2026 Student Leadership Conference: A Global Dialogue丨与世界对话，让改变发生：2026年学生领导力峰会圆满
From 14 to 17 January, the 2026 EiM Student Leadership Conference was held at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi. We are immensely proud to have hosted this significant event and to have showcased our facilities, hospitality, and dedication to student leadership development. Guided by the educational vision of 'Lead Worldwise', we welcomed nine Dulwich College International Schools and Dehong sister schools, representing China, Singapore, South Korea and other countries, as well as schools from the broader EiM family: Hochalpines Institut Ftan in Switzerland, Sherfield School in Hampshire, our founding school Dulwich College in London and Green School New Zealand.
In total, more than 130 students and teachers took part. Our own student leaders Otto T, Olivia W, Sonia C, Sean B from the Senior School and Ella C, Peter D, Sienna S and Eddy W from the Junior School played a vital role in welcoming delegates and demonstrating the spirit of excellence that defines our College.
Over four days of dialogue and exchange, students crossed cultural and geographical boundaries to embark on a deep exploration of leadership, responsibility and positive change. A particular strength of the Conference was the mix of Junior and Senior School student leaders, whose interactions and learning from one another created a truly multi-layered leadership dialogue.
A Genuine Connection Centred on Leadership
At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, the 2026 Student Leadership Conference opened in a warm and welcoming atmosphere shaped by student-led connection and shared purpose. Led by our students, participants from different schools and year groups quickly built trust through a campus tour and welcome dinner. These experiences designed to reflect how leadership at Dulwich Puxi begins with inclusion, care and initiative.
Throughout the Conference, we observed students engage deeply in a series of interactive workshops focused on community building, leadership styles and practical skills. As hosts, we were particularly encouraged by their willingness to listen to differing perspectives, ask thoughtful questions and lead with maturity and purpose.
As hosts, we were pleased to connect the Conference with the Worldwise Alumni Advisory Board meeting, creating opportunities for alumni to engage directly with our student leaders. This included a former Sherfield School student leader who returned as an alumna and the WAN Sherfield Lead this year, offering a powerful example of leadership as a continuing journey.
A student shared, 'What left the deepest impression on me was thinking through and solving problems together with friends from different schools. We realised that everyone brings a unique perspective and set of ideas. When we bring these viewpoints together and distil them into practical ways to address challenges, we can create real impact.'
A visit to Guosong Nursing Home offered students an opportunity to listen to older residents and gain insights and wisdom from their life experiences. Students connected through a range of shared activities: one group listened and exchanged stories with residents, another tended the garden, a third played music together and a fourth enjoyed board games. These experiences reinforced the idea that leadership can be expressed through connection, empathy and respectful dialogue.
In addition, the Conference carefully designed a series of meaningful experiential activities. A cruise along the Huangpu River invited students to reflect on leadership wisdom and insights across the flow of history.
Turning Ideas into Leadership Practice
One of the most significant outcomes we observed during the Conference was a shift in mindset, from 'having the answers' to learning how to 'ask the right questions'. Students worked in mixed groups and within their year groups to identify authentic needs in their schools andlocal communities, and to develop thoughtful approaches to listening, collaboration and responsible leadership.
While some groups developed wellbeing action plans, the emphasis was not on implementing a specific programme, but on returning to their school communities as humble leaders, ready to listen, understand and respond to real needs.
This emphasis on tangible outcomes reflects the Conference's evolving format, in which students are given ownership of both the learning process and the results.
“When leadership is returned to students, learning becomes authentic and powerful. We focus more on whether students understand their communities, rather than whether they have produced a 'perfect' outcome. Leadership does not mean having all the answers, but curiosity, responsibility and how you engage with others. Many of the most meaningful leadership actions begin with listening, understanding the community and knowing when to step forward and when to step back.”——d'Arcy Lunn, EiM Group Head of Sustainability and Global Citizens
Starting from the Present, Shaping Future Leaders
Looking to the future, leaders will need more than knowledge—they will need resilience, empathy, ethical judgement, creativity and responsibility. These human qualities are at the heart of effective leadership and will form a critical foundation as students respond to the challenges of an uncertain world.
Through experiences like the Student Leadership Conference, students learn to understand their communities and the wider world and to create positive change through cross-cultural collaboration. Whether through patient listening in workshops or prioritising others during community service, these choices reflect the character-driven leadership that Dulwich Puxi values.
A key highlight of the Conference was the shift in leadership structure. EiM provided overall coordination, while student leadership mentors and their students led most sessions. This gave educators greater autonomy and enabled students to develop leadership skills through authentic collaboration, reflecting the growing maturity of our student leadership framework.
“Over the past decade, the Conference has evolved from an adult-led, outcome-driven and high-pressure model into a student-centred, needs-led practice model. It guides students to identify the real needs of their communities, explore how to engage with them and create meaningful impact through leadership. Leadership is not a role or a title, but how you demonstrate responsibility, empathy and action in everyday life.”——Edgar Zillmann, Head of Events and Educational Partnerships, EiM Group
The Power of 'We'
In just a few days, students formed friendships with like-minded peers from around the world. These newly built connections crossed schools, year groups and nationalities, forming strong and lasting emotional bonds.
For some students who have studied at Dulwich for more than a decade, attending the Student Leadership Conference was a particularly meaningful experience. For the first time, they clearly felt part of something larger than themselves, experiencing 'we' as a lived reality rather than a word.
In discussions and community service activities, students listened to differing perspectives, worked collaboratively and learned responsibility through action. Leadership shifted from individual display to the shared application of collective insight.
At this global gathering, through continuous dialogue, practice, reflection and exploration, students came to understand that the true purpose of leadership lies in doing meaningful and important work, and in bringing positive change to the world in which they live.
Looking Ahead: Live Worldwise, Lead Worldwise
The four-day Conference did more than teach leadership; it reshaped how students see themselves as drivers of positive change. Dulwich students leave with not only new ideas and actions, but also deeper confidence and the strong friendships formed within the Dulwich family. They have learned to listen with humility, learn from others and express themselves thoughtfully in order to lead meaningful change.
This is a vivid embodiment of Dulwich Puxi's 'Live Worldwise' vision. Our future leaders will carry the character forged and the connections built through their Dulwich journey, stepping confidently into the world as thoughtful, compassionate and responsible global citizens, helping to create a better future.
