Do you know how an International Baccalaureate (IB) education, found in a number of international schools in China, can enrich your child’s learning and proactively prepare them for further education or the working world, but is the IB relevant in China?
Read this article to learn exactly how the IB has become the most sought-after educational program in China, and across the world.
- Is the IB an esteemed curriculum?
Yes. The IB was founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland, in response to demand for a curriculum that was not limited and only relevant to one country. The IB curriculum is rigorous and holistic, and for these reasons, is recognized by top universities and schools and is actually typically preferred over other certificates.
- How did IB get started in China?
The International Baccalaureate programmes were introduced to China in 1991. Educators quickly realized the value in an internationally-recognized certificate of education, as well as the advantages in the forward-thinking curriculum that IB offers. At the time of writing, 200 schools in China offer at least one IB programme.
The IB model is particularly popular in the multicultural city of Shanghai and is currently offered by dozens of schools in the area. One of the most established IB schools in the city is the Western International School of Shanghai (WISS). WISS adopted the IB educational model in 2010 and is the first and only school to offer all four IB Programmes (Diploma, Career-related, Middle Years, and Primary Years) in mainland China.
- Why Choose IB over other educational models?
One of the most appealing aspects of the International Baccalaureate is that it is welcomed by all good schools and universities across the globe. For international families prone to relocating, an IB education takes the stress out of finding a compatible school.
The programme that is most consistently offered in China is the Diploma Programme. The reason for this is that many educators, parents, and students recognize the opportunity that the program provides — the IB diploma is welcomed by Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, and Harvard, just to name a few.
The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous, thorough, and globally-applicable program — making universities eager to accept IB students. When applying as an international student, those with an IB Diploma will find the process infinitely easier. In the same light, finding a career in whichever country they choose becomes simplified with an IB Diploma — there is a clear advantage over those with a local education certificate or even students of other international systems such as the Oxford or Cambridge curriculum.
Other models (Oxford, Cambridge, American, etc.) usually attempt to mimic the curriculum from their country of origin, believing that this is most beneficial for students. However, often, the curriculums are not relevant to the internationally-minded students they are being taught to. Additionally, if you move to another location, that particular curriculum may not be recognized or even known by the school, university, or job that your child wishes to apply to.
- Is IB the future?
We think so, and so do hundreds of forward-thinking schools across China and the globe. On top of the thousands of schools that already offer IB programmes, more and more are making the switch to the IB curriculum. For this reason, when choosing an IB school, it’s important to select an established IB school familiar with the curriculum. Take a look at the IB programmes offered by WISS here.