DAIS Makes Its Debut at National History Day China

This year, we were thrilled to have a group of students travel from DAIS to Shanghai to participate in this year’s National History Day (NHD) China competition. The event was held on March 21 at the beautiful campus of Concordia International School Shanghai in Pudong, bringing together students from across China to showcase original historical research in a highly competitive academic setting.

NHD China is the regional affiliate of National History Day, an internationally recognized program that challenges students to engage in in-depth historical inquiry. Participants develop projects in a range of formats—including documentaries, exhibits, performances, websites, and research papers—centered around an annual theme. This year’s theme, “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History,” asked students to examine the causes and consequences of historical change and to connect their research to broader historical patterns. Our team prepared three documentaries, one exhibit, and one website.

For all the students from DAIS, this marked our first year of participation in the competition. Students approached the experience with enthusiasm and determination, developing original projects while competing against experienced peers from leading schools around China. While the team did not receive awards this year, their participation represented a meaningful academic achievement and an important step in their development as historians.

“Students accomplished something great here,” said Mr. W. “Although we didn’t win any awards this year, we accomplished something very meaningful—real research into topics that students were passionate about. They learned how to be historians, how to apply historical thinking skills, and how to compete nationally with their peers. These are all valuable steps that set us up for future growth in this competition and in our historical thinking skills and analytical abilities generally.”

In addition to student participation, a faculty member from DAIS, Peter Waldvogel (Mr. W), served as a judge in the historical papers category, gaining insight into the impressively high level of scholarship demonstrated by students across the country. The quality of work was exceptional, with projects reflecting deep research, critical thinking, strong writing skills, and compelling historical argumentation.

Overall, participation in NHD China provided students with a valuable opportunity to engage in authentic historical research, build essential academic skills, and experience a nationally recognized academic competition. This inaugural year lays a strong foundation for continued growth and future success in the program.