Earlham Joins Worldwide 50th Anniversary Celebration for United World Colleges

September 18, 2012

Earlham College is pleased to join with the United World Colleges (UWC) in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the first UWC campus, which opened on September 19, 1962.

Known today as United World College of the Atlantic, the original UWC campus is housed in a 12th century castle in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales. It was founded by educational theorist Kurt Hahn, who is also known as one of the founders of the Outward Bound movement. Hahn's vision for what was then called Atlantic College was based on his post-war experience observing discussion and collaboration between former enemies. He believed that offering a collaborative educational experience based on shared understanding would increase the chances that graduates would become ambassadors for peace.

Today, UWC has expanded to include 12 colleges worldwide that are educating students using the International Baccalaureate curriculum, which UWC helped to develop. Within the context of Hahn’s original principles, today’s UWC education is also underpinned by a commitment to a diverse college community, the active promotion of intercultural understanding, a recognition that physical fitness and healthy lifestyles are an integral part of learning, and the recognition that each individual possesses unique talents and abilities, among others.

“I’m delighted that we can count so many UWC graduates as current Earlham students and alumni,” says President David Dawson. “The experience of having such a substantial number of UWC students on campus has added exponentially to a multinational culture that we actively foster at Earlham. It’s a pleasure to salute the United World Colleges today as they mark their first 50 years.”

Earlham has enrolled nearly 230 UWC graduates since the College began its affiliation with the Davis United World College Scholars Program in 2004. The Davis program provides need-based scholarships at select institutions for UWC graduates to continue their education in the U.S. In 2010, Earlham received the Davis Cup for enrolling the largest entering class of Davis UWC Scholars.

Currently, Earlham enrolls approximately 130 United World College graduates.

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