 |
LondonMay 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EiM International Education Group and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) have been awarded the prestigious “Cultural Partnership of the Year” at the inaugural UK-China Business Awards, in recognition of their decade-long collaboration that has brought the magic of theatre to tens of thousands of young people across Asia through Shakespearean arts education.
The 10th Shakespeare Festival staged in Suzhou, China
Marking the 10th anniversary of the partnership, the program now reaches over 2,000 students, teachers, and parents annually through teacher training, artist residencies, masterclasses, and festivals. Participating schools include Dulwich College International, Dulwich International High School Programme, and Dehong schools in China, Singapore, and Seoul.
At the core of this collaboration is a shared belief that the arts can nurture confident, creative, and globally-minded young people through immersive and culturally relevant learning. Through Shakespeare’s works, tens of thousands of young people have directly experienced the power of storytelling and developed the ability to express themselves confidently on the stage of life.
Lesley Meyer, Chief Education Officer at EiM International Education Group, said: “This decade-long partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company is a testament to the enduring value of arts education—especially sustaining a collaboration with such a globally renowned institution is a remarkable achievement in itself. In a world increasingly shaped by technology, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and empathy are more important than ever. By engaging with Shakespeare’s works, our students explore the human experience in deeply meaningful ways. We are deeply honored to receive this recognition in this milestone year of our partnership.”
Jacqui O’Hanlon, Deputy Executive Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive the ‘Cultural Partnership of the Year’ award. This long-term collaboration is built on shared curiosity, creative ambition, and a mutual commitment to enriching and empowering the lives of young people. Over the past decade, this partnership has created meaningful opportunities for thousands of young people to engage with Shakespeare, storytelling, and theatre in ways that are contemporary, immediate, and relevant to their own lives.”
The award was officially announced at the UK-China Business Awards ceremony held in London on May 21.
About EiM International Education Group
EiM International Education Group is a global leader in educational excellence and innovation. Since founding its first school over two decades ago, EiM has grown its diverse portfolio of schools and brands, blending innovation with tradition to deliver a range of high-quality educational services worldwide. Today, EiM empowers over 11,500 students across 15 schools globally, tailoring holistic development pathways for each unique individual to achieve outstanding academic results and gain admission to top universities.
About the Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a world-leading theatre organization that builds connections, creates opportunities, and brings joy by sparking dialogue at local, national, and international levels.
The RSC believes that great stories can change the world, and theatre offers a unique way of storytelling: it is live, shared, and brings together a group of strangers as an audience to witness stories come to life before their eyes.
The RSC collaborates with the most creative artists to tell stories for our time and nurtures future talent through numerous programs.
The Company performs at its three theatres in its headquarters in Stratford-upon-Avon, in London, and in communities and schools across the UK and around the world.
Its transformative “Creative Learning and Engagement” program reaches over 500,000 young people annually.