Structure and leadership

What does UWC International do?

UWC International’s role is to set the global strategy and direction of the UWC movement based on the wishes of its members. It also ensures that members of the UWC movement work together to achieve it.

The responsibilities of UWC International include:

• Agreeing and refining the ethos and strategy for UWC
• Whenever needed, coordinating between UWC entities to ensure information sharing and collaboration 
• Approving new schools, colleges, national committees and educational programmes
• Overseeing global fundraising and communications projects
• Developing UWC’s global profile and communications

It does this through a system that involves UWC members with different skills across the world.

The UWC International Board

The UWC International Board guides the direction of UWC. Its job includes agreeing on the right strategy and developing UWC’s global profile and communications. 

The Board is composed of up to 13 volunteer directors, who usually meet three times a year. The UWC International Council elects board members; they may be chosen to provide certain skills, knowledge or perspectives.

The Board comprises

Alongside the above, there are advisory members covering legal and safeguarding who provide specialist advice to the Board and Committees.

The work of the UWC International Board cascades into nine committees.

Some of them provide support to the governance system, others work and advise on substantial strategic matters, and others foster collaboration and representation across constituencies.

Meet the UWC International Board

The UWC International Council

The UWC International Council represents the wider UWC community.

It comprises a maximum of 80 members, including the Heads, Chairs, and CNC members, other than those serving on the board, as well as alumni and other UWC community members and external experts.

It usually meets twice a year to discuss and advise the Board on the issues relating to the Charity’s mission and ethos, strategy, philosophy and development. The Council makes sure that all parts of UWC from across the world have a say in the decisions that affect the entire UWC movement. 

Meet the UWC International Council

The UWC International Office

The UWC International Office works on the UWC International Board’s behalf in implementing its decisions and delegated functions. It is the Board’s executive arm. Based in London and Berlin, with some colleagues working remotely from around the world, the UWC International Office team coordinates UWC stakeholders, supports UWC schools and colleges and national committees in their activities and is the driver behind different initiatives across the UWC movement.

This executive team is led by the Executive Director, who reports to the Chair of the UWC International Board. It is funded by annual fees paid by UWC schools.

The UWC International Office has three core teams:

• Education – which supports the end-to-end process of education delivery in UWC. This includes the capacity building of the national committees, the admissions processes and the disbursement of funded scholarships; oversees safeguarding common standards, supports curriculum innovation and leadership development at schools & colleges, and coordinates the delivery of UWC short courses.

• Advancement – which coordinates the advancement and management of the UWC brand and mission globally. This includes multinational fundraising, developing and managing partnerships, engaging the global network of alumni and supporters, providing communications and digital support and resources across the movement and organising global UWC events, among other priorities.

• Finance, Administration & Governance – which maintains the smooth functioning of the UWCIO, manages the regulatory obligations of the charity and supports the governance structures of UWC International. This function encompasses human resources, finance, data analysis, governance coordination and office administration.

Meet the UWC International Office teams

How can I play a part?

The UWC International system is set up to ensure that UWC is forward-thinking and responsive. But it is also vital that members of its community set its direction.

Any member of the UWC movement can nominate individuals for membership of the UWC International Board and UWC International Council. These people can be current or former staff, alumni, volunteers, parents, donors, students, or other individuals who wish to contribute to the development and work of the UWC movement. The same is true for membership to the different Board committees, where members are drawn both from the UWC International Board and Council and from outside UWC’s governing bodies. Each Board committee has different requirements and makes calls for nominations when needed through UWC International communications channels, including social media and newsletters. 

UWC International’s legal status and registration

UWC Endowment Management Limited is a for-profit subsidiary registered in the United Kingdom.