The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme for students aged 15 to 19, the IB Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to 16, and the IB Primary Years Programme for children aged three to 12. The IB programmes aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who are motivated to succeed and build a better world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Some key features of the IB include:
- Global Presence: The IB operates globally with centers in Geneva, Washington DC, The Hague, Cardiff, and Singapore.
- Respected by Colleges: The IB is highly respected by colleges and universities worldwide.
- Challenging Curriculum: The IB programmes are challenging and emphasize critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and enrichment.
- Authorized Schools: Schools must be authorized to teach IB programmes, and every school authorized to offer IB programmes is known as an IB World School.
The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is an assessed programme for students aged 16 to 19, respected by leading universities across the globe. The DP is preceded by the IB’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the three programmes are philosophically aligned, each centered on developing attributes of the IB learner profile. The IB has six main areas of study: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, experimental sciences, mathematics and computer science, and the arts.
Overall, the IB is a global leader in international education, providing a solid, consistent framework and the flexibility to tailor students’ education according to their culture and context.
