As one of the premier Vanke Educational Group schools, Vanke Meisha Academy offers students diverse courses of study that truly embody the mission “cultivating global citizens and leaders with a Chinese identity”. Our curriculum model immerses students in a blend of Chinese National and VMA Liberal Arts compulsory and elective courses, providing a rigorous but balanced program necessary for students to be successful at top colleges and universities in China and abroad. Our graduates have matriculated to top liberal arts colleges and universities because our curriculum results in multilingual critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and caring global leaders.
The majority of our students will elect to complete the Chinese National and VMA Liberal Arts curriculum requirements, graduating our institution with two distinct diplomas. With our flexible graduation planner, students may complete the dual graduation requirements in 3 or 4 years and craft their own liberal arts pathway by choosing from the Cambridge A-level or American AP/Post AP program. Post-AP courses are either classes designed to build on concepts covered in an AP course or courses that cover college-level material in a non-AP area.
Another key academic feature that distinguishes VMA from other international schools in China is our specialized diploma pathways aimed at providing advanced students with a more rigorous educational experience. Students become who they want to be through our specialized diploma tracks in art, music and STEAM.
Students interested in pursing university study in the arts can audition to participate in our Artist Diploma program. This pathway provides access to specialized teachers that work closely to develop and refine student artistic ability. For example, VMA is one of only a small number of schools in the PRC to offer AP 3D Studio Art! Two different tracks are available depending on student interest: Music and Fine Arts.
If a career in a science-related field is aligned with a student’s future plans, they can elect to enroll in our STEAM Diploma program. This program immerses students in classes that expand on concepts covered in our compulsory offerings while allowing students the flexibility to creatively explore their own sense of innovation and research. This program is a natural fit for Shenzhen as it is often considered one of the centers for world innovation.
If a career in a science-related field is aligned with a student’s future plans, they can elect to enroll in our STEAM Diploma program. This program immerses students in classes that expand on concepts covered in our compulsory offerings while allowing students the flexibility to creatively explore their own sense of innovation and research. This program is a natural fit for Shenzhen as it is often considered one of the centers for world innovation.
VMA truly is a place where “successful creation leads to success.” Come create your future at VMA!
Curriculum Overview
1. The Curriculum Development Philosophy
In the spirit of its mission “cultivating global citizens and leaders with Chinese identity”, Vanke Meisha Academy (VMA) aims to develop young adults with strong roots in Chinese culture while having and understanding empathy, respect, and the ability to work with others within a global, multi-cultural world.
In accordance with VMA’s talent development plan and under the professional guidance of the college counseling team, students are given the opportunity to embrace higher challenges and develop their own personalized learning plans, choosing their academic courses from a catalog of almost 200 options, while taking into account their own interests and career directions, so that they might apply for overseas universities and majors that are most suitable for them.
2. Academic Curriculum Program
VMA encourages students to develop their academic abilities in an well-rounded way and to take into account their own talents when choosing academically challenging courses. To supplement the Chinese National Curriculum, VMA has designed a Sino-US Integrated Curriculum with reference to the US Common Core Curriculum Standards, as well as a Sino-UK Integrated Curriculum using the Cambridge International Curriculum syllabi and courses from the Chinese National Curriculum. After obtaining the corresponding course credits and a VMA High School Diploma, students are able to apply for overseas colleges and universities. The Sino-US Integrated Curriculum pays more attention to students’ overall development and formative evaluation, while the Sino-UK Integrated Curriculum attaches more importance to students’ interests in specific subjects in addition to their solid academic research capabilities. Both curriculum frameworks are widely recognized around the world.
Curriculum Features
1. Widely Recognized around the World
VMA is a private school authorized by the Shenzhen Education Bureau and is qualified to conduct high school international education. Accredited by the American College Board, VMA offers 25 AP courses (Advanced Placement Program®). In addition, it has been authorized by the Cambridge International Examinations Board and to offer Cambridge courses. Furthermore, VMA was accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Universities (WASC)* in 2018 and has become the first fully-accredited WASC high school in Shenzhen that accepts Chinese students.
*As one of the six major regional accreditation organizations in the United States, WASC (Western Association of Colleges and Universities) enjoys a high reputation in the field of education in the United States and the world. It has a close relationship with the International School Office of the US State Department and provides educational support to schools worldwide. WASC not only certifies public and private schools, but also certifies top universities such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UCLA.
2. Focus on the Development of 21st Century Skills
From its curriculum setting to its teaching methods, VMA places great emphasis on 21st century skills: critical thinking, creative thinking, cooperation, and communication. Classes are taught in small groups, with each class consisting of no more than 25 students. VMA advocates teachers to practice a project-based learning teaching methodology, implement a student-centered philosophy, and encouraging students to learn by doing.
3. Solid Academic Foundation
G10 students are offered the Chinese national curriculum and are provided a bilingual education. In this way, students can foster their ability to learn subjects in English one step at a time.
Curriculum Features
4. Chinese Cultural Heritage
VMA adopts Shenzhen Middle School’s practices for running a school and offers high-quality Chinese national curriculum courses. By bringing into play the advantages of Chinese traditional education, VMA offers courses in Chinese, Chinese history and culture, and Chinese philosophy studies to help students achieve deeper understanding of Chinese philosophy and culture, as these are increasingly recognized around the world.
In addition, VMA has a traditional Chinese cultural center, offering traditional handicraft courses (tie-dyeing, ceramics, and woodcraft), tea ceremony courses, festival courses, calligraphy and Chinese painting courses, Chinese martial arts courses, paper art and traditional costume-making courses, and more.
5. High-Level English Achievements
VMA attaches great importance to cultivating students’ English language ability. 40 credits in English are required for graduation. In response to the needs of different students, VMA offers nearly 20 academically rigorous courses in addition to regular courses and English honors, including AP English, Critical Writing, Academic Writing, English Speaking, English Debate, English Drama, and more.
6. High-Level Academic Challenges
VMA focuses on cultivating students’ academic research capabilities. The difficulty levels of courses at VMA are as follows: Regular Courses, Honor Courses, AP Courses, and Post AP Courses. Students must pass certain evaluations and be recommended by certain subject teachers before being admitted to a high-level course so as to ensure that they are capable of completing the required course of study.