Lil Unicorn by Dwi Emas International School, Shah Alam

“Over the years, I have realised that many graduates, even after 12 years of formal education, are not well-equipped for the changing world out there. This was a call to action for us to reverse-engineer the approach to education to prepare students for life beyond school. To bridge the gap, we need to integrate education with real world experiences. And this needs to start from preschool, not during tertiary level or after graduation,” shares Anne Tham, founder of Dwi Emas International School.

Dwi Emas Preschool, known as the Lil Unicorn Academy, is where teachers begin to empower students to unleash their full potential and shape their own future. It uses a programme that is built upon Finland’s acclaimed pedagogical approach which promotes personalised and purposeful learning for children. In addition, it is aligned with local needs to make it relevant for students here. Most importantly, and what truly sets it apart from other schools, is that it aims to instill students with entrepreneurial capacities to thrive and become the change agents we need.

“It is way more beneficial for children if we focus on nurturing skills such as self-confidence and creative thinking rather than simply imparting knowledge through prescribed lessons. For this to happen, our students are encouraged to ask questions, express their emotions and indulge in their innate curiosities when they are here,” says Anne.

This inviting learning environment makes all the difference. When students are allowed to have an input in their own education, they get to enjoy a personalised learning experience that suits them best, individually.

At Lil Unicorn, learning transcends classrooms and textbooks. It integrates cross-curricular applications and can take place anywhere, inside or outside the school. And learning is made relevant by connecting subject knowledge with real-life situations. For example, by linking activities such as jogging to Physics, students apply their studies to their lives, making learning more meaningful.   

In fact, learning knows no bounds here. It’s no surprise to find students choreographing dance moves for Science and selling castles for History. Just like how the world is constantly evolving, teachers are always finding innovative ways to fuel students’ growth and passions. They infuse fun games, simulations and coursework into lessons that not only keep students engaged but also allow them to practise elements of work that entrepreneurs use all the time like decision making and leadership. Plus, the fluid learning spaces in the school easily provide ways for students to work independently or collaborate with peers in these scenarios.  

From the early years onwards, teachers strive to challenge students to do bigger and better things on a regular basis, making way for progression, not perfection. Instead of assessing students’ performance based on quantitative scores and grades, they focus on igniting the personal potential of students and empowering them to push past their limits.

In order to effectively deliver an education that will impact our future for the better also means teachers at Lil Unicorn are continuously advancing their professional knowledge and skills. They are trained to become the activators of learning through the school’s very own ACE EdVenture Training Programme. Their sterling teacher training programme earned them a stamp of approval from the Education Alliance Finland (one of the most respected and rigorous evaluation processes in education efficacy) with a score of 96%.

Now more than ever, entrepreneurial education is fundamental to preparing children for the ever-changing world. Investing in a Lil Unicorn education pays dividends. No matter what lies ahead, students will be ready. The success stories of its alumni prove that the future is bright for its graduates.