On May 8–9, University and Career Counselling (UCC) teams from across the Dulwich College International and Dehong network came together at Dulwich College Beijing—and online—for the 2025 EiM Group UCC Summit. This annual event is a cornerstone of collaboration and professional growth, providing a platform to share best practices, and enhance UCC provision to better guide students through their education and post-secondary pathways.
Over two days, participants engaged in dynamic discussions and collaborative workshops on topics ranging from the UCC Professional Development Framework to the nuances of navigating college counselling within the dual A-Level and IB curriculum. The summit also featured leading experts in the field who shared global insights and strategies shaping the future of university and career counselling.
Katherine Norton, Director of Career Learning and Experiences and Kelley Bishop, Associate Vice Provost for Careers Services at George Washington University delivered an engaging Career Counselling training session, sharing expert frameworks, skills, and practical strategies for conducting effective career coaching conversations with students. Dr Grace Dodge, former Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Harvard University, offered exclusive insights into the U.S. university admissions process, providing an insider's perspective on what selective institutions truly value. Bryan Chiew, President of the Worldwise Alumni Advisory Board, also joined the summit, sparking meaningful discussion around how alumni can play a greater role in supporting and enriching UCC efforts across the school community.
Here's a deep dive into the most impactful highlights from the Group UCC Summit:
Professional learning and self-reflection were central to the summit. Luke Devlin, Head of University and Careers Counselling at Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong, led a session on the UCC Professional Development Framework, reinforcing the belief that continuous growth is essential to delivering outstanding counselling support. As members of the wider teaching faculty, UCC teams align with the group's Teacher Competency Framework—a quality assurance model that guides professional standards and improvement.
During the session, participants explored key UCC domains, including Application Strategy and Management, One-to-One Counselling, University and Careers Knowledge, Classroom Skills, and Foundational Counselling Competencies. A reflective self-assessment and goal-setting exercise followed, encouraging counsellors to evaluate their current practices and set high aspirations for the coming school year.
"The role and identity of a university and careers counselor is dynamic, shaped by our lived experiences and knowledge, and student contexts. Often schools treat the development of counselors the same as teachers and although we do need classroom skills, our responsibilities go well beyond the classroom. Over the past 12 years with EiM across 6 school communities, this perspective has taught me that there is no singular way to be or become a world-class counselor." said Luke. "As part of this network of schools, I've been equipped with rich experiences to understand the process of development in different contexts and developed a passion for helping others on their developmental journey. This session began the work of building a framework for counselors to self-reflect, self-assess, and establish actionable steps towards incremental, yet tangible growth to enhance their skills and knowledge to better serve their students and wider school community."
Professional development is deeply embedded in the UCC culture, with a shared understanding that only through continuous reflection and a commitment to improvement can counsellors remain responsive, relevant, and impactful in guiding students toward their futures.
Dr Grace Dodge, former Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Harvard University, offered a powerful behind-the-scenes look into the U.S. admissions landscape in her session titled 'Put Yourself in the Shoes of a U.S. Admissions Officer at a Selective Institution.' Drawing on her experience at Harvard, Dr Dodge highlighted that "top universities are not simply seeking high academic achievers — they are looking for individuals who bring unique perspectives, demonstrate strong character, and contribute meaningfully to the campus community."
at highly selective US universities
One of her most impactful messages was that universities pay close attention to how well students understand and make use of their school context and resources. It's not just about what students have accomplished, but also how they've leveraged the opportunities available to them. In this process, the role of the counsellor is not to 'get students in' but to guide them in fully understanding themselves, maximising school-based opportunities, and presenting their stories with clarity and authenticity. This equips college admissions officers with the insight and evidence they need to advocate for the student during committee decisions.
Throughout the summit, counsellors from across the schools shared impactful practices, student success stories, and exchange inspirations. While grounded in a common set of guiding principles, standards, and frameworks, each school adapts its UCC delivery to reflect its unique context, ensuring that support is both meaningful and tailored to the needs of its students.
What united all participants was a shared commitment to student growth and a collective drive for excellence. Counsellors across the network are dedicated to helping students not only achieve their goals but also uncover new aspirations and realise untapped potential. Through open dialogue and resource-sharing, the summit highlighted the power of a connected professional community—one that thrives on collaboration, mutual support, and continuous improvement.
Gavin Hornbuckle, Head of University and Careers Counselling, Dulwich College Beijing: "The UCC Summit was a valuable opportunity for EiM University Counsellors to be together, share ideas and resources, and learn about the latest trends from experts in the field. As a group of schools with talented and dedicated counsellors, the Summit allows us to learn from each other, enhance our skills, and improve our practice when we return to our home campuses. Although this is only my second Summit, I value these opportunities. We were proud to be the host school this year, and hope to attend the Summit at another EiM school in 2026."
The Class of 2025 has already achieved an impressive array of university offers—a testament not only to the students' hard work and ambition but also to the essential role played by the UCC teams throughout their journey. From shaping application strategies to fostering self-discovery and resilience, counsellors provide vital guidance and support at every stage. As Dr Kevin House our Group Education Futures Architect put it, "From exploring the development of our own UCC Counsellor Competencies to shifting our UCC narrative beyond 'best fit' and towards personalised student 'reach' targets, I found this Summit to be a powerful collaborative learning experience. Together, I think we can create greater transparency for our students, parents and faculty around UCC's alchemy of dreams. For counselling in the future, we aim to maximise intergenerational guidance and experiences so that every EiM graduate has university matriculation success and future career-readiness opportunities."
with leading universities
The 2025 EiM Group UCC Summit stands as a powerful reflection of that commitment—bringing together a passionate, collaborative, and forward-thinking community dedicated to delivering exceptional UCC excellence and, above all, putting students first.
