We hear how Copenhagen International School is designing the school for the future  – by educating champions of a just and sustainable world. We explore, by focusing on the areas of Belonging, Agency, Time and System, how the school is preparing students of all ages to take their place in a complex global world.  This conversation shares best practices from Copenhagen International School about planning ahead with these future designs in mind, as well as explaining how important the Primary Years Programme is for a successful IB programme completion.The conversation covers:

• An introduction to the school and how easily families settle into living and working in Copenhagen and Denmark
• The building and campus designed for the future
• Sustainability – What this means at CIS
• The history of the school and how it has evolved to where it is today and the vision for the future including the celebration of their 60 years anniversary in 2023.
• Early years provision and primary years including how the Primary Years Programme is delivered for children ages 2 years and 10 months to 12 years.
• Mother tongue programmes for other languages and learning Danish
• They explore what transition care looks like for parents and the international family
• Their hopes and dreams for the future

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Bios

Catalina Gardescu

With 23 years of experience in school marketing and admissions, Catalina Gardescu currently heads the Admissions, Communications and Marketing department at Copenhagen International School (CIS) in Denmark.  In her work at CIS and previously at the American International School of Bucharest, Catalina’s portfolio includes parent interviews, admissions projections, publications and communications, parent relations, fundraising, alumni relations and strategic marketing.   Catalina has been actively involved in creating the first ever ECIS Admissions Committee, Open Apply admissions workshops – of which she designed and led Admissions Certification Courses in Shanghai, Singapore and Sofia and currently volunteers as Director of Communications for Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN). In her free time Catalina likes spending time with her family, reading, working out and walking her dogs.  Find Catalina on LinkedIn.

Jan Humpleby

Jan Humpleby is an experienced international educator and leader with a passion for nurturing learning environments that encourage holistic growth. Drawing inspiration from the role of a gardener, Jan believes that educators must create conditions for students to flourish, challenge assumptions, and cultivate open-minded understanding. Jan advocates for schools to foster inquiry and support students’ development, ensuring that they feel empowered to navigate a complex world.Born and educated in England, Jan’s journey has spanned over 30 years of educational leadership in diverse, multicultural settings across eight countries, including Kenya, Zanzibar, Vietnam, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Netherlands and Denmark. With extensive experience in different governance structures and school sizes, Jan brings a wealth of knowledge on building strong, inclusive communities where diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount. In addition to leading schools, Jan serves as a school visitor and workshop leader, working to help other educators grow and reflect.Outside of work, Jan enjoys recharging through yoga, fitness, and exploring local cultures with friends. A keen interior designer, Jan has a love for color and finds joy in flea market treasure hunts. With a multicultural, IB-educated son, Jan remains committed to fostering future global citizens with international minds, souls, and hearts.

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