The United World College of the Adriatic (also known as UWC Adriatic, UWCAd, or in Italian, Collegio del Mondo Unito dell'Adriatico) is an international school in Italy, and a member of the United World Colleges, a global educational movement that brings together students from all over the world with the aim to foster peace and international understanding. The college is attended by around 180 students aged between 16 and 19, from around 80 countries, who live at the college for two years and study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
The college is located in the village of Duino, near the city of Trieste, in Italy's north-eastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and is located less than 5 km from the Slovenian border. It was founded in 1982, with the support of the Italian government and regional authorities, who are still major financial supporters of the college.
Founding
The United World Colleges were established by German educator Kurt Hahn, and the college is heavily influenced by his pedagogical philosophy. Following the founding the United World College of the Atlantic in 1962, further colleges were opened in Singapore (the United World College of South East Asia) and Canada (the Lester B Pearson United World College of the Pacific).
Lord Mountbatten, then the president of the United World Colleges, collaborated with Prince Raimond of Torre e Tasso, to found the United World College of the Adriatic in Duino, the first in the movement based in a non-English speaking country. With the support of local politician, former Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and member of Parliament , a law was passed in 1976 which ensured that the regional government of Friuli Venezia Giulia would provide funding and support for the new institution. The college continues to benefit from support from both the government of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The college welcomed its first students in 1982. In 1984, Prince Charles, having taken on the role as president of the International Council of the United World Colleges, inaugurated the third academic year in his first visit to the college.
Students and staff
The school hosts around 180 students across its two year program, from over 80 countries. In the academic year 2011–12, the student body consisted of 184 students, of which approximately 15% were Italian, 15% came from elsewhere in Western Europe, 20% from Eastern Europe, 15% from the Americas, 15% from Africa and the Middle East and 20% from Asia and Oceania. The majority of students attending the college benefit from financial support, with 17% receiving full scholarships and about three quarters of the student body on partial scholarships.
Most students attending the college are selected by UWC national selection committees in their home countries on the basis of academic achievement, leadership potential, extracurricular activities involvement and personal qualities, and are awarded scholarships based on need. The Italian national committee is responsible for the selection of Italian pupils to UWC Adriatic and for all of the United World Colleges, and acts under the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic.
Teachers are also hired internationally. In addition to being responsible for classroom teaching they act as personal tutors for groups of students and contribute to the running of activities and services.
The founding headmaster of the college was David B. Sutcliffe, an influential part of the United World Colleges movement, who had been the headmaster at the first UWC, Atlantic College. Since August 2022, the Rettore (headmaster) has been Khalid El-Metaal, who was previously the deputy head at the Toronto French School in Canada, and served as Deputy Headteacher at the Modern English School of Cairo. Since 2016, the president of the college has been Ambassador Cristina Ravaglia.
College and facilities
The college is integrated into the village of Duino, located on the Adriatic coast between Trieste and Monfalcone , with school buildings and facilities interspersed with residential and commercial properties. Students live in residences that are spread over the village, with the smallest housing 6 students, and the largest just over 50. The largest residence is part of the complex of the Duino castle, which towers over the town.