The UWC Movement - World's Most Successful Nonprofit?

Can you think of a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that's been around for more than 50 years, helped found and continues to innovate a global education system, has given billions in grant aid, and has provided high-class education with two Nobel prize nominations since 2020 alone? Well, it exists, and it's a school. Well, a system of 18 schools known as the United World Colleges, that pioneered a mission-driven education system focused on uniting peoples and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. With 150 national committees bringing students to schools around the world and an annual enrollment of over 12,000 per year, the school system has made strides in shaping the future of education and the world.

Part of the UWC system's tremendous global impact comes from its strong relationship with the International Baccalaureate Organization, or the IBO, which runs the IB program, an education system with almost 2 million children, and 200,000 diploma candidates every year. Initially founded in 1968, the organization was heavily supported by the UWCs at the time, with UWC Atlantic, the first UWC school, adopting the IB diploma early on. Since then, teachers at UWC schools have gone on to act as innovators within the IB, credited for the introduction of the CAS component (inspired by UWC founder Kurt Hahn's pedagogy), the World Studies EE (Mahindra College), and, most recently, the Systems Transformation pilot with UWCSEA and UWC Atlantic, with students initiating projects (including the one that founded Momentum!). This reaches past collaboration with the IB - UWC schools have a pedagogy incorporating a vast range of unique experiences. Project Week, a shared experience by students across UWCs, is an opportunity students get to go on a self-initiated project.

This educational innovation has reflected heavily in student outcomes - the average IB pass rate in any UWC school is above 90%, at a median of approximately 94%, compared to a worldwide 80% per school. Considering that the IB diploma is recognized as one of the most challenging high school degree programs, it's unsurprising that so many IB students have gone on to make strong university placements.

Yet, unlike the stereotypical image of "elite" or "feeder" schools, with rich parents paying for rich children to enter, UWC's high placements are a testament to it's model of social mobility - the Davis Scholars Program. With now over 4200 Davis scholars funded by philanthropy and by supporting schools, UWC students have been placed, with significant financial aid, with 100 partner universities in the United States, including all of the Ivy League and many top undergraduate and research institutions. UWC's admissions power comes from the diversity and excellence of its students - a power that leads to significant success to UWC graduates as future leaders and change makers.

So. Is UWC the world's most successful nonprofit? We'll let you decide.

UWC is all about us as change makers. Whether you're a student or not, your voice and your money has power. Learn more about your consumer power here: https://readmomentum.co/episode-3-how-do-i-buy-responsibly/