UWCSEA. Education Like No Other.
Welcome to UWCSEA In a country renowned for leading development and achievement in education, I am proud to lead a community that continues to shape UWCSEA’s place in the forefront of international education. After 50 years, the College remains committed to the challenge of bringing to life educational innovation that will equip our students to become agents of change to create a better future for us all. Scan QR code to read Nick Alchin's Blog Education, Schools and Culture
“Education might be the vehicle but we exist to make the world a better place. UWC exists to educate a generation of people who believe that they can take responsibility for the world.” Faith Abiodun Executive Director, UWC International
UWCSEA was the second member of the UWC Movement, which now has 18 schools and colleges around the world. Opened by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as Singapore International School in 1971, SIS became the United World College of South East Asia in 1975. Expanding as Singapore has grown we are now a K–12 international school of over 5,600 students, spread across two campuses. Our united, welcoming community embraces students and their families from around 100 different nations, and we have over 20,000 alumni spread across the globe who remain connected to UWCSEA and committed to the UWC Mission. Our community embodies everything the UWC Movement stands for: concern and compassion for others, the willingness to accept responsibility, and tenacity in pursuit of the truth. What also distinguishes our students is how much they give in service to others and their enthusiasm for a hugely diverse range of activities, which we celebrate as much as our academic achievements each year. The diversity of our community adds so much to the learning environment and outcomes: increasing the richness of ideas, creating an internationalist mindset and building respect for others. Our students are encouraged to investigate and value their different histories and talents, as well as those of other people and cultures. I am a great believer in the power of shared purpose and hope. At UWCSEA this springs from our collective commitment to our shared mission. In this, I am joined by a committed staff, who are innovative, curious and always start with the best interests of our students in mind as they do their utmost to foster curiosity, compassion and kindness even as they bring our ambitious Learning Programme to life. All young people have incredible potential, and UWCSEA nurtures that in a very inspirational—and to my mind—unique way. It is genuinely humbling to be a part of this community, and we look forward to welcoming you. Nick Alchin Head of College
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Mission and history The UWC Movement was founded by Kurt Hahn, a German educator, whose ideas around the power of education as a means to influence long-lasting peace were crystallised by the destruction he witnessed during the First and Second World Wars. In 1958 Hahn was inspired by the cooperation between former adversaries he witnessed at a NATO Staff Conference. He was convinced that education should prepare young people for a life with service, leadership and meaningful action at its heart. By educating young people from around the world together, he sought to prevent future conflicts. From this belief in the power of education to change the world, the UWC Movement was born, with a Mission to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Today there are 18 UWC schools and colleges around the world, with UWCSEA in Singapore the largest of these. All our students are selected on the basis of their potential to have a positive impact on their local and global community. As well as providing an international education for young people living in Singapore, each year the UWC Movement and UWCSEA provide scholarships for around 100 students from all over the world to attend UWCSEA. Committed to making the most of their opportunities, our scholars join our student community and are a daily reminder of Hahn’s belief in young people’s ability to shape a better future.
“There is more to us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less.” Kurt Hahn Founder, UWC Movement
The world has changed since Hahn founded Atlantic College, the first UWC, in Wales, UK in 1962. But the UWC educational philosophy, with a focus on academic achievement as a means to empower and equip young people for leadership and service to others continues to be as relevant today as it was when the Movement was founded.
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An education inspired by our Mission The Mission of the UWC Movement is to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. As both the starting point and the end goal of a UWCSEA education, our Mission guides every decision made at the College. The diagram describes UWCSEA’s Guiding Statements, illustrating how our Educational Goal springs from our Mission and Values. By creating a learning environment underpinned by Wellbeing and Learning Principles, our holistic Learning Programme provides multiple opportunities for learners to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that will support each student to develop the Mission Competencies that will enable them enact our Mission throughout their life.
UWCSEA GUIDING STATEMENTS Because UWCSEA is driven by its Mission, Values and Educational Goal, we create an environment that is underpinned by Wellbeing and Learning Principles, and provide a holistic Learning Programme that develops the Qualities, Skills and Mission Competencies that enable students to live the Mission throughout their lives.
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UWCSEA WELLBEING PRINCIPLES
UWCSEA LEARNING PROGRAMME
Our culture of care creates a shared commitment to cultivate wellbeing for all members of our community. While we know that feelings of wellbeing are personal and vary between individuals, the College is responsible for providing the conditions for community wellbeing to flourish. This includes opportunities to feel connected, autonomous, and competent—for students, staff and parents alike—as described here:
Our Learning Programme consists of five interlinking elements: Academics, Activities, Outdoor Education, Personal and Social Education and Service. Delivered through a carefully crafted K–12 concept-based curriculum, the elements are combined to provide our students with a holistic education that develops them as individuals and as members of a global society.
Connected: we feel connected when we feel known, heard and cared for by others
UWCSEA PROFILE
Autonomous: we want to feel we can self-regulate our actions, where possible, and make our own meaning of events
Students are given multiple, age-appropriate opportunities to develop the following Qualities and Skills we have identified as required to help to fulfil our Mission:
Competent: a sense of competence arises when we feel effective and that we can continually develop craftsmanship around our work
Qualities
UWCSEA LEARNING PRINCIPLES Our Learning Principles are based on the understanding that learning is a life-long process in which the learner engages with and reflects upon information and experiences to construct new or modify existing understanding as well as develop and apply Qualities and Skills. We know that learning is effective when learners: • construct new understanding by activating prior knowledge and experience
Skills
Commitment to care
Critical thinker
Principled
Creative
Resilient
Collaborative
Self-aware
Communicator Self-manager
UWCSEA MISSION COMPETENCIES
• are challenged
Ultimately, we hope that when they leave the College our students will be equipped with these competencies so that they are able to enact our shared Mission to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future throughout their lives:
• feel secure and supported
• Essential Literacies
• construct meaning by seeing patterns and making connections
• Interpersonal and Intercultural Understanding
• actively process and reflect
• Sustainable Development
• use timely and goal directed feedback • collaborate
• apply meta-cognitve skills • understand the purpose of the learning
• Peacebuilding • Self and Community Wellbeing
• have ownership of their learning
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UWCSEA LEARNING PROGRAMME
Academics
Our students experience the joy of intellectual engagement and the satisfaction of scholarly pursuit. Through the Academic element of our programme, they gain an understanding of the connections between individual subjects and how to solve complex problems using different approaches.
ACADEMIC CURRICULUM Our K–12 Academic curriculum is shaped by our Mission and Educational Goal and guided by the UWCSEA Profile and Learning Principles. Learning goals in languages, mathematics, sciences, the arts, humanities, technology and physical education build logically through each grade, preparing students for the next academic challenge. In the High School, our curriculum offering allows students to elect to follow (I)GCSE or UWCSEA-designed courses in Grades 9 and 10, and to take the IB Diploma in addition to the UWCSEA High School Diploma in Grade 11 and 12. UWCSEA is an IB World School. The Dover Campus was the first school in Asia to adopt the IB Diploma, and our campuses each offer some of the widest selection of IB subject courses in Singapore.
RESULTS UWCSEA students have consistently achieved outstanding IB Diploma results. In May 2022, our graduating classes achieved an average IB Diploma score of 38.2 (worldwide average was 33). On average, 99% of UWCSEA students enrol at universities around the world. Each year a number of our students are admitted to Ivy League and highly selective universities in the USA, the UK and many other countries.
TEACHERS Research shows that the biggest single influence on student achievement is teachers. We recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and provide them with professional development that ensures they stay at the forefront of educational practice. Our teachers create a challenging and stimulating environment that helps students to grow their appreciation of and passion for academics.
“I attended UWCSEA and it was the single most important and formative experience of my life. It opened my eyes to the wider world, and provided me with the most rigorous and challenging education I’ve received at any stage of my academic career.” Dr Adam Jones ’81 (Dover) Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science at University of British Columbia, Executive Director, Gendercide Watch and Senior Book Review Editor, Journal of Genocide Research
Through the Academic programme, students develop intellectual habits and critical thinking skills that will serve them for life.
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UWCSEA LEARNING PROGRAMME
Activities
Our extensive Activities programme provides students with opportunities to explore new interests, develop their strengths, pursue their passions and connect with others in the community. Participants make like-minded friends from across age groups and connect with students from other parts of the school as they share their interests and passions with others.
THE VALUE OF PARTICIPATION
“My UWC education opened up a whole new world and gave me a passion for learning … It helped me realise that education is not just about grades, but also about experiential learning. I discovered talents that I did not think I had, while it gave me the courage to try new things and expanded my outlook on life.” Katarina Beckman ’06 (Dover) IB Theatre and English B Teacher, UWC Robert Bosch College
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Founded on the notion of breadth of opportunity, our Activity programme encourages both participation and excellence. Through the myriad of opportunities offered each week, students have the chance to be successful beyond the classroom as they develop new skills or extend existing capabilities. The opportunity to try new Activities in four different sign-up seasons each year encourages self-discovery and motivates our students to take appropriate risks while extending their sense of agency and connection.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT The opportunities offered to our students are extensive. Students are supported to develop time management and self-organisation skills so that they can take full advantage of the programme. Participation also helps to build leadership and social skills and an understanding of group dynamics. Most importantly, they experience both success and failure and learn the value of commitment. Activities invigorate the life of the College by bringing students together for creative, athletic, leadership and other endeavours. They are a vital part of student life and learning.
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UWCSEA LEARNING PROGRAMME
Outdoor Education
The opportunities for learning at UWCSEA extend far beyond the classroom as students take on experiential challenges that build resilience, collaboration and leadership. Through an incremental progression of age-appropriate experiences all students benefit from our commitment to Outdoor Education. Our programme encompasses far more than expeditions; regular exposure to natural environments is built into all elements of the Learning Programme. Whether exploring the natural environment on campus in K1, the forests in Malaysia in Grade 3 or trekking in Nepal in Grade 9, students develop confidence in their physical abilities and the emotional resilience to withstand difficult situations.
CONNECTING TO NATURE Our Outdoor Education programme allows students to develop an awareness of the environment and to reconnect with nature. As students deepen their understanding of and appreciation for the natural world, they grow their capacity to act as changemakers in systems which impact nature.
DISCOVERY OF SELF AND OTHERS Students begin to see one another in a different light as strengths not visible in the classroom become apparent. Communication and collaboration skills improve as students work together to complete essential tasks such as setting up camp or preparing a meal. All activities are designed to draw from students a greater range of skills and talents than they knew they possessed.
SUPPORTING HEALTH AND WELLBEING Students are often surprised to find within themselves the determination, adaptability and teamwork needed to rise to the challenges that these adventures present. Our students learn to make decisions that support the health and wellbeing of themselves and others.
OUTCOMES Research demonstrates that by providing avenues for our students to explore the natural environment in a safe setting, they learn from mistakes and develop resilience and self belief. Evidence of their achievements in Outdoor Education are recorded through student reflections and demonstrated in the character, skills, qualities and maturity that students develop and apply across all aspects of the Learning Programme and in their lives.
“UWCSEA learning does not end in the classroom; it only truly begins outside where one is pushed to their limits and tested.” Marietta Saldias Montivero ’15 (East) Davis UWC Scholarship Student, Macalester College
UWCSEA LEARNING PROGRAMME
Personal and Social Education
We know that in order for learning to be effective, students must feel secure and supported. Our Wellbeing Principles underpin all that we do in creating a learning environment that encourages students to develop a sense of agency, connection and self belief. At the same time, they also inform our dedicated Personal and Social Education (PSE) curriculum. Personal and social learning takes place implicitly through our school culture, in the way we interact with each other, and how learning is structured for our students. The importance of providing age-appropriate opportunities for personal and social development for all students as part of their educational experience means that PSE underpins all other elements of the UWCSEA Learning Programme.
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL WELLBEING Informed by both our Mission and our context in Singapore, our PSE programme creates a community of care for each student, so that they feel truly valued by the adults who are leading their learning. This provides students with the confidence to develop effective and open-minded understanding and approaches to interpersonal and intercultural differences, and to take care of both themselves and their community.
DEDICATED TIME TO GROW Students experience the PSE curriculum through explicit learning opportunities, such as morning meetings, mentor or advisory time and PSE lessons. Weekly grade or school assemblies build a sense of community as well as reiterate our values. These opportunities also connect to Child Safeguarding, enabling students to understand their bodies and to recognise their emotions so as to equip them to manage their personal safety and wellbeing.
“I found my passion for people—making meaningful personal connections and helping others—during my time at UWCSEA East. One of the things UWCSEA taught me is that I have a responsibility to be an ambassador for the kind of world that I want to live in.” Georgia Halasan ’14 (East) Student Advocate, TEDx Volunteer and Communications Coordinator
From students identifying and celebrating mastery of new skills in Kindergarten, to Grade 12 students using their self-knowledge to select their path after graduation, the PSE programme is dedicated time that enables students to explore their identity and place in the world.
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UWCSEA LEARNING PROGRAMME
Service
Our Service curriculum empowers students to become aware, able and active contributors in their community, whether on campus, locally in Singapore or internationally through links with a project in a developing country. UWCSEA believes in the transformative nature of the experience of serving others and in the responsibility we have to one another and the planet. Our Service programme fosters empathy and helps students to recognise that part of being human is seeking opportunities to put yourself aside in the service of others.
COLLEGE, SINGAPORE AND GLOBAL SERVICE “UWCSEA provides its students with more than just an education; it provides them with a sense of compassion for fellow human beings and the environment. Lessons are not only learnt in the classroom.” Katriona Vickery ’06 (Dover) Aidha Volunteer, Community and Youth Worker
All students become involved in College Service, where they offer a service to other members of the school community; in Local Service, where they connect with the Singapore community; and in Global Service, which incorporates Global Concerns (GC) projects, Focus Groups and our unique Initiative for Peace conferences. GC is a dynamic initiative enabling students to put their ideals into action by establishing and running project groups that actively address specific issues about which the students care deeply. The focus is on working to support causes and communities through direct, personal links with partner organisations.
SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA Understanding sustainable development and the systems that support it is at the core of our Service programme. As the area of our Learning Programme where we have perhaps the greatest opportunity to act, as well as learn, to shape a better world, our Service curriculum is designed to support the UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development through links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
IMPACT UWCSEA has long been recognised as a model of how dedicated and regular service cultivates an on-going commitment in students to take meaningful action in their community and beyond. The value of the Service programme to the organisations and the people that our students interact with can be measured in many ways. But the greatest impact is on our students, as they put their ideals and values into action and grow as compassionate people and active agents of change.
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UWCSEA IN Our Community STUDENTS AND TEACHERS K–12 students
Families
Boarders
Scholars
Languages spoken
5,616
3,940
310
105
88
Others 24.2% (91 nationalities)
France 2.4% Canada 3.0% South Korea 4.2% Japan 5.7%
101
Singapore 7.0%
43.5% UK
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India 1.8% Spain 2.3% Ireland 2.8% China 2.8%
11.8% UK
Student nationalities
Teaching staff nationalities
New Zealand 5.6% Singapore 5.8%
8.4% Australia
China 7.0%
Canada 8.6%
8.2% USA
Student teacher ratio
10.3 students
Others 9% (17 nationalities)
18.1% India
1 teacher
9.2% USA 8.6% Australia
Full-time teachers
Part-time teachers
Educational support staff
494
81
264.5
ALUMNI Contactable alumni
Countries in which alumni are located
14,648
135
68%
15
of total alumni
Alumni university mentors
993
Universities represented by alumni mentors
290
NUMBERS Learning Programme Highlights ACTIVITIES Dover Campus
ACTIVITIES East Campus
Activities offered
Average number of activities per student
Activities offered
Average number of activities per student
1,517
7.4
1,590
8.5
Dover Campus student participation by grade
East Campus student participation by grade 260
306 239
77
81
K1
K2
104
G1
127
150
170
194
247
255
267
237
198 100
156
152
G2
G3
176
173
G4
G5
194
187
186
G6
G7
G8
200
216
207
122
63 G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
G10 G11 G12
K1
K2
G1
G9
G10 G11 G12
The chart above shows the number of students in each grade who are involved in the Activities programme each year.
SERVICE
215
55
101
12
College Service Groups
Local Singapore Service Partners
Global Concerns Service Groups
Student Service Leadership Groups
CLASS OF 2022 IB DIPLOMA RESULTS Students
576
Average IB Diploma score
38.2 33 UWCSEA
IB Diploma pass rate
Gap Year 8%
Europe 6% Canada 5%
98.8% 89% UWCSEA
Worldwide (2021)
34% USA
National Service 12%
Class of 2021 University destinations, Gap Year and National Service
Asia/Middle East 5% Australia/New Zealand 8%
23% UK
Worldwide (2021)
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College life ARTS The arts make an immeasurable contribution to the vibrancy and energy of our community. A full complement of performance and visual arts are offered to students through both the Academic and Activities programmes. As the artistic sphere is the place where some students find their identity and truly shine, we are committed to providing students with opportunity, challenge and an appreciation of a rich creative life. Performance on stage and screen
“UWC sets one up for a big life … as big as one is willing to make it.” Kevin Stea ’87 (Dover) Dancer, Choreographer, Director and Advocate for Equal Rights
Students can become involved in all aspects of theatrical and film production, from performance in the disciplines of drama and dance, to design, production and technical support. From grade-level arts festivals in Primary School, to student-led film and arts festivals in Middle School, and auditioned fullstage theatre and dance productions that extend the Academic programme in the Middle and High Schools, every student benefits from opportunities that develop confidence as well as presentation and communication skills. These skills serve them in whatever future path they choose. Music Music is a part of the Academic programme for all students until High School. For students of all ages, both campuses also offer a broad range of musical ensembles, participatory and auditioned, through the Activities programme. An extensive Instrumental Teaching Programme, including instrument hire, is also available via the Activities programme from Grade 2. This allows all our students to take part while providing more skilled musicians opportunities to study and perform at the very highest levels. Visual art and design Our students are provided with numerous opportunities and mediums to explore visual and fine arts including painting, sculpture, photography, film, as well as graphic art and design.
INNOVATION At UWCSEA, we nurture a culture of innovation by actively encouraging students and staff to explore and share their ideas in areas of individual interest. This approach fosters creativity and craftsmanship while developing an individual’s sense of agency, autonomy and leadership. We believe that innovative projects should encourage creativity and experimentation, by examining existing practices and 17
introducing new and unique ideas that may bring incremental or disruptive change. Students of all ages can bring their ideas to life, supported by the framework of our concept-based curriculum and our transdisciplinary Learning Programme which encourages innovation in real-life contexts.
LANGUAGES While the language of instruction at UWCSEA is English, we welcome learners with a wide range of languages and language experience. Reflecting the diversity created through our admissions policy, nearly 60% of our community are multilingual and communicate in two or more languages when at home. The College has a deliberate focus on linguistic inclusion, and as a result offers programmes for both English as an Additional Language and Home Language (mother tongue) learners from K1 to Grade 12 in addition to extensive language options available in the Academic programme.
LEADERSHIP If our students are to take responsibility for shaping a better world, they must have the courage and confidence to lead. We are committed to developing skills essential for effective leadership and collaboration in all our students. Opportunities commence in Kindergarten and are developed throughout a student’s life at the College, with many opportunities to practise and strengthen both teamwork and leadership skills. Leadership in action: Initiative for Peace
“There are three ways of trying to win the young. There is persuasion, there is compulsion and there is attraction. You can preach at them: that is a hook without a worm. You can say ‘you must volunteer’; that is the devil. And you can tell them ‘you are needed.’ That hardly ever fails.” Kurt Hahn Founder, UWC Movement
Participation in this year-long project gives Grade 11 students an opportunity to plan and facilitate a conflict resolution conference for young people from opposite sides of a conflict in Singapore as well as locations such as Timor-Leste and Thailand. These experiences move the idea of leadership from an abstract concept to a set of actions in the real world.
SPORTS Our extensive facilities support delivery of our wide-ranging sporting programme that contributes to our school’s enthusiastic spirit while supporting students’ physical development. We have an exciting offering of recreational, development and competitive sports and a range of related health and wellbeing activities. Participation in organised sports supports the development of self-discipline, teamwork and leadership skills while students finesse skills in individual disciplines. Recreational teams allow 20
all students the opportunity to participate, regardless of ability level, while development teams provide students with training and preparation for competition. Our representative teams compete against other schools in Singapore and throughout the region.
TECHNOLOGY UWCSEA’s approach to the use of technology is based on a large body of research that clearly shows the benefits of using technology to support learning. All students are supported as they develop the skills to use technology as a tool to facilitate learning and self management and have access to devices on a daily basis.
“… teaching 21st century skills is not about technology; it is about creating habits of mind in students that tap into both the creative and analytical abilities of individuals and networks.” Christopher D. Sessums, PhD Educational Technologist and Learning Strategies Consultant
A strong focus on professional development for teachers helps to ensure that students use technology extensively and appropriately. Led by the Head of Digital Learning Technologies, Digital Literacy Coaches and a network of technology mentors support teachers to maximise the effective use of technology in their classroom practice. Each campus has an onsite AppleCare Centre and a team of specialists to assist students to access College-provided software and other tools and resources required for full participation in the Learning Programme.
WELLBEING Our commitment to fostering our Wellbeing Principles includes developing a culture of care across each campus. One of the ways we do this is by identifying a team who provide support for each individual, ensuring each student can identify a network of trusted adults they can turn to who will know and understand the student as a valued individual. Responsive resources Wellness and Counselling Centres on each campus provide professional services to support and enhance the personal growth, resilience and wellbeing of individual students and of our school community. A combination of preventative and responsive approaches are employed by our teams of qualified counsellors in support of the social-emotional development of students in developmentally appropriate ways. This includes working collaboratively with parents and families in times of individual or collective need, as well as working with teachers to support wellbeing and Child Safeguarding.
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Our community Singapore is a vibrant international hub, home to a global community drawn from around the world. Our location and our mission-aligned student and staff recruitment policies provide opportunities for our students to develop an international network. Our alumni tell us they create connections that continue for life. Our students are immersed in a truly international community of diverse cultures and rich heritage both on and off campus. The opportunities we create for them to engage with the Singapore community in which they live and learn contributes significantly to their educational experience.
“Without really being aware of it at the time, UWCSEA was responsible for motivating me to get good grades, which then got me into a good university, which then helped me stand out among the 700 applicants who had also applied for that first graduate trainee role. My interest in cultural activities, exploring new things, caring about the world and social injustices—all nurtured at UWCSEA— impacted my choice of university degree, which in turn led to deciding on a career path.” Heron Holloway ’00 (Dover) CEO, Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong
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Students and staff alike are involved in a wide range of explorations and pursuits across the five elements of the Learning Programme. This stimulating atmosphere supports and challenges students, whether their interests lie in intellectual, artistic, athletic, service or leadership endeavours.
BOARDERS AND SCHOLARS A culturally rich community, each campus provides a supportive residential community for students aged 13–18 years in our on-site boarding houses. The caring environment nurtures self-discipline, self-management and leadership skills. Around 30% of students in boarding are scholarship students, selected for their alignment with our Mission and Values and their potential to create positive change in their communities. Our boarders not only gain insights into many different cultures, but also discover a deeper appreciation of what is special about their own.
STAFF Around 1,100 teaching, educational support, administrative and operations staff across both campuses are united in their commitment to our Mission. All staff understand our community’s shared commitment to care and wellbeing, and this positive approach to interpersonal relationships guides how we work together to support our community.
PARENTS Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s school experience, and our remarkable community of parents volunteer their time and energy to the school in numerous ways. The College is fortunate to have a committed and active Parents’ Association on each campus that contributes to building and strengthening our community.
EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES https://www.uwcsea.edu.sg/mystory
Alumni Our holistic, transdisciplinary Learning Programme ensures UWCSEA alumni are equipped with the knowledge, skills and qualities necessary to excel in university—and in life.
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION Every year, our graduates are accepted into universities of their choice, to attend top-ranked institutions in the USA, UK and other countries around the world. Our experienced University Advising professionals work with High School students and their mentors to discover students interests and talents, and to explore available options that will best fit the individual as they take the next steps on a journey toward fulfilling our Mission. On average, 99% of UWCSEA graduates enrol in post-secondary education.
PATHS TO SUCCESS Our alumni follow paths into all walks of life and are spread across the globe and beyond: an astronaut who has travelled to the International Space Station three times; the founder of an NGO providing dental clinics and community centres in Buenos Aires slums; an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter; an Olympic swimmer; award winning film directors; respected academics and journalists; social entrepreneurs; lawyers; artists and musicians; social workers; engineers and more. Whatever their path, our alumni enact the UWC Mission in their daily lives, bringing a personal expression of the UWCSEA Mission Competencies to all of their future endeavours.
A GLOBAL NETWORK OF SUPPORT Our students are visited—virtually and in person—by hundreds of universities from around the world each year. Our 1,000+ alumni mentors provide our High School students with the chance to connect for first-hand insights and advice on nearly 300 universities, as well as gap years, national service and career options. This extensive network provides unparalleled access into leading universities as well as contact with successful business leaders and professionals in numerous industries around the world.
“My time at UWCSEA gave me an understanding of how food is interconnected with almost all of our world’s most pressing social issues: hunger, poverty, global health, education, inequality, climate change and more–and that I wanted to do something about it.” Shen Ming Lee ’16 (Dover) Author and food and agriculture tech entrepreneur
LIFELONG CONNECTIONS When they graduate, our students join a network of UWC alumni that spans the globe, literally. Our alumni are spread across 135 countries—and beyond, forming a global network of peers who share the UWC Values. 26
Our campuses Our campuses offer exceptional facilities suited to our handson holistic education. From classrooms, resource centres and libraries equipped with state-of-the-art technology and tools, to professionally equipped performance spaces, to outstanding sporting facilities, both campuses provide an environment to support direct inquiry and transdisciplinary learning. Each campus provides a world-class learning environment for our students as they explore our extensive curriculum offerings in specialist facilities. Whether purpose built, as in the East Campus, or having grown into the site of the former St. John’s Army School in the case of Dover Campus, both locations have shared learning spaces that help to create a community while also providing individual spaces with age-appropriate facilities. A distinguishing feature of each campus is the commitment to creating green classrooms, outdoor learning spaces and to connecting students with each other through shared social spaces. The GreenMark Platinum Super Low Energy certification of both campuses recognises their operation in accordance with one of Singapore’s highest green building standards. In turn, aspects of each campus’ operations are integrated into our K–12 Learning Programme wherever possible, bringing systems thinking and sustainability to life.
DOVER CAMPUS Occupying 11 hectares (27 acres) in Clementi, just west of the central business district the Dover Campus is located in the heart of an established educational hub. Opened in 1971, the grounds feature many mature trees and open spaces.
“What can I say about UWCSEA that has not been written before? It has very much influenced the choices I have made and who I am today.” Pascale Moreau ’79 (Dover) UNHCR Director of the Bureau for Europe of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Facilities include a dedicated Primary School, and extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities and performance spaces which are available to all students. An S$82 million facilities upgrade and extension was completed in 2016 transforming the campus into a modern educational showcase.
EAST CAMPUS Set on 5.5 hectares (13.5 acres) in the satellite hub of Tampines in northeast Singapore, the East Campus is easily accessed from central, eastern and northern areas of Singapore. Opened in 2011, the campus set a global benchmark in design and innovation in international schools while maximising available space. The self-contained Infant School allows our youngest students to flourish in an age-appropriate setting while maintaining links to the rest of the campus and access to the world-class teaching, sports and arts facilities enjoyed by all students. 28
Admission In keeping with our Mission and ethos, our admissions process seeks to build a diverse student community that represents a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We believe that our students’ learning, interactions, and growth through the five elements of our Learning Programme is all the more exciting and enriching when they interact with peers who bring a diversity of backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives to our community. We therefore seek to enrol students who will embrace the opportunities offered by our Learning Programme, and who are committed to our Mission and Values. Factors taken into consideration include:
“Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” Nelson Mandela Former Honorary President, UWC Movement
• previous school reports and references—applicants must have consistently good reports in effort, behaviour, attitude and study habits • a positive attitude and active contribution related to all aspects of school life • confidential references may be sought from previous schools • assessment results—a significant number of applicants will need to sit the College’s entry assessments For details of English language requirements and provision for learning support, please refer to our website. We accept applications for the coming school year one year in advance, and do not keep a rolling waiting list. All applications are made through our online system.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY Please contact our Admissions team who will be happy to answer questions, arrange a tour of either campus or to help with your application. Dover Campus 1207 Dover Road, Singapore 139654 T +65 6774 2653 East Campus 1 Tampines Street 73, Singapore 528704 T +65 6305 5353 E admissions@uwcsea.edu.sg W www.uwcsea.edu.sg/admissions
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Printed on recycled paper | ADM-2122 (July)