UWC Cayman Islands, the local national committee of the global educational movement, is seeking applicants for its 2015 selection process, which begins with a written application due Tuesday, 3rd February.

Since 1952, the mission of the United World Colleges has been to bring young people together from diverse backgrounds and use education as a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

This unique educational opportunity for pre-university study overseas is available to Caymanian students who will be 16 or 17 years old on 1st September 2015. UWC has national committees and selection contacts in over 150 nations around the world, all of which select young people each year to attend the fifteen prestigious colleges located across four continents.

UWC Cayman Islands is currently supporting four scholars in Canada, the United States and Italy. In previous years, Caymanian scholars have spent their last two years of secondary school in such far-flung places as Hong Kong, Wales, Costa Rica, India and Swaziland.

Commenting on this year’s recruitment process, UWC Cayman Islands Chairperson Aubrey Bodden (UWC-USA ’04) stated: “National committee representatives who are UWC alumni themselves have been visiting secondary schools and providing information to students across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac since November 2014. We have had a lot of interest and look forward to receiving many applications this year from qualified students.”

Founded in 1984, the local national committee has selected over 60 Caymanian students and supported them through their years at UWC through scholarships and mentorship. UWC colleges offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma, one of the most widely recognised and highly regarded secondary qualifications in the world. After graduation, students remain committed to the UWC values of peace and justice and often go on to top universities in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, pursuing a variety of educational and career paths.

Bodden added: “Each year the selection process also inspires the committee members as we get to know these passionate young people and hear about their achievements as well as their goals for the future.” In relation to non-Caymanian applicants, she advised that other national committees can be found online at www.uwc.org and students are encouraged to reach out to UWC Cayman Islands for assistance with alternative application procedures.

In order to ensure selection is based entirely on merit and that this life-changing opportunity is available to as many deserving young Caymanians as possible, families may contribute to the costs of a UWC education but funding is awarded to successful students by the national committee to meet all financial need.

Scholarships are funded by donations from local individuals, companies, foundations and other organisations, including long-standing supporters Maples and Calder, Deutsche Bank, the Aall Foundation, Cayman Islands Compliance Association, the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Central and alumnus Linburgh Martin (UWC Atlantic College ’86). The national committee also carries out fundraising activities, such as the recent UNLIKE Cayman arts festival in September 2014 that also marked International UWC Day and celebrated its thirtieth anniversary.

Students can contact the national committee at [email protected] to request a copy of the electronic application form or ask any questions they may have about UWC and the local selection process.

Background Notes for Media Houses on the Selection Process:

The recruitment process for UWC scholars usually begins in earnest in January, when UWC Cayman Islands representatives contact and/or visit secondary schools across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac to give presentations about the UWC movement and the local application process.

To be eligible to apply through UWC Cayman Islands, students must be Caymanian and aged 16 or 17 years on 1st September of the year of entry. While there are no set minimum academic criteria, the International Baccalaureate is an academically rigorous programme and candidates are expected to have attained – or be on track to attain – at least seven ‘O’ level higher passes or the equivalent.

The Selection Committee, which is made up of mostly UWC alumni, reviews each written application and particular consideration is given to academic achievement, co-curricular involvement, community service and passion for the UWC mission and values. Up to 12 applicants are selected for an individual interview.

Following individual interviews, the top 5 or 6 applicants move on to a group stage, where participants discuss important local and international issues and interact with each other through team building exercises and group projects.

After this final stage the scholar or scholars for that year is/are chosen to represent the Cayman Islands at one of the UWC colleges. As of August 2015 there will be 15 colleges in the UWC movement, as the newest college is scheduled to open in Changshu, China that month.

The UWC movement depends on a network of “national committees” and selection contacts around the world to carry out selection within each nation entirely on the basis of merit. There are approximately 150 national committees and selection contacts in nations that do not have a full national committee.

UWC Cayman Islands only considers Caymanian students for selection and refers non-Caymanian students to apply through their own national committee or through a direct application process as necessary, depending on whether a national committee is established and its application requirements.

Photo: Simon Watson (UWC Adriatic ’15) from Cayman Brac is pictured bottom right with classmates at UWC Adriatic in Duino, Italy, including (L-R) Tigran (Armenia), Alpcan (Turkey), Siyanna (Bulgaria), Ilijan (Italy), Elif (Turkey), Myrium (Italy), Mona (Lebanon), Phrase (Nigeria), Sneha (India) and Rebeca (Ireland).

For more information please see www.uwc.org or contact us at [email protected]