History of International Baccalaureate
Updated: Nov 4, 2024
The International Baccalaureate organization offers a rigorous course of study for children 13-18. The IB is a global curriculum implemented in 5,000 schools across 23 countries, creating a worldwide community. The IB curriculum aims to “provide an education that enables students to make sense of the complexities of the world around them, as well as equipping them with the skills and dispositions needed for taking responsible action for the future”.
The International Baccalaureate was first developed in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland. The programme was initially thought of in 1962 when the Atlantic College was founded and the International Schools Association met and decided to create an international education programme, which they named the IB. In 1970 the first official IB diploma exams were taken at 12 schools across 10 different countries. The IB would continue to be recognized in an increasing number of countries and would open its regional office in New York in 1975. The Ib offers the Diploma Programme, which applies to highschool students and possibly higher education, the Middle Years Programme, the Primary Years Programme, and also a career-related programme.
Overall, the IB is an academic programme which strides to challenge and prepare students for intense courses of studies to come. Being a global programme, the IB connects curriculum and students from across the world, globalizing education and ideas.
Citations
The History of the Ib, www.ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/digital-toolkit/pdfs/1711-
presentation-history-of-the-ib-en.pdf. Accessed 21 May 2024.
What Is an IB Education?, www.ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/brochures-
andinfographics/pdfs/what-is-an-ib-education-en.pdf. Accessed 21 May 2024.
