timeline, with a special focus in English qualification preparation, emphasizing early engagement with the admission officers at the target schools and uiversities.”

To demonstarte, Grace shared a compelling timeline with audience. For a student aspiring to enroll in a U.S. schools or undergraduate program in 2025, the journey should commence atleast in 2019. This meticulous process entails regularly evaluating the student’s capabilities, exploring suitable extra-curricular programs, visiting schools, and navigating the crucial application phase. She also shared a detailed checklist that parents need to complete before embarking on this journey.

 

“Despite all these preparations, success still remains elusive. A recent article by the World University News reveals that, as application rates concentrate on a select few schools, it is not uncommon for students to apply to up to 20 schools without securing admission. The PFEO aims to increase success by initiating the process early in the child’s learning journey. “One unique benefit of the PFEO services is that parents are actively involved in the process, significantly increasing the likelihood of a successful long-term outcome,” Grace explained.

The challenging aspects of study abroad applications is the intense competition due to concentration of applicants on few schools that have garnered reputation as the best school or college and universities many Chinese applicants.

 

One way to increase the chances for students to be competitive is to build a strong students profile for the applicants. To help parents curate a well-rounded student profile for their child, instead of simply accumulating unrelated extra-curricular activities, BeGo Education advocates for a strategic combination of activities that complements each other without overwhelming the student. This requires thoughtful decision-making, an area where many parents often report they struggle.

The future of study abroad

Despite the numerous ominous predictions of US-China relations and the proliferation of alternative options for study abroad, studying abroad will remain the primary aspiration for many Chinese families in the near foreseeable future. These families view it as an antidote to China’s rigorous examination systems like Zhongkao and Gaokao.

 

“Studying abroad will continue to be the preferred educational path for thousands of Chinese families. To adapt to the evolving changes and trends in the industry, BeGo Education is dedicated to streamlining and simplifying the process for parents, ” Grace said.

 

With a history dating back to 2012, BeGo Education has been facilitating school searches and placement applications. Their bilingual and multilingual team, all of whom have experienced studying abroad in the UK and the US, creates Individualised Development Plans (IDPs) for students. These plans range from essential information like school rankings and locations to personalized elements such as alumni networks, ensuring the perfect fit for each student. BeGo Education also prioritises age-appropriate English proficiency and admission assessments, recognising their pivotal role in students’ success.

To stay informed about the latest trends and to schedule a consultation, please send your inquiries to hello@begoedu.com or reach us by phone at +86 (0) 10 6552 7018

Education through Art: BeGo Education to sponsor an art mini-master class and a private tour of Charlie Sheard’s works at CHAO Hotel, Beijing

Charlie Sheard

painter Charlie K. Sheard to Beijing.Charlie Sheard's works at CHAO Art Center The three months long affair will feature a private tour of Charlie’s extensive and select works and a host of activities including an art mini-masterclass that will be jointly offered by BeGo educators and a renowned artists form the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA).

Charlie K. Sheard, has had a several decade career that spans from his studio in Cambridge, UK and to Sydney, Australia where he is currently based and runs his art school since 1995. His work is focused on institutional exhibitions and the pursuit of academic rigor, both in terms of self-development and the dissemination of knowledge.

Sheard has a long and deep attachment to China where he has been exhibiting since 2012. Complementing his regular lectures at the University of NSW and The Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney, Sheard is now a Distinguished Mentor in an Oil Painting Department studio (the 5th studio, focusing on material and abstraction) at The Central Academy of Fine Art (CAFA) in Beijing. Most recently, he has been invited to teach painting at Peking University.

More recent exhibitions include a large two-man show “Hu Qinwu and Charlie Sheard“ at Boding Gallery, Beijing in 2018, and the survey “Absolute Abstraction“ at Manly Art Gallery and Museum in 2019.  Sheard’s technical prowess and academic application has been celebrated in bilingual English- Chinese catalogue raisonné on the artist produced by Peking Art Associates in 2021 who represent the artist in China.

The Peking Art Associates is a a leading boutique and high-end cross-cultural art consultancy based in Beijing. The art advisory firm has a broad mainland China and international experience in large-scale education, museum, corporate and hospitality projects. PAA is also supported by prestigious higher education institutions in the UK to develop links between British and Chinese cultural education  in recent years. PAA works with The Central Academy of Fine Art, Beijing, The University of Oxford (St Hilda’s College) and several private equity funds investing in education in China, including Hong Kong to bring accredited courses and teacher training to China, through reciprocal exhibitions, master classes and lecture series.

CHAO Art Center is also housed at the elegant CHAO Hotel in Beijing and provides an art and performance gallery combining elements of retail and lifestyle designed to spark curiosity. Curated to offer unique art and cultural experiences, art retail programs are accompanied by events that feature master’s workshop by designers; art exhibition that feature an artist residency program where the artists recreate their work studio and the audience can observe the creation process.

The upcoming event will be open to members-only but interested families will get the chance to join the art min-masterclass with BeGo Education and CAFA artists on 15th of October. If you wish to attend the art mini-masterclass RSVP today.

To book a ticket for the mini-masterclass, contact:
Melinda Yang, Marketing Manager
Tele:13810097358
Wechat:13810097358
Email:melinda.yang@begoedu.com

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LC Venture is a leading consultancy and advisory holding company registered in the UK. The company provides quality advice on strategy and business solutions to Chinese and international clients which are mainly SMEs, multinational companies, and governments. The Company is also the investor in BeGo Education, a wholly-owned investment portfolio of LC Venture. BeGo Education operates a bespoke international education consultancy to supports Chinese families find a suitable international education pathway for their children in international schools in China or abroad in the UK and other destinations.

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