With over 400 years of rich heritage, Dulwich College is one of the UK’s oldest independent schools. Drawing upon that tradition, Dulwich College Seoul, part of Dulwich College International’s (DCI) family of schools, has delivered educational excellence to students in Korea for over 10 years and now boasts 700 students representing over 40 nationalities.

To acknowledge Dulwich College Seoul’s achievements, Expat Guide Korea caught up with Gudmundur Jonsson, Head of College, to discuss the significance of the 10th anniversary, the school’s plans and some interesting facts about himself.

What is the significance of Dulwich College Seoul’s 10 years in Korea and what are your plans are to celebrate this milestone?

This is a hugely significant milestone for our community. The College has come a long way over these last 10 years and there is much to celebrate. Having said that, COVID-19 has meant having to delay most of our plans. As soon as conditions allow, we will bring our community together to celebrate what has been achieved to date, and to participate in a process of building a roadmap for the next 5 years.

What sets Dulwich College Seoul apart from other international schools in Korea?

We are a family of Schools and Colleges. This allows staff, students and parents to draw upon a global network of insight and expertise, and to share best practice through numerous collaborative initiatives. We place our students at the heart of everything that we do as a learning community. Academic excellence is important to us and we place emphasis on formulating exciting learning opportunities for our students that take place both inside and outside the classroom. We have developed a progressive and stimulating programme of residential trips and adventurous journeys for our students. I am also proud in being part of a community that places a great deal of emphasis on kindness and community wellbeing.

As the new Head of College of Dulwich College Seoul, what has been your focus for guiding the school successfully?

Communication is key to developing trust. This is particularly true during the current pandemic. I am fortunate in having strong staff teams, and I have been so impressed to see the way in which my colleagues have been able to continually adapt to new government mandates, and frequently going above and beyond in support our students and their families.

What is your vision for the next several years?

Now that we have reached this important 10 year milestone, it is important to bring together our community in empowering staff, students, parents and alumni in co-constructing a vision for the College for the next five years. I would be surprised if key concepts such as the ongoing promotion of academic excellence, the climate emergency and community wellbeing did not shine through in such a process.

What were your previous roles before Dulwich College Seoul? Do you have any personal hobbies which assist in your current role as an education leader?

I have worked within education for 20 years, but this is my third career. I originally trained as an archaeologist and have also worked as a musician and opera singer. Having had this broad range of experience gives me a depth of insight which I frequently draw upon as an educator. I am also blessed to have a wonderful family – my wife Katarina and two children. Being a father and husband also gives me added insight when working with young people.

How has your stay been in Korea been so far?   

I have been hugely impressed by Seoul. It is one of the most organised, clean and safe cities I have had the opportunity to live in. It is easy to forget how fast this country has developed over the last 70 years. I also love the contrasts of the hyper-modern urban character of Seoul combined with the numerous green spaces and parks.  My family and I cannot wait to explore the country over these coming years. The little we have seen beyond Seoul looks beautiful.

Read the original interview on Expat Guide Korea.