College Guide
About UWCSEA UWC movement
UWCSEA provides a challenging, holistic education with an emphasis on academic achievement, service to others, teamwork, environmental stewardship and leadership. Our goal is to educate individuals to embrace challenge and take responsibility for shaping a better world.
“The striking thing about the United World Colleges is that they embrace the entire world across all divides of race, history, culture, wealth, religion, economic status and political belief.” – Nelson Mandela, Honorary President, UWC International
Dover Campus was opened by the then Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, in 1971 under the name Singapore International School. Originally a secondary-only school with one campus, UWCSEA today has two campuses, the original on Dover Road and our new campus in Tampines, both enrolling students from four years of age. In line with the UWC philosophy, UWCSEA also has scholars from around the world. The 42 UWC national committee scholars studying the IB Diploma were awarded their scholarships on criteria including such factors as ‘constructive energy.’ There are also several students on a UWCSEA-supported scholarship, some of whom start in Grade 8. The presence of scholars and other boarders helps the College to achieve our goal of a truly international education. Over 60 nationalities are represented, and each class is genuinely diverse. Students are encouraged to celebrate and respect other cultures with the goal of promoting international understanding. Supported by excellent facilities, students excel in a variety of activities. The College is represented by over 200 different sporting teams, while self-expression is promoted through the arts and other programmes. An extensive programme of activities supplements the curriculum, as does the structured outdoor education programme for students from Grade 2 onward. One vital aspect of a UWCSEA education is Service. All students are expected to participate as part of their commitment to UWCSEA values. The College supports more than 60 local Service programmes in Singapore; over 40 Global Concerns programmes; the Initiative for Peace; a growing number of Gap Year options and eight SEALinks projects, which allow parents to participate in the Service programme. Amidst all this activity, UWCSEA students also gain excellent academic results. In 2011, UWCSEA students who sat for the IB Diploma achieved an average points’ score of 36.75 with a 100% pass rate; 32% achieved more
than 40 points and there were 80 Bilingual Diploma’s awarded within the class of 300 students. The vast majority were accepted into their first choice university. Similarly, (I)GCSE candidates are regularly acknowledged by the Cambridge (I)GCSE board as being not just the best in Singapore, but in some cases, the best in the world.
The UWC movement arose from the work of visionary educationalist Kurt Hahn, a key figure in the development of experiential education. Hahn hoped to use education to promote international understanding, and his philosophy was that each of us has more courage, more strength and more compassion than we could imagine. His work was also instrumental in the founding of Outward Bound International, the Round Square Movement and the International Award for Young People.
While we combine challenging experiences with academic rigor and creative opportunities in the personal education of every student, underpinning this are the values of the College. At the core is our mission to educate individuals to take responsibility for shaping a better world.
Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan is the President of the UWC movement, and Nelson Mandela its Honorary President. UWCSEA is one of 13 colleges; others are located in the UK, Canada, Swaziland, the USA, Italy, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Norway, India, Costa Rica, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands. Each College has its own distinctive character but all share a common mission: UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
All community members are expected to commit to our values:
More information can be found at: www.uwc.org
Values-led education
• be honest and act with integrity in all • that they do • avoid prejudice by developing views based on evidence and reasoning • be compassionate and morally responsible • embrace challenge in order to maximise their potential • offer help to other people • take an interest in and enjoy friendships with people of all cultures and backgrounds • minimise their harmful impact on the environment UWCSEA prepares its students to be: • sensitive and compassionate • educated for a changing world • high achievers • free from prejudice • constructively energetic • creative in action • self-confident and engaging • prepared for responsibility and service
Round Square membership UWCSEA Dover is a full member of Round Square, an association of more than 60 schools in over 20 countries. Round Square students make a strong commitment, beyond academic excellence, to personal development and responsibility. East Campus plans to apply for membership once the student body reaches . Students in Junior, Middle and High School participate in Round Square programmes including exchanges, conferences and service initiatives. More information can be found at: www.uwcsea.edu.sg/roundsquare and www.roundsquare.org.