UWC Movement
Creating change through education
The UWC Movement
Empowering through a transformative educational movement
UWC (United World Colleges) is an international network of schools and educational programmes with the shared aim of making education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. The mission is to inspire young people to use their talents and energy into driving change around the world.
Today, UWC is made up of 18 schools and colleges on four continents. The majority of them focus on the 16-19 age group, with some also catering to younger students. Each school has its own unique location and character and is dedicated to nurturing young people’s energy and idealism into empathy, responsibility and lifelong action.
UWC global movement history
Pioneering education for peace and resilience
UWC’s seeds were sown at the height of the Cold War. German educator Kurt Hahn, while attending a conference at the NATO Staff College in 1958, was impressed with how former World War II adversaries were working together. He believed that educating young people from around the world together would help prevent future conflict, and in 1962 the first UWC was borne from this idea.
Hahn believed that education should help students navigate both success and failure and make them resilient, and he envisaged a new college that equipped its students to deal not just with formal education but also with life.
1962
The Atlantic College opens in South Wales, and the Times hails it “the most exciting experiment in education since the Second World War”.
1967
Lord Mountbatten, Head of the British Armed Forces, becomes President of the movement. The movement formally becomes known as the ‘United World Colleges’.
1971
Atlantic College becomes the first college in the world to adopt the International Baccalaureate as the sole examination qualification.
1974
Pearson College UWC opens in Canada, inspired by Lester B Pearson, former Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
1975
The Singapore International School becomes a full member of UWC, now called UWC South East Asia.
1978
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, becomes president of UWC.
1981
Waterford Kamhlaba School in Swaziland, founded in 1963 as a multi-racial school opposing South Africa’s apartheid, becomes Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa.
1982
Two more colleges, UWC USA in the United States and UWC Adriatic in Italy, officially open their doors.
1988
His Majesty King Charles III and agronomist Dr. Luis Marcano Coello play a key role in the establishment of a College in Venezuela, Simón Bolívar UWC of Agriculture, which was closed in 2012.
1990
UWC Short Programmes begin, which help more young people share the UWC Experience.
1992
Li Po Chun UWC of Hong Kong opens.
1995
HM Queen Noor of Jordan and Nelson Mandela become joint presidents. UWC Red Cross Nordic in Norway opens as a joint venture with the International Red Cross/Red Crescent organisation and the eight Nordic governments.
1997
Mahindra UWC of India opens. Queen Noor attends the plaque dedication ceremony at the opening.
1999
Nelson Mandela becomes honorary president of UWC.
2006
UWC Costa Rica, formerly the Costa Rica SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College joins UWC. UWC Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina opens.
2009
UWC Maastricht joins UWC, merging two existing international schools – International School Maastricht and the International Primary School Joppenhof.
2012
The Venezuelan government closes Simón Bolívar UWC of Agriculture to make it a public university.
2014
UWC Dilijan in Armenia and UWC Robert Bosch College in Germany open.
2015
UWC Changsu China opens.
2016
UWC Thailand opens.
2017
The International School of Asia, Karuizawa (ISAK) becomes UWC ISAK Japan.
2019
UWC East Africa opens in Tanzania.
UWC Values
Uniting people, nations and cultures globally
International and Intercultural Understanding
Celebration of Difference
A Sense of Idealism
Personal Challenge
Compassion and Service
Personal Responsibility and Integrity
Mutual Responsibility and Respect
Respect for the Environment
Action and Personal Example
UWC schools and colleges
International schools like no other
National Committees
The UWC network of over 4000 dedicated volunteers spanning 150+ countries finds and selects many of our students.
UWC & IBDP
UWC is not merely a participant in the IB Programme — it has played an essential role in developing the IB for more than 50 years.
Alumni network
Our 85000+ strong alumni live around the world, furthering the UWC commitment to a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Everyone at MUWCI is drawn by the UWC mission and the young people here who are hungry for an exciting and meaningful education which aims to serve communities and not just individuals.