The
UWC/Self-evaluation of RCNUWC
"The Red Cross Nordic United World College is an excellent school
by any standards. It
adopts a bold model of education and the teachers and support staff work
very hard to realize the College's vision. The students are almost uniformly
appreciative of their experience at the College and are actively sought
by the best universities in the world. Special mention should be made
of the consistent idealism, harmony and constructive
energy that are evident amongst students from remarkably diverse backgrounds.
This is partly attributable to the rigorous selection processes employed
by their national committees but also to the quality of the community
ethos that has been created over almost ten years."
(The Audit Team Report on the 2004 Self-Evaluation of RCNUWC, Nov. 2004)
Following agreement some years ago that each United World College would,
through cooperation with the UWC International Office, conduct an evaluation
of its operations, compile a report on these evaluations and have the
process and report reviewed by an
“external”Audit team, 2004 was the year for RCNUWC! The aim
was to engage in a process of self-study and evaluation of all aspects
of College operation, in relation to criteria from three sources:
• criteria mandated by the UWC office,
• criteria drawn from the College’s mission statement,
• criteria established following discussion among members of
each Working Group (and resulting from inputs from the wider College community).
The following 15 Working Groups were established:
Philosophy and Objectives; Governance and Administration; College Staff;
Student Selection; Academic Curriculum; Extra- Academic Curriculum; Assessment
of Learning; UWC Awareness; Post-UWC Guidance; Residential Life (including
Guidance & Health); Host Families; Alumni – Graduate; Network;
College Facilities; Financial Management; Library; Media and Information
Technology; Performance and Creativity.
Staff and student members of each Working Group conducted their research
in the period January through May 2004, before compiling their reports.
An Audit Team consisting of 8 members (see list below) was established,
and spent a week at the College in November 2004. These auditors considered
the findings of the reports, held meetings with the Group members, and
submitted their own report on their findings of their studies.
Andrew Bennett (Chair) - Former Head: UWC South East Asia,
Singapore
Knut Gundersen - Teacher: Scandinavian languages, UWC
of the Atlantic
Laurence Nodder - Head:Waterford Kamhlaba UWC, Swaziland
John Plommer - Former Head: Danube International School;
former teacher: Adriatic UWC
Sandy Thomas - Director of Studies, Adriatic UWC, Italy
Virachai Techavijit - Founder & Chair: The Regent’s
School (Pattaya & Bangkok),Thailand
Claus Reistrup - Member of the Board: RCNUWC; Senior Administrator
Education Dept, Faroes
Derek Blackman - Vice Chair, UWC International Board,
London, UK
These meetings happened amid the busyness of daily College life and, inescapably, they competed with other interests (e.g., committee meetings).
We would
like to record formally our appreciation to the staff and student members
of each committee for their enthusiasm to engage in these reflections,
and for their willingness to do the work required through the research
and report phases. It became clear to us that this UWC-mandated study
complemented the deeprooted interest evident among members of our community
to reflect on our work and participation in this College, and to search
for ways to improve its diverse areas of operation. This process continues,
and the recommendations in the reports are now being considered by appropriate
College committees.
The College has 200 places for students. Each year, in May, one hundred students leave college. At that time the intake of their replacements has already started.
The work to fill the places of the graduates starts in September for the year ahead. In that month the student selection coordinator together with the Rektor makes a preliminary list of offers. A final list is made in October after the Rektor’s meeting with the other UWC Heads and the International Selection Coordinator at the International Office of UWC in London. In November the ‘offer letters’ are sent off to the National Committees. In general the national committees have their procedure completed by May 1st in the year of Entry.
During May 2004 it became clear that we would receive 9 representatives from 9 different African National Committees. One of these offers was for a refugee. 6 students were selected by Asian National Committees.As usual Europe was well represented: 53 students in total from countries in the Nordic region, Eastern and Western Europe. The Middle East sent 4 students from 4 different countries, and 1 Canadian student and 2 from the US would represent the North American region. 10 National Committees sent one student each to represent Latin America and 3 students were selected by National Committees in Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti. The Pacific region remained unrepresented this year.
The Colleges statutes state that we should include disabled students and students from crisis areas. It is especially in this area that the college selects students directly through other organisations. For example: a refugee from Chechnya was selected with the assistance of the Russian Committee, a student from the Human Development Foundation in Nepal could start at RCN, 3 SOS students from China, India, and Nepal arrived at college, 1 student represents the China Disabled People Federation and we have a new student from Tibetan Villages in India.This year, our intake included for the first time a representative from Haiti. Other new entries were a school for Himalayan Children in Nepal and a representative from the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School in Costa Rica.
