United World Colleges Movement

UWC makes education a force to united people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future      

                               -UWC Mission-

The Simón Bolívar UWC is part of the United World College international movement, made up of 12 colleges situated in Wales, Singapore, Canada, Swaziland, Italy, USA, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Norway, India, Costa Rica and Bosnia-Herzegovina.  The origins of the UWC organization date back to the mid 1950s, soon after the Second World War, when Kurt Hahn, who had already founded the Salem College in Germany and Gordonstoun College in Scotland, envisaged the possibility of breaking racial, cultural and national barriers through the experience of shared education. This man visualised an educational experience with a student body conformed by young people from every nation, selected to attend for their merit and potential, without discriminating by political ideology, religion, skin colour or social condition, at an age when they are already rooted in their own cultures, but still impressionable or open to learn from others.

Kurt Hahn’s idea was materialised in 1962 in the foundation of Atlantic College in Wales. In 1967 Lord Mountbatten assumed presidency of the project and transformed it into an educational movement for peace, renaming it UNITED WORLD COLLEGES (UWC). Two new colleges were soon added to the movement: the Singapore College in 1971 and the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, in Canada in 1974.

HRH the Prince of Wales succeeded Lord Mountbatten and served as the movement's president between 1978 and 1995, during which period a college in Swaziland joins the movement (1981), and 4 new colleges open their doors in Italy (1982), Venezuela (1986), Hong Kong (1992) and Norway (1995). In 1997 another new college was inaugurated in India. Except for the Venezuelan College, the other 9 offer a pre-university course called the International Baccalaureate.

Today, UWC is represented internationally by Mr. Nelson Mandela, who is Honorary President of the International Council, and Queen Noor of Jordan, who replaced Prince Charles as President in 1995. The movement today embraces 2000 actual students and over 34000 graduates, who together represent 178 countries, who through internet are able to communicate effectively across borders and initiate joint efforts in international cooperation.

UWC Values

• International and intercultural understanding

• Compassion and service

• A sense of idealism

• Respect for the environment

• Personal responsibility and integrity

• Personal challenge

• Celebration of difference

• Action and personal example

• Mutual responsibility and respect

  Go to: UWC movement's Homepage