What is the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme? The International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) is part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme of education which is taught in thousands of schools across the world. Starting with the IB Primary Years Programme, the continuum of internationally focused education is followed by the IB Middle Years Programe and culminates in the completion of either the IB Diploma Programme or the Career-related Programme. The IBCP incorporates the educational principles of the IB, into a programme specifically developed for students who wish to engage in career-related learning.Take a look:

What are the educational principles of the International Baccalauareate?

The IB focuses on each student as a whole person, which means that IB programmes address not only students' intellectual development but also their social, emotional and physical progress.The IB mission statement demonstrates the IBO’s commitment to the development of an all-round internationally educated ‘global citizen’; “The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.”

Career-related learning

“At 16, many students already have a clear idea of the career they would like to pursue and are looking for hands-on learning and experience in that field,” says Adrian Kearney, the IB’s regional director for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. “In this case, choosing an educational offer that caters to this makes sense.”“Currently, there is only one post-16 qualification that provides a framework allowing students to develop both vocationally and academically. This is the latest IB offering, the Career-related Programme (CP).”Taught in more than 100 schools in 14 different countries across the world, IBCP engages students with an international programme of learning that genuinely interests them and can help them along the path to their chosen career, while arming them with transferable and lifelong skills, such as the ability to work as part of a team, time management skills, and intercultural understanding.IBCP students develop rigour through a combination of academic and career-related courses, resulting in a more rounded understanding of the working world through components that develop skills such as communication, problem-solving and responsibility.

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What does the IBCP cover?

The IBCP consists of three main components: Career-related studies, Diploma courses and the IBCP core. The Career-related studies include a variety of qualifications, including: BTEC, Chartered Institute of Securities & Investments Diploma and the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE). For example, at ACS Egham, an international school in Surrey the current options open to students include BTEC Level 3 National Award in Business. Students are required to study two or three IB Diploma Programme Courses; IBCP students choose their IB Diploma Programme subjects based on their career-related study.

What is the IBCP core?

The IBCP core includes:

• A personal and professional skills course (the development of skills needed to successfully navigate higher education, the workplace and society)
• The study of an additional language
• A reflective project (an in-depth body of work produced over an extended period)
• Service learning (the practical application of knowledge and skills towards meeting an identified community need)

Who is the IBCP suited to?

The IBCP is particularly relevant for students who have chosen to specialise in and focus on a particular career path such as business, IT, sport, or travel and tourism.It is appropriate for all students wishing to progress to Higher Education or undertake career specific training through internships, apprenticeships, technical/community colleges or direct workplace employment.“The IBCP appeals to students who wish to pursue career-related studies, combining the IB’s rigorous approach to education with practical hands-on experience within the working world” says Kristi Sedlacek, IBCP Co-ordinator at ACS Egham.“This qualification enables students to realise their career aspirations and reach their full potential. ACS Egham has a wealth of international teaching experience, with highly qualified IB teachers with expertise in career-related subjects.”

How is the IBCP assessed?

The IB Diploma elements of the IBCP are assessed by written examinations and are then marked externally, the IBCP core components are examined and marked by the school (although the reflective project is moderated by the IB).^{This article was originally published in August 2016.}

Relocate Global’s new annual Guide to International Education & Schools provides a wealth of advice to anyone searching for a new school in the UK and in an international setting, and offers insights into what it takes to make the right school choice. 

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