Ten students from the Academies of Loudoun (ACL) took part in an international research partnership with Hwa Chong Institution in Singapore, gaining a transformative opportunity to engage in global scientific research and cultural exchange.
From July 31 to Aug. 10 the students participated in the culminating event of the 2024–2025 Singapore Research Collaboration, a yearlong initiative that promotes innovation, teamwork and cross-cultural understanding. Working in teams of four, two students from ACL and two from Hwa Chong, they co-developed and executed original research projects under the mentorship of educators from both institutions.
Hwa Chong Institution, one of Singapore’s most prestigious schools, is recognized for academic excellence, leadership development and a commitment to fostering global perspectives. The partnership reflects ACL’s mission to empower students to explore, research, collaborate and innovate. It also aligns with the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Instructional Framework, which emphasizes student-centered, designed, engaged, assessed and reflective instruction as a shared vision of effective teaching.
Through this collaboration, students worked in a learning community that encouraged belonging, authentic engagement and rigorous inquiry. They applied their learning to real-world challenges, received ongoing feedback, refined their work and built connections that extended across cultures.
In addition to supporting and mentoring students throughout the collaboration and trip, LCPS educators Jennifer Chang, Erica Hanson and Ethan Kantz attended the Global AI Nexus of Schools (GAINS) consortium, an international conference on artificial intelligence in education. Chang presented insights on ACL’s approach to generative AI, offering attendees a blueprint for navigating its opportunities and challenges. In a follow-up note, GAINS leaders commended the team’s leadership, noting that their contributions will help shape policies and processes for the future.
This collaboration experience celebrates student discoveries and global relationships as well as exemplifies high-quality teaching and learning consistent with LCPS’s instructional vision.