Scan Magazine | Education Profile | The International
During one or two years at The International, students live, learn and travel the world together. The experience gives them intercultural competence, academic excellence, personal development and friends for life.
Freedom to go global In Denmark, young students go to boarding school to learn more about themselves and meet new friends. At The International, the only 100 per cent English-speaking boarding school in the country, they also get an internationally recognised education developed by the University of Cambridge. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Vedersø Idrætsefterskole
English is spoken from the get-go when new students arrive at The International’s brand new facilities in Vedersø. After saying goodbye to their parents, excited teenagers are welcomed – in English – into an international environment that will prepare them for a future in the globalised world. The International is part of a long Danish tradition of boarding schools – or ’efterskoler’, as they are called in Denmark. Compared to state schools, efterskoler have more independence to shape their educational approach. Because enlightenment for life is considered equally important as formal education, students are given substantial freedom in choosing their own subjects. “Students can immerse themselves in football, dance, media or Danish 30 | Issue 92 | September 2016
language, as well as a whole range of elective subjects. You can lift weights, form a band or learn about accounting,” says Alex Mason, The International’s head of studies. Mason believes that freedom is key for young people to achieve personal development. “Freedom truly motivates these young adults and gives them a sense of responsibility. Rising to the challenge of choosing for yourself grows your confidence,” Mason argues. A year at a Danish boarding school serves as a break from everyday life during which you can have fun, try new things and think about your future plans. The International offers this experience combined with a first-class education programme in English, provided by the University of Cambridge. The internationally recognised Cambridge IGCSE exam certificate, equivalent to
Danish ninth and tenth grade, gives students from all over the world an early boost to their potentially global careers. “The Cambridge IGCSE helps students stand out from the crowd. We teach them the skills necessary to succeed in a highly competitive global society,” Mason concludes. THE INTERNATIONAL AT A GLANCE: - The only 100 per cent Englishspeaking boarding school in Denmark - Offers Cambridge University’s International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Students participate in three study trips: - A Worldwide Adventure in the United States, South Africa and Australia - A European Exchange in a European host family - A Tour of Denmark
For more information, please visit: www.theinternational-dk.com