Simón Bolívar UWC of Agriculture is the only vocational United World College. It was founded in 1986 by The Prince of Wales, then UWC President, with the renowned agriculturalist, Dr Luis Marcano Coello.

 

Situated on a 750 hectare farm in the foothills of the Venezuelan Andes and 70km from the state capital, Barinas, the College brings together 180 students (the majority from Latin America and the Caribbean) for a three-year 'hands-on' tertiary education, leading to a Higher Diploma in Farm Administration. The College is also known as the Fundación Colegio Experimental de Agricultura del Mundo Unido "Simón Bolívar" (FUNDACEA).

Simón Bolívar UWC seeks to train young people who will return to their home countries with the vision to address the question of profitable agricultural production alongside the social need to empower rural communities, to improve quality of life and self-reliance, and to conserve natural resources. A principal characteristic of the College is its 'learning by doing' teaching methods. This practical application of the curriculum enables students to understand and respond to the needs of rural areas, particularly in developing countries.

Approximately 70 per cent of students' time is dedicated to learning activities on the College's farm, including farm administration, plant and animal production, engineering and mechanisation, and complementary farm activities. There is also an extensive rural development programme throughout four local municipalities and reaching in excess of 10,000 people. This programme covers such areas as agricultural productivity and diversity, disease control, health and nutrition and the administration of small agricultural businesses. The vocational nature of the Simón Bolívar Diploma is reinforced by a four-month internship in an agricultural enterprise in Venezuela or another country. Students also live for four weeks in a rural community close to the College.

The language of teaching in Simón Bolívar UWC is Spanish. Students are also older than in the other United World Colleges – normally between the ages of 18 and 21, and will have already graduated from high school.

Community service is an integral part of Simón Bolívar UWC's curriculum. Students may teach literacy skills and give health talks in the community, build vegetable plots for schools, run children's groups or teach sports. Through confronting students with real-life problems, in particular those dealt with by rural communities on a daily basis, the College gives students the opportunity to receive an integral education while they reinforce their positive values and develop the sensitivity and necessary tools to initiate, manage, lead and transform.

Funding for Simón Bolívar UWC is provided by many generous private and public donors and through a government-supplied student loans scheme.