Having successfully held three editions in Thailand, Malaysia, and Oman, Thailand has been selected once again as the host for the upcoming BISC in Bangkok from January 27-28, 2024. The convention aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, fostering global awareness and responsibility.

The event format continually evolves, becoming more inclusive with each iteration. BISC 2024 anticipates greater participation, including UAE’s debut. Innovative categories like ‘BISC Innovation Spark’ inspire creativity, following Beaconhouse’s ‘SparkTank’, Pakistan’s first student business incubator. Other new categories such as BISC Quantum Quest, BISC Green Revolution Challenge, and BISC RoboQuest prepare students for future challenges.

BISC 2024 Theme

Beaconhouse International Student Convention (BISC) has long been a platform that follows the themes of the renowned School of Tomorrow (SOT) events organised by Beaconhouse. With a commitment to fostering social awareness and responsibility, SOT events have served as a knowledge-sharing platform for educators, activists, cultural leaders, and thinkers from around the world. As we enter a new era, the 2022 and 2023 series of SOT embrace the theme “Guardians of the Future,” encompassing the following five dimensions:

• A Peaceful Future.
• A Balanced Future.
• An Unknown Future.
• An Expressive Future.
• An Inclusive Future.

In alignment with this, BISC 2024 theme, Empowering Leaders for Interconnected Futures, aims to promote learner agency, entrepreneurship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and interdisciplinary problem-solving.

Our world is undergoing rapid transformations in politics, climate, and technology, giving rise to new and unprecedented challenges. The Institute for the Future (IFTF) reveals that 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 have yet to be invented, while the US Department of Labor predicts that 65% of today’s students will engage in professions that do not yet exist. Schools are now confronted with the critical task of preparing students for a globalised workforce, continuous retraining, and an entrepreneurial mindset. In the face of artificial intelligence and intelligent automation, it is vital to nurture diverse talents, aptitudes, and interdisciplinary skills.

Understanding interconnected futures is essential for perceiving, comprehending, and achieving sustainability, survival, and continuous growth. While the world becomes more interconnected, we must strive to cultivate an environment that recognizes and fosters students’ potential, imagination, and love for various disciplines. BISC 2024 presents an unparalleled opportunity to revolutionise our approaches to learning and relearning. It empowers students to thrive as connected members of the global society, embracing harmonious multi-ethnic collaborations and interdisciplinary problem-solving.

At BISC 2024, learner agency takes centre stage. Students will be encouraged to take ownership of their education, exploring their passions, and harnessing their unique talents. The convention will provide a platform for students to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and innovative ideas, fostering a spirit of creativity and problem-solving. By integrating entrepreneurship into the fabric of BISC 2024, we aim to equip students with the mindset and skills necessary to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of work and create a positive impact on the world.

BISC 2024, themed “Empowering Leaders for Interconnected Futures,” marks a significant milestone in Beaconhouse’s commitment to shaping the future of education. By embracing the dimensions of the SOT’s “Guardians of the Future” theme, BISC 2024 invites students to explore their potential, celebrate their diverse talents, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations. Through the promotion of learner agency and entrepreneurship, BISC 2024 seeks to equip students with the skills, mindset, and global perspective required to thrive in an interconnected world. Let us embark on this transformative journey, fostering interconnected futures that bring forth sustainable growth and holistic development.