What is the International Baccalaureate®?

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation, motivated by its mission, focused on the student.

Founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland IB works with 2,823 schools in 138 countries to develop and offer three challenging programmes to over 778,000 students aged 3 to 19 years. The programmes for students aged 3 to 19 help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

The Primary Years Programme - PYP for students aged 3 to 12 focuses on the development of the whole child in the classroom and in the world outside.

The Middle Years Programme - MYP for students aged 11 to 16 provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills, achieved through embracing and transcending traditional school subjects.

The Diploma Programme - DIP for students aged 16 to 19 is a demanding two-year curriculum leading to final examinations and a qualification that is welcomed by leading universities around the world

Although the first IB schools were predominantly private international schools, today over half of all IB World Schools are state schools.

Mission and strategy

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) is more than its three educational programmes. IB is motivated by a mission to create a better world through education.

IB values the hard-earned reputation for quality, for high standards and for pedagogical leadership. IB achieves their goals by working closely with partner schools, particularly teachers.

IB promotes intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to a sense of cultural and national identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21st century.

All of this is captured in IB mission statement:

„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 translated its mission statement  into a set of learning outcomes for the 21st century known as IB learner profile.

The learner profile provides a long-term vision of education. It is a set of ideals that can inspire, motivate and focus the work of schools and teachers, uniting them in a common purpose.

The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

IB learners strive to be:

Inquirers

They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.

Knowledgeable

They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

Thinkers

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

Communicators

They 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

They 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

They 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.

Caring

They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

Risk-takers

They 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

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

Reflective

They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.

What is so special about IB programmes?

• IB programmes are recognized around the world and ensure an increased adaptability and mobility for IB students.
• The curriculum and pedagogy of IB programmes focus on international perspectives of learning and teaching, while insisting that students fully explore their home culture and language.
• IB World Schools must undergo an exhaustive authorization process in order to offer one or more of the programmes, which includes a study of the school's resources and commitment to the IB mission and philosophy.
• IB teachers participate in a wide variety of professional development opportunities to constantly update their knowledge and share their expertise with colleagues around the world.
• Many students graduating from the Diploma Programme find that it enhances their opportunities at tertiary institutions. The IB works closely with universities around the world to gain recognition for IB programmes.

More information about the IB at www.ibo.org

XV. gimnazija - IB World School!

Schools that have been authorized by IB to offer one or more of IB programmes are known as "IB World Schools".

Our school - XV. Gimnazija has become an "IB World School" back in 1991 when it was authorized to offer the Diploma Program, and in 1995 the Middle Years Programme.  XV. Gimnazija was the first school in Croatia to offer the high school education in English, based on modern, highly demanding and challenging curriculum and pedagogy.

Our school offers the final years of IB Middle Years Programme (MYP 4 and MYP 5) and the two years of IB Diploma Programme.