Nexus International School, Putrajaya (NISP) will be offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) from August 2012 following successful authorisation by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). The IBDP is increasingly regarded as the most rigorous, modern and comprehensive university entrance programme available in international schools and today there are 983,000 IB students studying at 3313 schools in 141 countries. University admissions departments have high regard for the IBDP so earning the diploma provides students with access to most universities around the world. There were three main catalysts which shaped the IBDP in the 1970s:

Pragmatic – the need to provide an international school-leaving diploma that would facilitate university entrance and be recognised in different countries.
Idealistic – the desirability of promoting international perspectives that would encourage international understanding and peace.

The IB Mission Statement: The IB Mission Statement states that:  The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

The IB Learner Profile: The IB Learner Profile is the IB Mission Statement translated into a set of learner outcomes; the qualities that the programme is seeking to promote in all learners. Schools and teachers are required to encourage the implementation of the IB learner profile, not just through the curriculum, but through the management, values, culture and ethos of the school. There are ten IB learner profile attributes:

THINKERS
Learners exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.

COMMUNICATORS
Learners understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.

PRINCIPLED
Learners act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

OPEN-MINDED
Learners understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.

RISK- TAKERS
Learners approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

BALANCED
Learners understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

Subjects and the IB Hexagon: An IB learner is required to study six subjects from different subject areas to gain a breadth of educational experiences. Three subjects are studied at Standard Level and three at Higher Level; these Higher Level courses are more demanding and allow a learner to specialise. This leads us to the ‘IB hexagon’, which sets out the six major subject groups. Each learner studies one subject from each group, the only exception being group six, where instead of selecting an Arts subject, a learner can select an additional subject from one of the other five groups. Very often learners will select two sciences instead of an arts subject.

There are numerous subjects in each of the groups one to six. At NISP we offer a wide range of subjects, including:

Group 1: English
Group 2: French, Spanish, Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu
Group 3: Geography, History, Business Studies, Economics, IT S, Psychology
Group 4: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Systems
Group 5: Mathematics HL, Mathematics SL, Mathematical Studies
Group 6: Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, Music

In addition to these six subjects each learner is required to follow a course in Theory of knowledge (TO ), participate fully in the Creativity, Action and Service ( CAS) programme and write an extended essay of approximately 4000 words.

You can find out much more about the programme at www.ibo.org/diploma

NISP invites applications from students interested in joining this stimulating and worthwhile programme. A wide range of scholarships (including boarding) are available to high achieving candidates. Contact admissions for further information.

Source: The Expat May 2012 Issue

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This article has been edited for ExpatGoMalaysia.com