Founded: 1982  Student Profile: 200 students aged 16-19
Location: Duino, Italy

The UWC of the Adriatic was founded in 1982 by the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia with the support of the Italian Government. The fifth United World College and the first to be founded outside the English-speaking world, it is 20km from Trieste in north-eastern Italy.

Reflecting Italian priorities in foreign policy, the College from its very beginning laid special emphasis on its relationship with Central and Eastern Europe and 30 per cent of its students come from this region.

One unique aspect of the College is that it does not have a separate campus. It is part of the Italian and Slovene village of Duino, on the coast of the Adriatic. The students learn Italian and live and work in a variety of buildings spread throughout the village and are in a real sense inhabitants of Duino.

The surrounding area offers remarkable opportunities for cultural, linguistic and physical exploration. Trieste is within easy access, and each year the College organises cultural visits to cities such as Venice, Ravenna and Rome. World Cultures has been pioneered as an International Baccalaureate option at the College. Full use is also made of the location to run a physical activities programme from the port of Duino and in the surrounding mountains (Alpi Carniche e Alpi Giulie). Instruction in climbing, caving, cross-country skiing and orienteering is arranged, often with local instructors, and beginners are strongly encouraged to participate.

Teaching facilities include a library, the Rita Levi Montalcini Science Laboratory Building, a computer room, music rooms, a Ceramics Centre and the Erich Hartmann Arts Centre. The College also offers five music scholarships to accomplished young musicians in strings or piano; these students include music in their IB programme and receive master classes from the maestri of the Trio di Trieste and the Trio di Parma.

The UWC of the Adriatic provides a comprehensive social service programme, including such activities as working in a refugee camp and helping the elderly in the community. In addition to this, the College founded its own Voluntary Work Association, Mondo 2000, which organises cultural and other activities for people from disadvantaged areas. Students also serve as cultural ambassadors to young immigrants in the region through a variety of multicultural programmes in local schools, and participate in environmental programmes in the Slovene farming community.

All students attend the College on full scholarship. A large proportion of the funding for these scholarships and for the College's other costs are provided by the Italian Government and the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.