Singapore-based SIS Group of Schools has partnered with Cambridge International Education to deliver high-quality international education at more affordable rates across diverse communities in Indonesia.

The initiative, announced this week, follows a comprehensive review by Cambridge of SIS campuses, including its flagship school in South Jakarta and a regional campus in Palembang, South Sumatra. The evaluation was part of a broader effort to explore scalable education models that maintain global academic standards while reducing costs.

With the growing demand for quality education beyond major urban centers, the SIS-Cambridge initiative is seen as a potential game-changer in making international education more inclusive and sustainable across Indonesia and beyond.

The collaboration stemmed from discussions between SIS Group Founder and Chairman Jaspal Sidhu and Cambridge’s Group Managing Director Rod Smith during a recent visit to Jakarta. Cambridge subsequently dispatched a senior team, led by Director of International Network Ben Schmidt, to conduct an independent assessment of the SIS model.

Among the key findings of the review were SIS’s strategic integration of Cambridge curricula covering Primary, Lower Secondary, and IGCSE levels across its campuses, as well as its operational efficiency, which allows the schools to manage resources smartly without compromising learning outcomes.

“The SIS model demonstrates how innovation in teaching, resource allocation, and professional development can make international education both accessible and sustainable,” Schmidt said on Monday, September 8, 2025.

Cambridge’s evaluation also highlighted SIS’s investment in continuous teacher development through its EFFECTOR training framework, as well as its award-winning “Half-Fees Model,” which enables the group to offer globally recognized education at significantly reduced costs even in smaller or emerging cities.

“We invited Cambridge to validate our approach because we believe this model can be replicated globally. Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to excellent education for all, not just for the privileged few,” Sidhu cited.

Cambridge’s Senior Country Manager for Indonesia, Dian Apriyani, echoed this sentiment, calling SIS “a benchmark for how affordability and academic excellence can go hand in hand.”

The findings will be shared with the broader international education community, with the aim of encouraging other schools and education-focused organisations to adopt similar models.

The collaboration builds on SIS’s global recognition, including a 2019 award from the World Bank (IFC) and the UK’s Financial Times for its transformative impact in education.