Xavier Stannard / Academic Director:

I am incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to come out here. I am living an experience I would never have got without stepping foot in China. And for me, being able to witness the speed of development is insane. Here it can happen overnight, almost.

Driven by curiosity, 21-year-old Xavier journeyed from Kent to Nansha in search of connection. Today, as an academic director, he builds bridges within a welcoming community that has transformed his exploration into a genuine sense of purpose and home.

Xavier Stannard:

I studied history at the University of Bristol. I grew up in a family of teachers. So education has been a big part of my life since I was very, very young. My first motivation to come out here was a teaching qualification.

So when I came out here, it opened my eyes to a new reality of what teaching could be. All of my students now know me by my Chinese name. My nickname is "Xigua" (watermelon) . There's a proverb in Chinese about spreading the seeds, and for me spreading the seeds of holistic education is really important. 

For years, Austin has nurtured a dream in Guangzhou: to build educational bridges that connect the world. His vision comes to life through educators like Xavier, who arrived in Nansha eager to connect. Together, they open doors to global understanding, crafting lessons that span continents and foster meaningful connections for every student.

Austin Deng / Consultant in international education and cultural exchange programs:

I believe Nansha is the future. Geographically is the hub of Greater Bay Area. 

I believe that talent people need to have global competence, this global competence need to start from the education, hence to enhance their student, their global perspective, their global skill set, including the innovation skill, creativity, the language to communicate with the global talents.

Since 2023, we consistently have 50% growth every year. Over the past summer in 2025, we got nearly 300 students and have 50 mentors from the UK, the US and Hong Kong to come to Minxin School to launch diversify subjects for the student.

This can be within your town, within your city, within the country or within the world.

Xavier Stannard:

We did Minxin Summer School this year, and I was (the) director. Different cultures teach you different things, different languages take different approaches to understanding the world. So to share ideas is one, an opportunity for them to start building their future.

Nicholas Pang / Student of Minxin School:

I think Minxin Summer School is not only giving the practice in English, but I think it gives us for the eyesight that we can think things in different perspectives.

I think that's what he can teach us—our oral skills and our organization abilities that can help us solve the problems during the interviews and further problems in the future. That helps us a lots. 

For Xavier, Dave, and James—UK mentors preparing for the Minxin Winter School—Nansha has become more than just a posting. The city’s ease, warmth and sense of community have left such an impression that all three are now thinking of making it home.

Dave Cowen / Mentor:

I've been trying my best to improve my mandarin. Speaking to people in shops is probably the best way that I've been doing. It feels more like a community. 

James Deverell / Mentor:

I like the idea of being part of a community and a network and having a bit of an impact. So I can speak and communicate in that way and everyone's always really patient with me learning and understanding how to live in China. 

Xavier Stannard:

The advantages must be access to other locations. For me, I love traveling, I really love the experience of traveling. There are lots of locations that I need to go and explore, lots of new people I need to meet. And I know that I can't be settled. I can't be comfortable in staying in one place for the rest of my life.

That there's endless possibilities. In the last month we've opened three offices, which for me is crazy. It just shows me a reality of what can be achieved out here in China.  

While I'm really happy to share the culture, Chinese people are so passionate about sharing their culture. So I feel like I'm learning so much more every single day by being here than being back in the UK. I'll be here for a very long time.