Here’s to another 45 years Director General Jeff Beard celebrates the IB’s impressive achievements in its 45-year history, and looks forward to another fantastic 45 years
T
he IB has come a long way in its brief 45-year history. It grew from humble, ambitious beginnings, when in 1968 the IBO’s four visionary founders – John Goormaghtigh, Desmond Cole-Baker, Alec Peterson and Gérard Renaud – set out to create and maintain a diploma programme for 16- to 19-yearolds that would “provide an internationally acceptable university admissions qualification suitable for the growing mobile population of young people whose parents were part of the world of diplomacy, international and multi-national organizations.” The IB now helps to educate more than 1.1 million students in 146 countries and over 3,600 IB World Schools, from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, between the ages of 3 and 19. Every single member of the extended IB family – teachers, educators, parents, students and alumnus – should feel proud to be part of the IB’s incredible accomplishments so far. Although I came to the IB from a business background, I’ve always been passionate about education – my father, wife and sister-in-law were all teachers – and, when my children studied IB programmes at Vienna International School, I was smitten.
When I step down as Director General at the end of this year, I’ll be satisfied that my focus on developing the IB’s sustainability through building its capacity and capabilities has prepared the organization for its next step. I believe the IB’s new leader will provide the direction and guidance it needs in the years to come. We will be working closely with him during the last quarter of this year to ensure a smooth handover and transition in 2014. I have witnessed first-hand how the IB’s remarkable programmes transform students into globally minded citizens. Even after leaving the IB, I will continue to be passionate about its potential to create a better world through education. I am very proud and privileged to have been given this opportunity to serve such a worthwhile cause. I wish the next Director General, and the whole IB World family, every success for the future. I look forward to admiring your achievements from afar, and to the IB’s 90th anniversary in another 45 years.
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Cover credits Congratulations and a big thank you to all the IB World Schools who sent in photographs for use on our special cover. Our cover stars are from: International School of London, Surrey, UK/ Chris Pearsall Photography; Qatar Academy, Qatar; Atlanta International School, Georgia, USA/Billy Howard; Westwood High School, Texas, USA; International School of Geneva, Switzerland/Ecolint; Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Maryland, USA; Aga Khan Academies, Mombasa, Kenya/ AKDN; Nanjing School, China.
IB World Editor Cathryn Newbery Managing Editor Sarah Dyson IB Editors Teresa Connell, Janneke Versteeg Staff Writer Grace Lewis Production Editor Steph Wilkinson Designers Chris Barker, Paul Frost Amy Hanbidge Picture Editors Dominique Campbell, Jenny Quiggin Senior Account Manager Steph Allister Account Director Justine Loehry Group Art Director Martin Tullett Production Manager Keslyn Johnson Senior Editor Robert Jeffery Editorial Director Simon Kanter Managing Director, Haymarket Network Andrew Taplin Reproduction Haymarket Pre-press Printed by Wyndeham Heron, UK Published on behalf of IB by Haymarket Network, Teddington Studios, Broom Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 9BE, UK Tel +44 (0)208 267 5000 Fax +44 (0)208 267 5194
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