Prospectus Prospectus
‘UWC Atlantic College students are innate entrepreneurs, possess an international mindset, and have a spirit of service and responsibility. They are ambassadors of the UWC mission and values.’ Stephanie Reina, Associate Director of Business Development at IE Business School
‘We continue to be delighted with the students who come to Yale from UWC Atlantic College. It’s always exciting for me to meet them because I know they come to Yale with open minds, ready and willing to explore the university as much as possible.’
OUR VISION UWC Atlantic College opened in 1962 at the 12th century St Donat’s Castle and is the founding college of a global education movement – UWC. The college was designed to provide a platform for young individuals to learn through shared experience and be empowered to make a positive difference. This remains our vision today. There are now 12 UWC schools and colleges worldwide, each one unique, but all united in their mission and ideals.
Rebekah Westphal, Director of International Admissions – Yale College
Our mission
Atlantic College makes education a “ UWC force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”
Being part of the UWC movement and a UWC college means that we share common aims. These are to:
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roduce alumni each year who, through their own action p and personal example, can become leaders in their communities and demonstrate their commitment to making a positive difference in the world.
• become recognised internationally for its distinctive model of education.
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rovide an example for other schools, educational p organisations and governments which recognise the role of education as a force for peace and a sustainable future.
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OUR PHILOSOPHY
OUR VALUES
We deliver our mission by being committed to: Global citizenship – we bring together a dynamic community of young people from truly diverse backgrounds to facilitate intercultural engagement and motivate students to create a more peaceful world. An established bursary programme and students from over 90 countries at any one time make the college a nexus for interaction and learning from a range of cultures, backgrounds, nationalities, religions and races. Environmental responsibility – we take a challenging and interactive approach to learning that inspires and equips students to work towards a more sustainable future. Projects, activities and the educational programme support learning, understanding and action in the field of environmental responsibility and awareness. Lifelong service – the vast range of opportunities and projects we make available to our students prepares them to be leaders within their own communities and live the college’s mission throughout their lives. The community activity opportunities are widespread, with something to suit each individual. Transformative education – we pride ourselves on our pioneering and distinctive educational model; the way students learn, interact with one another and take part in community activities presents life-changing tests and personal discovery, which mark the beginning of a lifelong journey. Bursaries on merit – the true diversity of the student body depends on our ability to reach out across the globe to attract and encourage new students from vastly differing environments. To do this we fundraise so that the college aspires to provide full or partial bursaries to those students who have been selected on merit and potential, and demonstrate a need for financial support.
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Our values, and those of the UWC movement as a whole, are what make our educational model unique and truly inspiring. These values form the foundation of our passionate approach to providing young people with a challenging and transformational learning experience. We encourage all members of our community to hold true to these values: Action and personal example – acting on your beliefs and leading by example A sense of idealism – believing that you can make a difference Celebration of difference – valuing differences and seeing them as a strength in our community Compassion and service – demonstrating a compassionate and truly committed approach to your community and service International and intercultural engagement – our community should be free from any form of prejudice Mutual responsibility and respect – creating a supportive and respectful environment Personal challenge – learning through interactions and challenging ourselves Personal responsibility and integrity – behaving with integrity and being accountable for your own actions
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THE CURRICULUM AT UWC ATLANTIC COLLEGE The Atlantic Diploma This two-year course has two parts: the International Baccalaureate 16-19 academic curriculum, and a parallel co-curricular programme of experiential learning that focuses on key aspects of peace, social justice and a sustainable future. Students are required to follow a broad and balanced curriculum across eleven faculties. Seven faculties provide the disciplinary framework for the International Baccalaureate. Students choose six academic subjects, three at Higher and three at Standard Level, plus a seventh, Theory of Knowledge, which helps build interdisciplinary links in the students’ minds. A further four faculties are experiential in nature and offer in-depth understanding and a practical engagement with the college’s vision and values. The four experiential faculties are: Outdoor, Social Justice, Global and Environmental.
The Atlantic Diploma is inter-disciplinary in nature. Issues raised through academic study in the classroom are developed in a broader light through community involvement and real world engagement. Students serve in the community, organise conferences, run Diploma Periods and help in the delivery of faculty programmes.
Students follow a development plan which is individually tailored to their own interests and aspirations. The plan is constructed by the student in collaboration with their tutor. The curriculum, calendar and timetable at the college are designed to enable students to follow an individual path within the structure of the curriculum so that they engage with all aspects of the UWC mission. In addition students are expected to show creativity and initiative in progressing their own programme either during the summer vacation between year one and two or during project week, in mission focus periods and in their own student initiated activities.
Academic qualifications are determined independently according to the rules of the International Baccalaureate Organization. However successful completion of the Atlantic Diploma is a result both of suitable achievement levels in the IB and individual accomplishments in the experiential faculties.
Atlantic Diploma Summary Atlantic Diploma
The International Baccalaureate (IB) 16 -19 year olds. Seven faculties provide the disciplinary framework for the IB
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Co-curricular Programme. Four experiential faculties offer in-depth understanding and practical engagement with the college’s vision and values
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The International Baccalaureate [IB] 16-19 CurriculumÂ
Subject Choices 1 - Mother tongue Languages Taught: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian and Danish Self Taught: Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, Hebrew, Japanese, Khmer, Malay, Mongolian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Swahili, Swedish, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Welsh and Norwegian 2 - Foreign Languages English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin 3 - Individuals and Societies Economics, Geography, History of Europe, History of the Middle East, Political Thought, World Religions, Global Politics, Social and Cultural Anthropology 4 - Sciences Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Design Technology, Sustainable Technology, Environmental Systems and Societies 5 - Maths Higher Level, Further level, Standard Level, Maths Studies, Further Maths 6 - Arts Visual Arts, Music, Theatre
Core Requirements
The IB provides a challenging, internationally focused educational experience for students aged 16-19. The significant majority of students at UWC Atlantic College opt for the full IB Diploma. This requires students to study six subjects and a curriculum core concurrently over their two year stay. The full Diploma is a prescriptive structure and students also have the option to pursue individual subject Certificates, if the full Diploma does not meet their individual needs. For example, a student who is passionate about the arts may opt for two or three in group six subjects which is not possible in the full IB Diploma. The college will consider each individual’s aspirations and passions in making course selections. The programme is academically challenging and students are expected to strive for academic excellence. The IB mission mirrors that of the college. This is not surprising given the fact that the college was one of the first schools in the world to offer the IB and was involved in its development. The IB Diploma is designed to qualify students for global university entry and is the most recognised pre-university qualification worldwide.
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Theory of knowledge is an integral and compulsory part of the IB Diploma. It is taught as a standard level subject to all students throughout terms 2 and 3. The course is designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical). The extended essay is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question of their choice relating to one of the subjects they are studying. Creativity, action, service (CAS) requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students have to complete a course in Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and the Creativity Action Service programme which is embraced within the experiential part of the Atlantic Diploma.
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CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMMME The New Experiential Faculties The structure of the experiential faculties allows students to engage in a programme of discovery, to determine their own pathways through it, confront risk and overcome the possibility of failure in order to know their own strengths and fallibilities. Students work together and learn to trust each other, whether in caring for the aged or the disabled, or in the physically demanding conditions of mountain and rock climbing or operating rescue equipment in the waters of the Bristol Channel. Dr Kurt Hahn believed that each person should be allowed to identify their own grand passion. The Atlantic Diploma allows young people to create individual pathways across both parts of the Diploma. Each part of the programme has its own challenges. The faculties are: Outdoor, Social Justice, Global and Environmental.
Outdoor The aim of the Outdoor Faculty is to promote a sense of endeavour, self-discipline and personal example through action challenge, expeditions and the management of risk in difficult terrains, in both the mountains and the sea. Social Justice The aim of the Social Justice Faculty is to develop in young people a wish to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of others and to do so with a sense of empathy for the disadvantaged and a respect for human rights and personal dignity. Global The aim of the Global Faculty is to involve young people in a critical engagement with intercultural issues and actively promote a global ethos and linguistic and cultural diversity through local and international links and events. Peace studies and the management of conflict will be a crucial feature of the work of the faculty. Environmental The aim of the Environmental Faculty is to develop models of sustainability and inspire in young people an active commitment to the welfare and development of the environment. Each has two areas: primary delivery and secondary delivery. Primary delivery contains the community engagement programme and secondary delivery contains four defining features which are activities, student initiatives, mission focus periods and project week. Students over two years specialise in one area of primary delivery and engage with a broader understanding of the UWC mission through the secondary delivery of the other faculties in order to engage with community issues to gain a realistic understanding of the UWC mission in the world. Each faculty aspires to be a centre of excellence. Its learning programmes and skill sets are built upon best practice. Visiting fellows and speakers, outside expertise and contributors, are central to the learning process. The faculties collaborate with organisations outside the college to create a network of likeminded organisations. Students will experience a core training programme in each faculty and then specialise later in the first year. In the case of the Global Faculty, which is for the most part a completely new initiative, students will help establish Peace Jam, an initiative involving the University of Bradford and the International Nobel Peace Laureate.
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Accommodation
OUR LIVING ENVIRONMENT
The student community is divided across seven purpose-built boarding houses. Each house accommodates approximately 48 students with separate male and female corridors. In general, four students from the same year group, each of different nationality, share a room. The facilities are relatively simple and students share communal showers and bathrooms. Each house has a day room with a small kitchen, study rooms and drying rooms. The accommodation of the Houseparents is attached to their respective houses.
Personal care Academic and personal supervision All students are under the care of Houseparents. In addition, each student has a Personal Tutor who gives individual guidance on academic and personal matters. Support is also provided by fellow students trained to be confidential peer listeners and by a dedicated professional Student Counsellor. An Academic Coordinators’ Office provides advice and support on all academic matters, including university applications.
The college campus St Donat’s Castle estate has some 60 hectares, 20 of which are woodland, 20 of which comprise the college farm and a further 20 in gardens and amenity areas. The castle itself accommodates the dining hall, a fine library, the Bradenstoke Hall, which is used for assemblies and concerts, the history and economics departments and study areas. Close by are historic, renovated buildings that house the music and art departments, and purpose-built classroom buildings for mathematics, languages and the sciences.
The social centre
Location
Spiritual life
St Donat’s Castle is located in a small picturesque country village, St Donat’s, on the coast of the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales. It is very close to the small town of Llantwit Major, which is home to a number of local amenities including shops, supermarkets, restaurants, leisure facilities and an excellent beach for water sports.
The large variety of faiths within the college provides opportunities to experience cultural differences first hand. The college receives regular visits from representatives of a range of faiths and religious festivals and holy days are observed. St Donat’s Church on the castle estate is the local parish church and the college supports members of other faiths who wish to take part in formal acts of worship.
The large town of Bridgend and Wales’ capital city, Cardiff, are in fairly close proximity, meaning that the college is located within easy access of many major transport links including bus, rail and air travel.
One large building comprises the social centre that offers a variety of facilities such as a bookshop, café, television viewing room, physical conditioning room and a social
Birmingham
Aberystwyth
Students are provided with three meals per day in the college Dining Hall. Special dietary requirements such as lactose-free and gluten-free are catered for. Halal meat is also provided.
This is where the Atlantic Outdoor Centre and the coastal rescue services are predominantly based. There are restored 16th century buildings for use as classrooms, accommodation and workshops and an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool.
Glouceter
Haverfordwest Newport
Swansea
Cardiff
The college doctors and the two full-time residential nursing sisters are responsible for students’ health. The doctors hold surgeries in the college two times a week. Diet
Coventry
gathering/event area.
The seafront
Medical care
Swindon Reading
Bristol
London
Weston-Super-Mare Barnstaple Southampton Exeter
From here you can access the pebble beach and take in the stunning coastal views.
St Donat’s Arts Centre The 14th century Tythe Barn has been converted into a theatre; this provides a lively programme of arts, concerts, events and exhibitions for the college community and the general public. 12
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YOU There are over 7000 UWC Atlantic College alumni, from over 100 countries who have benefited from the unique model of education and approach to learning offered at the college. Many continue to use their world-class education as a force for positive change and to inspire others.
‘They embrace the entire world across all divides of race, history, culture, wealth, religion, economic status and political belief: they are unique and they are conscious of their responsibilities.’
You could follow in their footsteps…
Admissions Students wishing to study at UWC Atlantic College will normally be aged between 15 and 17 years old at the application stage and have already completed 10 or 11 years of formal education. Students are normally 16 or 17 when they start at the college. The teaching language is English but a proven level of English is not necessary for students from within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. As a condition for granting a UK Study Visa to students from outside the EEA, however, it will be necessary to demonstrate a certain minimum standard in English. UWC Atlantic College operates a policy of selection and admission on merit and aspires to provide financial support on a needs basis. For more information on admissions and visa requirements please visit www.atlanticcollege.org/admissions-1/
Apply There are two ways for you, as a prospective student, to apply:
• Through the UWC National Committee in your home country to attend one of the 12 UWC colleges (including UWC Atlantic College) • Directly to UWC Atlantic College via the UWC’s International Quota (IQ) guidelines, if you do not meet the National Committee criteria. For more detailed information on admissions and to find out how you should apply please visit www.atlanticcollege.org/apply/
Your Future University entry - The majority of UWC Atlantic College alumni are offered their first choice place to continue their international education at higher education institutions throughout the world. Our students regularly accept places at Oxford, Harvard, Brown and many other leading and wellregarded universities throughout the world. Gap year opportunities - The college provides students with a range of exciting and enriching gap year opportunities and projects that allow students to continue living the mission to influence positive change. Alumni - Find out more about what our alumni go on to do and how their lives have been shaped by the UWC Atlantic College ideals and experience by visiting www.atlanticcollege.org/alumni-profiles/
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Nelson Mandela, UWC Honorary President talking about UWC schools and colleges
‘Each UWC graduate is a potential architect for peace.’ Queen Noor of Jordan, UWC President
UWC Atlantic College St Donat’s Castle LLANTWIT MAJOR CF61 1WF UK Tel: +44 (0) 1446 799000 Email: principal@atlanticcollege.org Website: www.atlanticcollege.org United World College of the Atlantic Ltd Registered in England No. 673076 Charity No. 525761