The Overseas School of Colombo wins Gold at 2024 ARC Awards

The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) has achieved a remarkable milestone, clinching the coveted Gold at the prestigious International ARC Awards for its 2022/23 Annual Report themed ‘1957-2022: Our Progressive Spirit Continues’. 

This recognition places OSC on the global map alongside the world’s most distinguished institutions, celebrated for its unwavering commitment to transparency, excellence, and world-class standards.

Organised by MerComm, Inc. in New York and now in its 38th year, the ARC Awards are revered as the ‘Academy Awards of Annual Reports’, attracting over 1,000 entries annually from more than 30 countries worldwide. They represent the pinnacle of achievement in corporate communication, honouring those who set the bar for innovative reporting. 

MerComm stands as the world’s only independent awarding body dedicated to recognising outstanding contributions in the field, ensuring a transparent and unbiased judging process. A panel of over 200 elite communication professionals from around the world evaluates entries, with only the top 30% of submissions receiving honours.  

This milestone victory is monumental for both school and country as OSC is now the first educational institution in Sri Lanka and the first IB World School globally to secure a Gold at the ARC Awards, underscoring the school’s relentless pursuit of excellence in governance, sustainability, communication, holistic education, and community engagement.

Receiving this prestigious award places OSC among an esteemed cohort of global giants, including BMW, Puma, McDonald’s Corporation, Walmart, Alibaba Group, Abbott, Carlsberg, Samsung, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Save the Children, all of whom took home awards this year. The Gold win reinforces OSC’s competitive edge in international education, showcasing its commitment to innovation and excellence in governance, sustainability, and communication.

Jehan de Silva, who leads the school’s branding, marketing, and communications efforts and was the driving force behind this project, expressed his immense pride, stating: “Winning Gold at the ARC Awards is a bona fide testament to OSC’s unwavering dedication, epitomising the institution’s collective effort, creative vision, and dynamic spirit.”

OSC’s 2022/23 Annual Report is more than just an award-winner; it embodies the school’s progressive and robust philosophy, celebrating its rich legacy as Sri Lanka’s oldest internationally accredited educational institution while showcasing its commitment to growth, evolution, and adaptability. 

As a future-centric experiential epicentre for learning, OSC continues to excel in delivering the globally-recognised IB curriculum, embodying its commitment to relevance, creativity, and innovation – teaching what is timely, holistic, and impactful.

This accolade also honours the visionary leadership of Dr. Michelle Kleiss, who skilfully navigated OSC through formidable challenges, including the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks, the global upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Under her guidance, the school has laid a resilient foundation for the next decade and beyond, championing best practices in areas ranging from child safeguarding to sustainability. 

As OSC celebrates this remarkable achievement, the school remains unwavering in its dedication to continuous improvement, consistently setting the ‘gold standard’ for holistic, experiential education. This prestigious accolade serves as a powerful motivator, driving OSC to push the boundaries of innovation and quality in every facet of its operations. 

With a focus on nurturing creativity, adaptability, and forward-thinking approaches, OSC continues to lead by example, proving that true excellence is a journey, and not a destination. A legacy that has been carved with unrelenting vision and inexorable purpose, ensuring that OSC’s progressive spirit shines brightly, at every turn, guiding the school’s future aspirations and endeavours to unprecedented terrain.