ACAMIS Directors Forum — Hong Kong

Development: Leading Enrolment, Confidence and Sustainable Growth

Australian International School Hong Kong
Friday, February 19, 2027
1:00PM - 6:30PM

Other Locations: Shanghai (Oct 16), Beijing (Nov 27)

About the Hong Kong Forum

International schools in China are navigating a more complex operating environment. Enrolment patterns are shifting unevenly between cities, family demographics are changing, competition is increasing and confidence can be affected quickly by local economic conditions and wider uncertainty.

The Hong Kong forum will focus on development in its broadest sense: enrolment, market confidence, fundraising, parent expectations, school positioning, programme choices, facilities planning and financial sustainability.

How can Heads of School lead with clarity, resilience, and evidence when regulatory and market conditions are changing?

Intended Outcomes

By the end of the forum, Directors will:

Identify major external and internal pressures affecting school planning

Compare how schools are responding to change

Identify practical questions for deeper Affinity Group inquiry

Surface assumptions that need better evidence

Build peer connections that continue beyond the forum

Agenda*

*Agenda subject to change.

Introduction to the Directors Forum series and the Development theme. Participants consider how schools can plan for confidence and sustainability in a changing market.

1:00PM - 1:15PM

The sponsor shares insight into market trends, family expectations, school positioning, financial planning, fundraising or long-term development.

1:15PM - 1:30PM

Two or three short presentations from invited experts. Possible contributors may include:
- An enrolment or market intelligence specialist
- A fundraising, advancement or finance expert
- A Head of School who has led through contraction, repositioning or redevelopment
Each presentation should help Directors think more clearly about the decisions ahead.

1:30PM - 2:15PM

A small number of Directors share a brief snapshot of one development pressure their school is facing, such as enrolment decline, parent confidence, facilities investment or programme positioning.

2:15PM - 2:35PM

Directors form groups of 3-4 around topics such as enrolment, parent confidence, fundraising, admissions pipelines, programme development, school positioning or financial sustainability.

2:35PM - 3:15PM

Break

3:15PM - 3:30PM

Each group selects one shared challenge and works through it using a structured peer consultation process. The goal is to distinguish symptoms, assumptions, evidence needs and possible next actions.

3:30PM - 4:15PM

Each group shares one market pattern, one risk of acting too quickly, one question that needs better evidence and one topic the group will continue exploring.

4:15PM - 4:45PM

Affinity Groups confirm their first follow-up meeting, communication method and shared inquiry focus.

4:45PM - 5:00PM

Drinks, small bites and informal conversation.

5:00PM - 6:30PM

Continue Learning After the Forum

Affinity Group Online Meetings

The in-person forum is only the starting point. To support continued collaboration, participants will continue their inquiry through three online meetings with their Affinity Group via the PeerSphere Peer Learning Community.

These sessions are designed to:

Session 1: Refine the Inquiry - Refine the group’s shared inquiry question, compare school contexts, and identify the assumptions and evidence that need further exploration.
Session 2: Test Emerging Thinking - Share emerging insights, evidence and challenges. Group members will use peer perspectives to test their thinking and consider possible responses.
Session 3: Consolidate and Share Learning - Consolidate the group’s learning, identify practical implications and next steps, and prepare to share key insights at a virtual ACAMIS community meeting.

Meeting dates and times will be agreed upon by each Affinity Group.