International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges & Universities

There is perhaps no more significant factor in the dawning of a new century than education. To introduce future generations of students to knowledge and insight which are also accompanied by a commitment to values communicated in a nurturing environment is the mission and task of the church-related institutions of education. Most of the church-related educational institutions were founded in such a vision and have been nurtured in that deep purpose by generations of educators and church leaders. There is much that these church-related institutions can share together in terms of programs and resources as they work in various parts of the world to prepare a new generation of Christian leaders who commit boldly to Jesus Christ and are characterized by intellectual excellence, moral and spiritual courage, and holiness of heart and life. It was such motivation that prompted the formation of the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU).

IAMSCU was established at the 16th World Methodist Conference in Singapore in 1991. The first IAMSCU Conference was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1996. The second conference was at Kingswood School in Bath, England, in 1998, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of Kingswood School--the first school founded by John Wesley in Bristol, England. The third IAMSCU Conference took place at Methodist College in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2001. The fourth conference was held at Westminster School, in Marion, South Australia, in July 2005. At present, there are 775 Methodist educational institutions around the world. The vision of IAMSCU is to develop a dynamic, worldwide network of member institutions, resulting in effective inter-institutional cooperation and collaboration to prepare a new generation of Christian leaders.

Direct inquiries to:

Wanda Bigham
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
The United Methodist Church
1001 19th Avenue South
P. O. Box 340007
Nashville, Tennessee, USA 37203-0007
Telephone: (615) 340- 7399
Email: wbigham@gbhem.org