International Mindedness
Young people are more aware than ever of global issues. The speed of information transfer and their ability to communicate instantly across boarders and oceans puts them in a position to use the knowledge and skills learned in the IBDP to accomplish the ultimate goal of the IB mission.
The IB Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organisation works with schools, governments and international organisations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
International Mindedness in the IB is the concept that we are all members of the global village and should actively strive to make it the best place for us to live in harmony. This is not to say that we should all live alike, moreover it is important to understand and respect what makes us different.
Through a truly global curriculum we can help break barriers and can work towards becoming global citizens aware of global issues. To do this we must actively investigate and respect the cultures of those in our IB community. This is not to suggest that we must agree with everything but just find out more about each other and respect the fact that everyone is entitled to their own belief. Ultimately we should focus more on what we have in common rather than our differences and through our common humanity and the Learner Profile work towards solving global problems.
International Mindedness has its roots in open-mindedness but all other nine aspirations of the Learner Profile are needed to achieve it. The IB emphasis on language and students becoming multi-lingual is important to achieve these goals.