| United World College in Mostar | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Španjolski trg 1, Mostar, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 88000, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
| Information | |
| Type | International Baccalaureate |
| Established | September 2006 |
| President | Elizabeth Rehn |
| Headmaster | Valentina Mindoljevic |
| Number of students | around 100 |
| Affiliation | United World Colleges |
| Website | www.uwcmostar.ba |
The United World College in Mostar (UWCiM) was opened in 2006. UWC in Mostar is the first UWC with an explicit aim to contribute to the reconstruction of a post-conflict society and also the first to be housed within an existing public school (see also Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina).[1] The UWCiM is the twelfth college in the United World Colleges family and the fourth college in Europe.
The UWCiM was founded as a joint initiative of UWC and the International Baccalaureate Organization with the aim to support the peace process in the country and the region. The college is implementing recognizable model of post-conflict education, practically demonstrating a convincing, fully integrated curriculum, thus offering a milestone for broader educational reform in the county and the region. From January 2011, UWCiM is part of Foundation Education in Action which is a legal successor of UWC-IB Initiative in B&H.
The UWCiM shares the building with Gymnasium Mostar. Before the war this school, also known as Old Gymnasium, built during the Austro-Hungarian rule in B&H, was one of the finest schools in ex-Yugoslavia. However, as consequence of the Bosnian War, nowadays Gymnasium Mostar teaches two national separate secondary school curricula, intended for Croat and Bosniak students.[2] UWCiM students come from all ethnic groups in B&H as well as from the region and abroad.[3] All students live, study and serve the community together creating a unique example of integrated education in post-war B&H.
The college also serves as the Centre for Professional Development of Teachers in B&H who receive training in international educational standards.
The main objectives of UWCiM are to:
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The UWCiM is located in Mostar, which is the centre of Herzegovina, a historic region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar is widely known because of the famous Old Bridge (Stari Most), originally built in 1566, destroyed by HVO forces during the Bosnian War in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004. Mostar was chosen for hosting UWC as the most striking example of the post-war ethnic division and tensions.
The UWCiM is located in the strict city center. The classes for UWC in Mostar students take place in state-of-the-art science labs (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) and classrooms, including a fully equipped IT room and a spacious library in the attic shared with Gymnasium Mostar. College assemblies and meetings take place in a spacious study room called the “Spanish Room”, which is also used as a provisional library and reading room with many periodicals and news magazines for students. The Gymnasium Mostar indoor and outdoor sport facilities, including gym, football/handball pitch, volleyball playground, running track and long jump section, are also on UWCiM student disposal. The UWCiM Language department is based in an additional college building in a walking distance from the college, as well as the College canteen. The Visual Arts and Theatre Arts Studios and Music Room, are located within one of the students’ residences.
Unlike most other UWCs, UWC in Mostar does not have its own campus - students live in two big residences in different parts of the still post-war divided City of Mostar.
UWCiM is IB World School since September 2006. It offers International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) in English. In the school year 2011/2012 the UWCiM runs these IB Courses:
Creativity, Action, Service- CAS Programme
The CAS programme at UWCiM has the ambitious goal to establish and maintain strong relationships with various local institutions. The UWCiM community service programme aims to contribute to the integration processes in Mostar, focusing its efforts on working with underprivileged social groups such as refugees, children with special needs, Roma population, orphans and elderly. Through UWCiM CAS programme, students become more aware of their actions contributing to the process of strengthening the society, making it more connected thus richer. At the same time, students recognize the beneficial impact of CAS activities on their ethical development and maturity. Through joint participation in various CAS projects students learn how to value diversity and difference also fostering youth voluntary action in Mostar and beyond.
Creativities: Model United Nations, Astronomy, School Band, Debating Club, International Cooking, UWC Links Group, AB initio languages, Community Theatre, Visual Arts, Choir, Craft, Robotics, Global Awareness, Mediation, Fashion, School Promotion Group
Actions: Volleyball, Basketball, Table Tennis, Football, Rugby, Skateboarding, Hiking & Cycling, Modern Dance, Ballroom Dance, Belly Dance, Yoga, Judo & Taek Won Do,
(Social) Services: Kindergarten Radobolja, SOS Kindergarten and Family Centre, Home for children without parental care “Egyptian Village”, Centre for people with special needs “Los Rosales”, Caritas’ Centre for children with Special Needs “Holy Family”, Primary School for Children with Special Needs, Refugee camp Tasovčić, Ecology Group, UWCiM Labs and Library maintenance, IT lab lessons, Mostar Peer Support (MOPS), UWCiM Green House, Parent’s Association of children with Special needs “Sunce”, Amnesty International Group, Fun with Elderly
In the school year 2011–2012 the UWCiM is attended by 124 students coming from 34 countries all around the world. Student body consist of 76 girls and 48 boys. Afganistan (1),Albania (2), Austria (3), Belarus (1), Belgium (1), Bosnia and Herzegovina (58) China (1), Czech Republic (2),Egypt (1), Finland (3), Germany (7), Iraq (1), Israel (4), Kosovo (1) Lebanon (1), Libya (1), Macedonia (1), Montenegro (2), Namibia (1), North Korea (1), Norway (2), Pakistan (1), Palestine (1), Poland (1), Russia (1), Serbia (1), Slovakia (1), Spain (3), Sweden (1), The Netherlands (6), Turkey (2), UAE (1), UK(4), USA (6)