Open Day at the College
Open Day at the College
Last week I wrote about the brilliant work that the 124 voluntary National Committees of the United World Colleges perform around the world in selecting students to attend the 12 UWCs. The United World Colleges are unlike almost all other schools insofar as all students are selected purely on merit, regardless of ability to pay, and they attend one of the Colleges on scholarship (full or partial) for the last two years of their pre-university education, living on campus with other outstanding young men and women from about 80 countries. During their time at the UWC, they not only engage in rigorous academic formation by studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma, but they engage in a wide range of non-academic activities, particularly in the areas of community service and personal challenge.
I mention all this because the Hong Kong UWC Selection Committee, of which I am Secretary, has begun its process of selecting outstanding young men and women from Hong Kong to enter the United World Colleges in 2007. Today we held our first of two Open Days, the second being this coming Saturday (9th December). In brilliant, clear weather we welcomed hundreds of prospective students and their parents to the campus. In my dual roles of Secretary of the Hong Kong UWC Selection Committee and Principal of Li Po Chun United World College, I gave two presentations on life at UWCs which included the new Keynote presentation first previewed in draft format at the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of UWC National Committees that we hosted at the College in June this year.
As always, our students were our best ambassadors. The affection that our students have for the College is seemingly boundless and infectious! Thanks are due to tens of students who helped with Open Day arrangements, but I especially want to thank Jane, Louyi, Eric, Ching, Angela and Lydia who spoke eloquently about their experiences as students at LPCUWC at the conclusion of my presentations.
And who could not be impressed when they see young men and women from such diverse ethnic, racial, linguistic, religious and cultural backgrounds obviously enjoying each others’ company so much? This year, we have students from 83 different countries. When we see how well this next generation of opinion-shapers can get along with each other in peace and harmony on our campus, we MUST be optimistic about the future of our world - because that global future is being shaped in our classrooms, corridors, residences and meal tables today!
Sunday, 3 December 2006