Established in 1968 in Switzerland by a group of international educators, the International Baccalaureate (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end, the IB organisation - a non-profit educational foundation - works with schools, governments and international organisations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. The IB Programme helps to develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalising world.

Other features of the programmes include:

• IB programmes are recognised around the world and ensure an increased adaptability and mobility for IB students.
• The curriculum and pedagogy of IB programmes focus on international perspectives of learning and teaching, while insisting that students fully explore their home culture and language.
• IB World Schools must undergo an exhaustive authorisation process in order to offer one or more of the programmes, which includes a study of the school’s resources and commitment to the IB mission and philosophy.
• IB teachers participate in a wide vari ety of professional development opportunities to constantly update their knowledge and share their expertise with colleagues around the world.
• Many students graduating from the Diploma Programme find that it enhances their opportunities at tertiary institutions. The IB works closely with universities around the world to gain recognition for IB programmes.
• The core components of IB programmes encourage students to participate in creative and service-oriented activities, while at the same time emphasising the importance of reflection on a personal and academic level. challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. For more information on the IB, visit www.ibo.org