I thought I’d be in Swaziland
I thought I’d be in Swaziland
Monday, 2 March 2009
The biannual UWC international meetings are currently underway on the campus of Waterford KaMhlaba United World College in Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland. I attended the opening day of the meetings, but I felt I had to return to Hong Kong suddenly as some urgent matters arose unexpectedly that required my attention. I returned to Hong Kong just after midday yesterday, in time to attend a meeting of the Board’s Management Committee in Central starting at 3 pm.
Unfortunately, returning early has also meant that I won’t be there to present the LPCUWC viewpoint in several other important discussions that are underway this weekend, such as developing the new UWC Diploma curriculum, developing a common code of conduct and expectations for students in all UWCs, redefining the College self-evaluation process (which we will be undertaking at LPCUWC later this year!), participating in the Heads’ retreat on Monday and Tuesday or in the inaugural UWC Council and Education Committee meetings today. Fortunately, I had made copies of papers that I intended to present at several of these meetings, and hopefully they will still receive consideration despite my absence.
Nonetheless, Heads of UWCs can’t be everywhere they are needed at once - it is a problem that seems to arise quite often - and I see my first priority as making sure that my own campus is running smoothly. When major issues arise unexpectedly when I am away, like most Heads, I can’t concentrate properly and I am better off being back on campus where I think (I hope realistically) that I can make a difference. I will, however, need to do some relationship re-building at the next UWC meeting in October this year as a result of leaving early.
During my short time on the campus of Waterford, I added to the gallery of photos that I took when I was last there a few years ago. The link to the gallery is HERE, and the top three rows (nine images) are the ones that were taken this week.
The campus of Waterford KaMhlaba United World College in Mbabane, Swaziland, where the UWC meetings are currently underway