The United Lisbon International School
A Ground-Breaking Concept in Education Combined with a Luxury Family Lifestyle
A GROUND-BREAKING CONCEPT IN EDUCATION was formed in 2020 when Roman and Chitra Stern galvanized their belief in the power of education by establishing the United Lisbon International School in Lisbon, Portugal. The dynamic husband-and-wife team founded and operate Martinhal, a group of luxury hotels and resorts in Portugal, and built their highly innovative brand on a unique, family-specific lifestyle platform. Parents themselves to four school-age children, they enforced their commitment to educating youth by establishing a school next to the renowned Park of Nations for Lisbonites as well as internationally-minded ex-pats in the city. Formed as a world-class academic institution, United Lisbon International Schools offers a vigorous international curriculum that begins at age three, with an Early Childhood program keyed to each child’s educational development. At present, ULIS’s comprehensive syllabus goes through Grade 10; commencing with the September 2023 school year, which will expand through Grade 12.
At the centre piece of United Lisbon Educational Hub ULIS’s diverse, highly qualified faculty of international instructors and degreed professors, is augmented by a team of innovators, tech companies, and professionals whose combined knowledge and experience prepares a student for further study to develop their interests and skills that will serve them well and prepare them for the professional, political, economic, and cultural demands of today’s world.
Chitra Stern, who is of Indian heritage, was raised in Singapore and educated in London, where she studied electric engineering and, changing gears, went on to receive her MBA from the London Business School. Roman, who was born and raised in Switzerland, is a graduate of Harvard University. The Sterns have made Portugal their home for over 20 years, establishing Martinhal in 2001 while simultaneously growing their family, of whom all four children were born in Portugal.
While providing education to resident families, the Sterns support their adopted country’s innovative plans to expandF Portugal’s international outreach and build upon its economic philosophies and perspectives.
In addition to Martinhal Chiado/Lisbon, Martinhal’s luxury family resorts are located in three other diverse, equally magnificent regions: Sagres, located on a protected beach in the extreme western tip of the glorious Algarve in the southern part of the country; Quinta do Lago, a family-friendly enclave of magnificent luxury villas, also in the Algarve; and Martinhal Cascais, which combines the experience of historic Sintra, scenic Guincho, and gorgeous Cascais just outside of Lisbon in the area known as “the Portuguese Riviera.” In addition, Martinhal is engaged in real estate development projects in the Park of Nations at Avenida Dom Joâo II, including the new Ageas Headquarters and the Martinhal Residences, exceptional contemporary apartments that will complete in 2022. For more, log onto www.martinhal.com.
ACADEMIC AFFILIATES of the UNITED LISBON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
- United Lisbon International School is now the first international school in Portugal joining a group of more than 1000 schools in over 90 countries offering the International Primary Curriculum and the International Early Years Curriculum.
- United Lisbon is a member of the Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS), a network of international schools in the Mediterranean that fosters partnerships and creates opportunities for teacher engagement and student learning beyond the school itself.
- United Lisbon International School is currently a candidate for the Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). As an IB World School, ULIS will expand its commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education through four levels: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), and the Career-related Programme (CP).
- The ULIS has applied for accreditation from the New England Association of School’s and Colleges (NEASC)