UWC International
UWC comprises numerous schools, short courses and national committees in many different countries. But as a global movement, it is much more than that. UWC International (The United World Colleges (International) is the Global Governance body of the entire UWC movement, and it exists to ensure all of its parts have a voice and work together towards the UWC mission of making education a force for peace.
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 inter alia include:
- Agreeing and refining the ethos and strategy for UWC
- Whenever needed, coordinate between UWC entities to ensure information sharing and collaboration
- Approving new schools, colleges, national committees and educational programmes
- Overseeing global fundraising and communications projects
It does this through a system that involves UWC members with different skills across the world.
How does UWC International work?
UWC International is made up of three bodies, working together:
The UWC International Board is in charge of governing the wider UWC movement. Its job includes agreeing on the right strategy and developing UWC’s global profile and communications, as well as ensuring that the UWC schools and national committees act in line with policies collectively agreed.
The Board is composed of up to 13 volunteer directors, who usually meet three times a year. Board members are elected by the UWC International Council and include two UWC school heads, two chairs of UWC school boards, and two representatives of UWC national committees, with seven remaining directors who can be UWC alumni or other members of the UWC community or beyond. They may be elected to provide certain skills, knowledge, or perspectives.
The work of the UWC International Board cascades into nine committees. Some of them provide support to the governance system (Governance Committee, Nominating Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, and Personnel and Remuneration Committee); others work and advise on substantial strategic matters (Education Committee, International Philanthropy Committee, and Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee); and others foster collaboration and representation across constituencies (Schools and Colleges Committee, and Committee of National Committees).
Meet our International BoardThe UWC International Council represents the wider UWC community.
It comprises a maximum of 80 members, including the heads of all UWC schools, all chairs of UWC school boards, national committee representatives, 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 Charity’s mission and ethos, strategy, philosophy and development. The Council makes sure that all parts of the UWC movement from across the world have a say in the decisions that affect the entire UWC movement.
Meet our International CouncilThe UWC International Office (UWCIO) works on the UWC International Board’s behalf in implementing its policies and 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 UWCIO 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.
Meet our International OfficeThe UWC International Office has three core teams:
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.
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 of the UWC brand and mission globally. This includes multinational fundraising, developing and managing partnerships, engaging the global network of alumni and supporters, and organising global UWC events among other priorities.
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.
Find out more about UWC International
UWC International is a registered company and charity in the United Kingdom and through its subsidiary registered as a gGmbH in Germany. UWC Endowment Management Limited, a for profit subsidiary, is registered in the United Kingdom.
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 its direction is set by members of its community.
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 or 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 or 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.