IB World magazine, January 2006
Since its beginnings 38 years ago, the International Baccalaureate has been capable of adapting to suit changing times. In this new re-launched issue, IB World explores how the organization can move forward to embrace the future and meet the century’s challenges.
The main articles are:
Creating a 21st century opportunity
Outgoing Director General George Walker shares his vision for the IB as it embraces the future and meets the century’s challenges.
How will the IB reconcile its aims in a 21st century world, where education in many countries is blighted by conflict and adversity, or has to come secondary to the basic needs of nutrition and shelter? In this context, those governments who can afford to have begun addressing wider social problems through education, by means such as experimenting with new learning systems and broadening it to include non-academic topics.
A passion for education
New Director General Jeffrey Beard tells IB World how he plans to cultivate new partnerships and ensure a bright future for the IB.
One of the many thousands of characters in the standard written form of Chinese is the symbol known as wei ji. A compound character, wei is the symbol for danger, while ji represents opportunity. The nearest equivalent word in English is usually taken to be crisis, but a truer reflection of the spirit of the Chinese characters could be stated like this: change has the potential to be both dangerous and rewarding at the same time.
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Bac to the Future
Four IB World readers share their visions for the future of the IB and its three programmes:
- “How the Diploma Programme might evolve” by Boyd Roberts.
Read the full-length article [43 kb, PDF]
- Some achievements notched up by a head in 2015” by Maria Teresa Mayochi Arza.
Read the full-length article [44 kb, PDF]
- “Thoughts on an international curriculum in ethical education” by Professor Jonathan Levy.
Read the full-length article [48 kb, PDF]
- “Is it enough for education to be measured by academic competence?” by Simon Murray.
Read the full-length article [49 kb, PDF]
Profile: Martha Piper, University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia (UBC) president, Martha Piper, explains to IB World why UBC welcomes IB students.
There are many reasons why IB graduates might choose the University of British Columbia (UBC) for their college years. Based in Vancouver—a city ranked number one in the world for quality of life in a 2001 survey—they would be minutes away from Whistler’s ski slopes. And if watersports were more their thing, they’re surrounded on three sides by a natural arena. But they might also want to choose it for its academic record: a survey of universities by the European Commission last year ranked it 12th in North America and 35th in the world.
IB Alumni: Ziad Azzam
IB graduate and founder of Beacon Education in Dubai, Ziad Azzam talks about how he was influenced by his IB education and now works creating cross-cultural links.
"I was born in Beirut and grew up in Dubai, where I attended the Choueifat International School and undertook the IB Diploma Programme, earning my diploma in 1987. The experience was hugely enjoyable, and I’ve always credited the IB for preparing me well for college and my career."
Life swap: Making a new Geneva connection
Geography teacher Duncan Ashworth describes why he became an IB convert after 18 years of being a teacher.
Would you do it? Would you swap the balmy climate and the pink sand beaches of Bermuda for rain, snow and traffic jams in landlocked Switzerland? Duncan Ashworth did. And it wasn’t the fact that Geneva has just been voted the second best place in the world to live. It was because he wanted to be an IB teacher.
Also in this edition
Editor’s letter
IB World has changed,
and it’s all thanks to
you, its readers. In
October 2004, the
IB website carried
a survey asking for
ideas on how the
magazine, launched
back in 1992, should change. This new-look
IB World is the result
of comments from IB
schools and teachers.
Through its new format,
we hope to keep
everyone informed
about the stories
happening across
the ever-widening IB
community. We hope
the magazine reflects
the exciting way in
which the IB world is
expanding and we want
to hear from you,
whether you’re
a student, teacher,
graduate or just an
IB enthusiast.
Happy reading.
Ann Oliver, editor
In our next issue
The IB’s new vocation
Demand for vocational education around the world is growing and innovation is vital to meet the needs of modern students. Can skills and subjects combine in one IB curriculum?
Well connected?
One IB curriculum, one aim: many of today’s IB World Schools are working to strengthen the links between the three IB programmes. What would you do to forge new connections?
Copy deadline: March 10 2006. Send contributions to the editor at editor@ibo.org
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Copyright & policy statement
IB World is the official magazine of the International Baccalaureate (IB), published and distributed three times a year to IB World Schools and to subscribers.
The IB welcomes the submission of articles of between 500 and 1200 words long for possible inclusion in IB World. Photos are welcome as prints, slides or high-resolution digital images but seek advice before sending. Authors should inform the editor if the same article is being submitted elsewhere or if it has been published previously.
While responsibility for the contents of the magazine rests with the editor, the information presented and the views expressed by contributors and correspondents are their own. Similarly the advertisement of products and services does not imply endorsement by the IB.
IB World is protected by copyright and nothing may be reproduced wholly or in part without prior permission from the editor.
