A UWC education
Irrespective of the school a UWC is the outcome of three key inter-related elements:
- A rigorous academic programme. UWC schools and colleges follows one of three models:
- Colleges which offer a two year pre-university diploma, the International Baccalaureate (IB).
- Schools which offer the IB Diploma within the context of a
larger school, providing students of other ages the opportunity to
gain a UWC experience.
- A three year tertiary level agricultural and training programme
- A locally based social responsibility programme. Each UWC tailors its programme to the local environment:
- Students at UWC Atlantic operate lifeboat and cliff rescue services along the South Wales coast
- Mahindra UWC students work with local village organisations to alleviate some of the worst effects of poverty and illiteracy
- Waterford Kamhlaba students provide care for those affected by AIDS and HIV
In
addition to regular weekly activities, the colleges allocate at least
one week each year for the students to devise and implement an
intensive service project
- A multi-cultural environment.
- At the UWC colleges, an average of 70 different nationalities are represented each academic year
- Embracing
the cultures and nationalities present in each ccollege is a key feature
of UWC life. Activities such as music, crafts, arts, and drama help
students to explore and develop an international appreciation
- Living
on campus with such a diverse group of peers creates an environment
where preconceptions, prejudices and values are questioned and tested
on a daily basis