United World College of the Adriatic

United World College of the Adriatic (UWCAD) is a part of the United World Colleges. The school, which is in the village of Duino, near Trieste and Monfalcone in North-Eastern Italy, was founded in 1982, by the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, with the support of the Italian Government. The school has 200 students from about 80 different countries, who study the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (a programme that prepares students for university studies) for two years.

All students attending the United World College of the Adriatic are scholarship holders and the scholarship covers all costs for full board and tuition for the two years. The students are selected by national selection committees, on the basis of academic achievement, leadership potential, extracurricular activities and personal qualities. Students at the college are eligible, after graduation, to participate in the Shelby Davis Scholarship programme, which funds undergraduate study for UWC students at universities, such as Harvard University, Princeton University or Columbia University, in the United States.

The Italian National Commission for the United World College is under the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic. It is responsible for communication with the international organisation and for the selection of Italian pupils, chosen exclusively on merit, who receive study grants for their two years at the College.

At present 25% of its pupils come from developing countries, 25% from eastern Europe (including two pupils from Serbia and two from Bosnia and Herzegovina), 25% from Italy and 25% from other industrialised countries. The geographical location of the Duino College makes it a meeting point for the Latin, Germanic and Slav cultures and gives it a special role in relations with eastern and central European countries.During the civil war in the former Yugoslavia pupils from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia led, and continue to lead, a harmonious life together in the United World College of the Adriatic.

The students are all admitted on the basis of a severe selection process conducted in their home countries and come to the College with the assistance of a study grant. They are chosen exclusively according to merit, irrespective of family income, race, language or religion.

The United World College provides courses of the highest academic quality in a special educational environment. The curriculum includes the final two years of secondary education leading to the award of the International Baccalaureate, a qualification recognised by a great many universities, including the most prestigious in the world. The College’s working language is English, but pupils are also given Italian language lessons. Respect for pupils’ cultural identity is ensured by the practice and study of their native languages through the system of language tutors. About 30 native languages and literatures are taught in the College. A full-time teaching staff is recruited internationally and a number of teachers are appointed directly by their respective governments.