BIS Hanoi student represents our community at the 2025 Nord Anglia Student Summit in Houston

At the end of last academic year, Tiago (Year 12, now Year 13) proudly represented BIS Hanoi at the 2025 Nord Anglia Education Student Summit (NAE Summit) in Houston, Texas. 

The summit, hosted by The Village School, welcomed more than 160 students from 54 Nord Anglia schools around the world. Thanks to Nord Anglia’s collaboration with UNICEF, this annual event gives students the opportunity to explore real-world issues connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while developing their leadership and advocacy skills. 

For Tiago, it was a trip filled with new learning and powerful moments. Throughout the week, he joined expert-led workshops, collaborated on projects with international peers, and explored themes such as sustainability, global citizenship, leadership, and children’s rights. Reflecting on his experience, he described how one particular discussion left a lasting impression. A teacher originally from Kenya, now working in China, shared details of a social programme he had developed in his school. The story, which highlighted the tangible impact of education on communities, deeply moved Tiago and reinforced his own commitment to making a difference. 

Living in the same dormitory as students from so many different countries was another highlight. Tiago loved meeting people from cultures he might never have encountered otherwise, and he described the experience of exchanging ideas and perspectives as “incredible.” 

Leadership was the main theme of the summit. Through a variety of group activities, Tiago and his peers were encouraged to step forward, take responsibility, and guide their teams. These experiences helped Tiago understand leadership in a new way: not only about leading, but also about working together towards a shared purpose and helping others succeed. 

As part of a team of seven students from across Vietnam, Tiago worked on the SDG of reducing inequalities, with a focus on healthcare access. The group explored the reality that many people in rural Vietnam do not have access to quality prosthetics and often rely on homemade alternatives. Their proposal was a school-led programme to help distribute small numbers of affordable, higher-quality prosthetics tailored to local needs. 

Looking back, Tiago feels the summit gave him more than just knowledge. It strengthened his ability to collaborate in groups, create solutions together, and share ideas with confidence. These skills, he believes, will be valuable for his future studies and beyond. 

When asked what advice he would give to future participants, Tiago didn’t hesitate: “Don’t be afraid to speak with people. That’s one of the best parts of the summit, meeting others, sharing experiences, and learning new things.” 

We’re incredibly proud of Tiago for representing BIS Hanoi at such an inspiring global event, and for bringing back insights that will inspire our whole community.