КОС е глобална образователна организация, която обучава над девет хиляди студенти от 155 страни всяка година. Почти четири хиляди от тези студенти завършват mеждународната програма International Baccalaurate Diploma Programme (IBDP), най-признатата глобална предуниверситетска програма за студенти на възраст между 16 и 19 години.

Макар и учебната програма на IBDP да е в основата на академичния живот във всички училища и колежи на КОС, обучението надхвърля изискванията, определени от програмата на IB. КОС разполага с преднамерно разнообразно общество от ученици и служители във всяко училище и колеж - с членове от много различни национални, социално-икономически, културни, езикови, политически и образователни среди – и поради това КОС разбира, че учебната програма трябва да позволява толкова интерпретации и възприятия, колкото студенти участват в програмата, така че да се чувстват способни да представят автентично своята собствена история и перспектива. Следователно официалният учебен план за международен бакалавър се допълва от сесии по глобални въпроси и други дейности, насърчаващи критическо мислене и смело изправяне пред предизвикателствата, пред които е изправен днешният свят.
 

The International Baccalaureate (IB)

The IB Organisation (IBO) was founded in 1968. From the beginning, the IBO relied on UWC’s input and collaboration in light of UWC’s experience of providing progressive, intercultural education with an emphasis on experiential learning. The ties between both organisations remain close today as the IBO celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018.

After six years of piloting the programme at different schools including UWC Atlantic College in Wales, the IBDP was officially established in 1975. Programmes for primary years, middle years and career-related programmes were developed in the last two decades. All IB programmes aim to “encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right."

The various programmes have grown in popularity due to the organisation’s reputation as the “gold standard” for international education, particularly in the IBDP. Today there are five thousand schools educating 1.3 million students globally. 
 

Which subjects can students take for the IBDP?

IB Diploma students choose a course from each of the following six subject areas:

1. Studies in Language and Literature

2. Language Acquisition

3. Individuals and Societies

4. Sciences

5. Mathematics

6. The Arts (instead of a course in the arts, students can opt to study another science, individuals and societies, or language acquisition course)

Students study generally three subjects at standard level, and three subjects at a higher level, for which they are expected to demonstrate a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills. Which specific subjects are offered will vary between the UWC schools and colleges, often reflecting their geographic location and focus areas.

As well as the six subject areas, students complete three core parts of the IB Diploma which are central to the philosophy of the programme. These are:

1. Extended Essay (EE): Students investigate a topic of special interest, and develop the independent research and writing skills required at university level. The essay is typically written in one of the student’s six subject groups and must be no more than 4,000 words in length. Students are supported in the research and writing process by an academic supervisor.

2. Theory of Knowledge (TOK): The course encourages students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, on how we know what we claim to know. It is assessed through an oral presentation and a 1,600-word essay.

3. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Taking responsibility, developing social, creative and outdoor skills, as well as learning to approach others with empathy are at the heart of the programme. Students engage in a variety of projects that aim to help them develop these skills, while at the same time actively engaging with their local community.

The combination of these elements enables students to develop their capacity to analyse and evaluate information, to effectively communicate ideas, and develop convincing arguments, all of which prepares them for undergraduate and further study. Furthermore, students are able to put their cultural knowledge and understanding into their academic learning, becoming aware of themselves as thinkers and increasingly connected to others.

Younger years

UWC schools, as distinct from UWC colleges, also admit students into lower years ranging from ages 18 months to 15 years old. UWC East Africa, UWC Maastricht, UWC South East Asia, UWC East Africa, UWC Thailand and Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa all have younger students on their campuses being taught through a number of curricula.

As with the IBDP students, we believe that the best way to prepare our kindergarten, primary and secondary students is through a broad holistic education, with experiences ranging from community service, art and class projects -- all framed within the UWC experiential education model of learning. UWC believes that younger students possess the same capacity to embrace experiential education as our Diploma students, and the curriculum ensures that they have opportunities to question, explore, create, engage and reflect, developing a full range of social, emotional, and creative skills.