Kunming World Youth Academy (KWYA) was established on May 21, 2016 and officially opened in September of 2016. It is an international school that was introduced to Kunming by the Kunming Municipal Education Bureau, Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) and the Chenggong District People's Government.

BWYA is the only private, non-profit, international curriculum school in Beijing founded by a middle school principal rather than entrepreneurs. Since its opening in 2001, BWYA has earned a great reputation for retaining qualified faculty and staff, curriculum development, the quality of classroom instruction, and excellent university admissions records. It is known as the domestic IB leading school in Beijing, and over the years, many of its graduates have gone on to attend top universities worldwide.

In the 18 years since its inception, BWYA has been awarded many prestigious titles, such as “The Excellent National Private School Award”, “China National Private Schools Award and “China Dream--China's Best Quality Education Model School Award”. In February of 2017, more than 200 ambassadors to China voted BWYA “The Most Popular International School for Children of Diplomats” to BWYA, a high-volume media broadcasting agency based in Beijing. BWYA was the first local private school to receive this honor.

KWYA: Multiculturalism to Create International Talents

As an IB World School, KWYA follows the concept and model of IB education. With students as the core, our mission is committed to cultivating them into talented, internationally-minded, life-long learners with the capacity to succeed in a bilingual learning environment. After completing the program, students attending KWYA will have the opportunity to obtain an International Baccalaureate Diploma recognized by universities worldwide. In addition, upon successful completion they will earn both junior and senior high school diplomas issued by KWYA. If they choose to do so, they may participate in domestic college entrance examinations and have more choices for further studies.

In its fourth year of operation, KWYA has modeled BWYA’s fine tradition of rigorous study and excellence, with an emphasis on curriculum design and teacher training. Teaching teams from China, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, New Zealand, Croatia and other countries work collaboratively to develop a unique curriculum to best prepare students for the study of the National Curriculum, the IBDP, CAS, and life after high school. They meet regularly to discuss school related topics, set targets, and establish measurable goals.

KWYA is currently running in Kunming NO.3 public school, Dianchi Xingcheng Campus. International diploma education for grades 5-12 will continue to be available to enrolled students. The new campus, covering an area of 125 acres, is located in the south of Jindunjunyuan community, Niutou Mountain, Chenggong District, and is currently under construction.

On March 26, 2019, KWYA was successfully authorized by the IBO (International Baccalaureate Organization) to become the first IB (International Baccalaureate) World School in Yunnan, China, providing IBDP in parallel with nearly 5,000 IB schools in more than 150 countries around the world (International Baccalaureate Diploma Project).

Purpose, Teachers and Advantages of Running a School

With the aim of “Education for a better world!”, KWYA teaches students to become international talents with bilingual ability, diversified perspectives, and global awareness.

The KWYA community has a team of teachers with extensive international teaching experience. We have professional teachers from different countries working together to create a healthy school community where all members share a common outlook on educational values, such as respect for others, collaboration, learning from others, being honest and trustworthy, and pursuing excellence.

KWYA models and develops BWYA's advanced teaching methods, international educational resources, and strong faculty. We implement small class education with low teacher-to-student ratios; teach certified IB courses, and nurture bilingual talents. Students studying at Kunming World Youth Academy have the opportunity to receive an International Diploma along with a domestic Chinese high school diploma. If successful, students will not need to enroll in college foundation courses and may instead apply to a foreign university directly with their passing IB scores. Free credits and provincial tuition fees simultaneously prepare for academic and thinking skills for university study. KWYA also provides professional university counselling services for students over grade 10.

Our Goal

Using the world's most advanced educational concepts and models, KWYA enhances the abilities of young learners by blending Chinese and foreign cultures in an effort to create a wonderfully unique international school for China and Southeast Asian countries.

KWYA is committed to the comprehensive development of students and continuously strives to foster a dynamic learning environment for all. We pay careful attention to the individual needs of students, while simultaneously cultivating their sense of service and responsibility. We at KWYA encourage our students to achieve academic excellence, and provide them with countless opportunities for physical activity, community service, and emotional education.

Student Activities

Every Monday to Friday after school, KWYA offers a wide variety of activities and clubs including football, cooking, art, chemistry, mathematical modeling, chess, media broadcasting and more. Students learn to communicate and cooperate with peers, and are given their own time and space to develop their skills through these activities.

In addition, as an integral part of the curriculum, KWYA organizes a “Classroom Without Walls” cultural tour every year. Through multi-disciplinary field surveys, cultural travels, and academic exchanges in various countries, students are provided with extensive access to society and are encouraged to develop their hobbies. 

University Counselling 

KWYA offers professional university counselling services. From grade 10 onwards, we will help students plan their university applications according to their academic achievements, personal interests, and hobbies.

Counseling

KWYA has a professional psychological counseling and pastoral team. Serving students and parents through face-to-face communication, or online communication, as well as a variety of workshops such as “establishing empathy”, “building friendships”, “dealing with peer pressure”, “resolving stress”, and more.

Study Abroad

The IB program is highly recognized around the world. The world's top universities, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cambridge, Oxford, etc., regard IB as the most valuable high school diploma. In the 18 years since BWYA was founded, students have mainly entered universities in Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The first graduates of KWYA have graduated in May 2020.