All content and cases will be related to how facilities management provides a safe, supportive, and academically challenging learning environment for students.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand the essential role of facilities management (FM) in a school
• Consider several factors while developing short-term, mid-term, and long-term FM plans
• Understand and adopt the appropriate safety measures for different school sections   
• Identify the pros and cons of outsourcing of work
• Learn some basic principles about communications with various stakeholders and about performing their responsibilities professionally.
• Network with FM personnel from other schools, discussing FM challenges and solutions.

Based on extensive research, we have developed a model for virtual professional development that will:

• Enable participants to learn at their own pace using a mix of content delivery methods to meet the needs of various learning styles and preferences, including but not limited to: Lecture, case studies, role plays, discussions, video productions, reading assignments;
• Challenge participants to apply knowledge and tools introduced throughout the program to their own working context;
• Connect participants to process content collectively and share unique experiences and perspectives in small and large groups; and
• Demonstrate understanding of knowledge and tools by having peers review assignments and presentations.

Module 1:  Strategic Facilities Planning and Capital Replacement
Many less established and smaller schools do not usually have long-term FM plans. It is essential for all schools to establish short-term, mid-term, and long-term FM plans to manage and mitigate risks associated with the school’s real estate assets. The plan should incorporate a review of building facility & systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roofing, and landscaping.

1. Participants will be able to identify different kinds of maintenance – preventive and predictive maintenance and pinpoint various factors in developing strategic FM plans.
2. Curriculum changes periodically. So do teachers’ requests.  Participants will consider the most appropriate settings to plan facilities upgrade and replacement in a way that would support these changes while minimizing disruption to student learning.

Module 2:  Facilties Management is More Than Just Maintenance and Repairs of Facilities
In schools, safety is of the utmost importance for students and those who use the facilities. Maintenance supports school safety by providing a clean and organized facility for the students and teachers. However, that is not all. Safety has many facets.

1. Safety is the top priority for FM in schools and it includes student safety, food safety, transportation safety, sports facility safety, playground safety, indoor environment quality, and child protection measures. The facilitator will highlight some components of each kind of safety.  
2. Safety is not a one-design-for-all tool that is applicable to all grade levels. Participants will gain knowledge about different kinds of safety for different grade levels.
3. Safety considerations when designing facility usage and managing daily operations will be discussed.

Module 3:  Thriving in an International School Environment
Working in an international school is different from working in a local public or private school. International schools have their unique characteristics. Fitting in can be a challenge. The first half of the module discusses what FM personnel can do to perform well in their roles in international schools. The second half of the module is to provide an opportunity for the FM personnel to network with each other and exchange information and ideas.

1. Book discussion – Preparing Host Country Support Staff for their Roles in International Schools. The participants will learn about the appropriate characteristics of a local support staff working in an international school and will identify practices to effectively work well with foreign colleagues and parents.
2. Job A-Like Session

Module 4:  Overcoming FM Challenges and Managing Outsourced Teams
Operations and maintenance used to be the only central focus of school’s facilities management department. Then came sustainability, energy management, safety and security, and capital construction/upgrade programs vying for attention. Over the last several years, these advancements have led to new challenges and new priorities for FM.

Outsourcing is a common contemplation among schools because some find it more beneficial and cost effective to retain an outside firm to provide FM services. Others prefer to have the control that comes with having an in-house team.

1. Pro and cons of outsourcing and in-house FM services will be considered.
2. Participants will be able to recognize the most appropriate arrangement to ensure maximum benefit.
3. The facilitator and participants will discuss FM challenges and the strategies and tactics to overcome these challenges.  

Johnnie Whang and Henry Wong

Johnnie Whang Jui Chye

• Obtained a BSc in Estate Management from College of Estate Management.  A Certified Facility Manager (CFM) from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and LEED AP Operation & Maintenance.
• Forty years of experience in the Building and Facility Management industry, and has been working and living in Beijing, China since 1999.
• 11 years working as the Head of Facility and Services in a 1400-student Beijing international school that offers Nursery to Grade-12 in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. 

Johnnie has significant experience in education planning and operational management that required supporting the learning and safety needs of students, teachers, administrators, parents, and broader community.  His responsibilities have included non-teaching school operations & maintenance, cleaning, security & safety, event logistics, bus support, theater technical support, kitchen, swimming pool operation, artificial sport field maintenance, air-support facility, wetland’s operation, landscape, financial oversight, procurement, long-term budgeting and he is currently serving as the Director of Operations for a global student accommodation organization based on a prestigious university campus in Beijing. 

Johnnie has conducted several training programs on facility management related subjects for both IFMA and private organizations.

Henry Wong

In addition to being an accomplished editor on interpersonal relationships, he is one of the few administrators that have served in both academic and non-academic roles in a school. He has more than sixteen years of work experience in international schools based in Singapore, China, and the US. His administrative positions have included Senior Admissions and Marketing Manager, Business Administration Director and Co-head.

Henry worked in three international schools and two bilingual schools with student populations ranging from 250 to 1300. His responsibility in the international schools was to oversee and provide leadership for non-academic functions, which included the Admissions & Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Public Relations, IT Help Desk, Facilities Management, Auxiliary Services, Procurement, and Inventory departments. These schools had very culturally diverse teaching and family populations. All the schools are accredited by associations of schools and colleges (US) and the three international schools are authorized by IBO. He published a booklet titled, "Preparing Host Country Support Staff for their Roles in International Schools."

Henry obtained his bachelor’s degree at Biola University, California, majoring in Organizational Leadership. After acquiring his master’s degrees in Education at Pepperdine University, and Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in International Business at Biola University, he took up an instructor position at Tianjin University of Technology in China. He taught two subjects – Intercultural Communication and International Trade. In addition, he taught Mathematics to middle school students for two years. He also received a multiple subject teaching credential with a supplementary authorization in Business Studies from the State of California.

Approximately 2-weeks before the start of the course, participants will be emailed a course introduction, instructions for how to participate and a pre-course survey and readings, if applicable. If you do not receive this email please let us know.

Course announcements will be sent from events@pdacademia.com, please add this email sender to your safe sender list.