Newswise — Hong Kong, SAR China, Aug. 12—Nearly 200 teens from dozens of countries who are enrolled in either the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) or who are studying to earn the IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC) have flocked to The Hong Kong University to attend the final student conference in a series of four IB 2013 World Student Conferences that have taken place during school breaks from June-August. Following on the heels of the vibrant IB World Student Conference held at The University of British Columbia in Canada, the IB World Student Conference at UHK focuses on iResponsibility: Explore How We Engage in the Online World. Program sessions open today and feature inspirational speakers, including social entrepreneur Clive Lee, an NGO leader and director of more than 10 international youth organizations plus a high school, who will speak on using social media to support social entrepreneurship. Clement Chung, founder of Wiseman Education, an organization that empowers learners to connect, extend and perform in the 21st century, will address “Investment Bankers vs. Artists”.
The IB World Student Conferences provide students with opportunity for extracurricular learning in a collaborative environment. Each conference attracts IB students between the ages of 15-17, all of whom are eager to dive into rich intercultural experiences with peers and (adult) global action team leaders.
Chief Operating Officer for the IB Schools Division, Siva Kumari, is attending this week’s student conference following visits to IB schools in Hong Kong. She states, “The IB works with universities to provide student conferences because we believe in the energy that emerges when DP and IBCC students from all over the world come together with university faculty to explore meaningful topics. IB students are deep thinkers and creative problem-solvers, and these conferences give them an opportunity to connect with each other, to exemplify global perspectives and to team-build while addressing real issues that matter to the world and to them.”
The five-day conference at HKU supports examination of global engagement and advancement of students’ personal Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) projects, a prerequisite to earning the IB Diploma, and an undertaking that encourages each student to forge a creative service action plan that can positively make a difference in the world. Student conference participants represent numerous cultures and languages, both diverse and far-flung.
During the conference, in between inspirational speakers and tours of the Hong Kong Cyberport, a digital community of technology and digital-content tenants meant to nurture ICT industry start-ups and entrepreneurs--students will devise innovative action plans to tackle the world’s most pressing problems. Grouped in global action teams, students will collaborate and strategize about how to harness the immense array of available online tools responsibly and positively to benefit communities and create innovation. Student presentations, the culminating event of the conference, will be available for review online at: http://ibwsc.youthmovements.org/
Students who have received scholarships to attend the IB World Student Conferences are blogging during the event. A number of scholarship sponsors have supported student participation in the conference to advocate learning that includes: • adjustment to new surroundings and to working with new people from an array of backgrounds and cultures.• developing new methods of problem-solving and thinking outside the parameters of what is common in their own country of origin.• gaining new cultural insights through peers studying the IB in other countries, who speak different languages, practice different religions, eat different foods, and come from various socio-politico-economic circumstances.• becoming inspired by peers and enriching one another with ideas to implement in their home communities.• forging ties with potential future leaders from around the world.See the complete list of scholarship donors online at http://www.ibo.org/wsc
Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is a not-for profit foundation, which offers four high-quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools. For 45 years, IB programmes have gained a reputation for rigour and high academic standards, for preparing students for life in a globalized 21st century, and for developing citizens who will create a better, more peaceful world. Currently, more than 1 million IB students attend nearly 3,500 schools in 144 countries. To learn more, visit www.ibo.org.
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