As citizens of the emerging world community, young people today are more inclined to dedicate their abilities to the betterment of the world. To prepare them for their journey to global citizenship, enrolling them in schools that offer quality education will impart them with the necessary skills, values, and principles.
For decades, the International Baccalaureate (IB) has been offering quality international education that is highly attuned to the needs of expatriates and international families. The ongoing trend of cross-border exchanges and the youths’ aspirations for wider global citizenship have made the IB’s curriculum more relevant than ever, especially in countries with large expatriate populations such as Singapore.
At IB schools in Singapore, the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) has become popular among international families with teens who aspire towards attending a university or building a successful career overseas. The IBDP is widely recognized by the world’s leading institutions of higher learning, having developed a highly respected track record since it was developed in the 1960s.
The IBDP’s curriculum’s core consists of the theory of knowledge, extended essays, and CAS (creativity, activity, science), which help teens ages 16-19 direct their own learning pathway by taking challenging yet rewarding subjects. The program is also recognized by universities in 124 countries, giving a distinct advantage to students who graduate from IB Programme Singapore schools.
More importantly, the program instils the global mindset needed by young individuals to excel in any field. Having a holistic perspective of the world gives IB students more choices when forging a successful career, wherever they choose to build it. Here are just five of these career options that IB students can excel in once they graduate from university:
Health and Science Careers
The IB Diploma Programme is perfect for students who want to specialize in a certain scientific field. This is because the IBDP requires students to study at least one of the following science subjects:
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- Computer science
- Design technology
- Sports, exercise, and health science
These subjects are taught at a more complex level than in most traditional school systems. Standard, Higher Level, and Higher Level Extension courses are also available for most subjects, allowing students to fine-tune their education according to their intended university major or career.
These courses help IB students learn the concepts and theories of these science subjects at a deeper, more hands-on level. This enhances the students’ curiosity as well as their ability to contextualize their knowledge in real-world settings. The approach ultimately prepares them to develop scientific solutions for a variety of applications
Engineering
IB students who want to help build the world’s future technologies can take the IB Diploma Programme to develop practical engineering and problem-solving skills. The math subjects in this program emphasize mathematical concepts and how they can be applied in the many aspects of the real world.
As with IB science courses, IB mathematics courses are available at standard and higher levels. Both levels cover numbers and algebra, functions, geometry and trigonometry, probability and statistics, and calculus.
International Law
International law deals with the relations and dealings of nations with each other. Professionals in this field also help handle the relations between states, international organizations, and internationally relevant individuals, making international law an ideal pursuit for young individuals who aspire towards global citizenship.
To graduate from the IB Diploma Programme, IB students are required to study two modern languages and take a humanities or social science subject. These courses help students broaden their communication, critical analysis, and empathic skills, which are highly valued in international law careers.
Having the skills to communicate with people from different countries and a working knowledge of historical and cultural contexts allows IB graduates to pursue the following career paths:
- International law
- Conflict mediation and resolution
- Diplomacy
- Foreign service
Music
Besides core subjects like math and science, IB schools also encourage their students to take creative courses like music. The music programs in IB schools are designed to hone the musical knowledge and potential of students. This gives students a better chance of being accepted into world-renowned institutions and conservatories, helping them get a headstart on their dreams of becoming celebrated musicians.
Music through the IB Diploma Programme helps students build discipline, develop communication skills, and a deeper appreciation for the art form. Through solo and collaborative performances, IB students who choose this course can sharpen their musical talents and help promote a community’s artistic and cultural growth.
Education
With global demand for the IB Programme growing each year, there is now an increased need for more IB educators. IB educators are trained to draw from IB’s research-based curriculum and impart their knowledge in higher-order thinking to their students. They also provide their class with a rich learning experience that encourages self-development and discovery, as well as values diversity and community.
Aspiring educators who have taken up the IB Diploma Programme have an advantage when applying at an IB-recognized university. Since they’re familiar with the IB learning style, they’re better able to comprehend and apply the concepts and pedagogy that underpin it.
IB schools give young people a learning environment that encourages self-growth and global awareness, giving them what they need to excel in their future universities and careers. International Baccalaureate programs like the IBDP are designed to develop critical thinking skills, independence, empathy, and cultural sensitivity, greatly increasing a young individual’s chances of thriving in any setting. This kind of forward-thinking education breeds the highly skilled and empathetic individuals needed to lead our emerging world community.