9 slots allotted for Filipino students in world colleges
Filipino students have the chance to study in one of the 15 United World Colleges (UWC) for two years and interact with other students from different countries, cultures and walks of life.
The colleges are scattered across the globe—Germany, China, the Netherlands, Canada, Singapore, Costa Rica, Italy, Norway, USA, Hong Kong, Swaziland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, India, Armenia and the UK.
“Have you ever wanted to live all over the world in one place?” asked UWC alumni Nicole Severino, who, with two other colleagues, visited Cebu to promote the UWC program.
Severino went to Pearson College in Canada from 1997 to 1999.
At the end of the two-year program, the students will receive an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.
UWC, through its Philippine National Committee, has opened nine slots in eight different schools for the program.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Both Robert Bosch College in Germany and South East Asia in Singapore are offering full scholarships.
Mahindra College in India is offering a 75 percent scholarship. UWC Changshu in China is offering two 58 percent scholarships while UWC Costa Rica is offering a 50 percent scholarship. Waterford Kahmlaba UWC in Swaziland is offering 25 percent scholarship.
Li Po Chun in Hong Kong has opened a slot for one Philippine representative, but this is unfunded.
Severino said that they visited several Cebu schools to get more students interested and excited, as well as to hunt for representatives from the Visayas region.
Majority of alumni have come from areas in Luzon. To date, only four alumni hail from Cebu, namely VJ de Jesus, Cybill Gayatin, Tess Lockey and Katherine Woolbright.
“That’s why we’re here —to be able to spread more awareness among students that there is a program like this for them,” Severino said.
“We believe that there are so many students who want to participate in something like this but are unable to because they don’t know about it,” she added.
Gayatin, who studied in Adriatic College in Italy from 2001-2003, said students now have more advantage because the committee is now beginning to actively promote the program in the regions.
“I didn’t know about this at all. When I went to school at Adriatic, I didn’t know what to expect. But, I have to say that it was definitely worth it,” she said.
CURRICULUM
Under the IB program, UWC students will focus on only six courses for the duration of two years.
They will be allowed to select two language courses, one social science, one science, one math and one more course from any of the five original categories.
After two years, the students are given an exam on everything that they’ve learned.
Apart from studies, students will also get a chance to participate in any activities hosted by the college, which Severino and Gayatin said were fun-filled learning experiences. Activities varied from college to college.
Application for scholarships is open to Filipino citizens, 16 to 18 years old, from any public or private school, at uwc.org.
Applications may be filed until November 9 for a P500 fee. Beyond this date up until February 1, 2016, the application fee is P750, except for DepEd applicants, who can avail of the P250 discounted rate.
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