A new academic year at UWC Dilijan promises to be a special one for several reasons.
Welcoming 111 new students, who will be studying in the unique setting in the picturesque town of Dilijan, is an extraordinary day in the life of the closely-knit UWC Dilijan community.
Young people from 56 countries of the world, including 9 from Armenia and 3 from Nagorno-Karabakh, are in anticipation of the new opportunities UWC Dilijan offers. Diversity, including nationality, religion, ethnicity and socioeconomic background, is the cornerstone of the UWC education. Together with the new class, UWC Dilijan has in total 220 students from 72 countries in its two-year IB Diploma Programme. Many students have been given a chance to study at UWC Dilijan thanks to the generous support of private donors, corporate entities and organisations. Over 75% of students are on scholarships: 35% – on full scholarships and 40% – on partial scholarships.
Paula Leguisamo and Nour Mussa
As we welcome the returning and new students and staff to campus, two UWC Dilijan alumni joined its teaching staff. It is a first for our young school. Nour Mussa came to study at UWC Dilijan as a refugee from Sudan via Lebanon. Having graduated with a BA in Mathematics from the University of Rochester, New York, USA, Nour is now our mathematics teacher assistant. From Uruguay, Paula Leguisamo graduated from UWC Dilijan in 2018 and has been an active member of our community. With a BA in Philosophy from her home country, Paula is returning to UWCD as a philosophy teacher assistant. Paula said, “I strongly believe in the power of education for fostering intercultural understanding and creating a sustainable future. However, I also believe that this can only be achieved if education is accessible to everyone. This belief has become the driving force behind shaping my career.”
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Adam Armanski, Head of UWC Dilijan
Among our new staff we also have Adam Armanski, Head of UWC Dilijan. Adam, who is Polish, previously taught at schools in China, Kazakhstan, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey and Norway, where he worked for eight years and was the founding head of school at Gjøvikregionen International School. Adam’s educational career has been in IB World Schools all along with UWCD being his seventh. Apart from Polish, Adam speaks English, German and Russian, and is the first person at the helm of the school with a good understanding of the region and post-Soviet space.
Another reason to celebrate is the academic performance of 103 students of the Class of 2023. The pass rate of IB exams is 96% (compared with 79% Worldwide 2022), with 15% (compared with 8.6% Worldwide 2022) achieving 40+ points on their exam scores and 48% receiving bilingual diplomas (compared with 27% Worldwide 2022).
University acceptances too remain strong. Out of 103 students of the Class of 2023, 21 are taking a gap year while the rest are proceeding to start university education. Geographic destinations are as follows: 56% – USA, 9% – Netherlands, 4% – Canada; 2% – Austria; 2% – Germany; 2% – France; 1% – Hong Kong. Examples of university placements include: USA: Brown University, Cornell University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Middlebury College; Canada: McGill University, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto; UK: Imperial College London, University College London, King’s College London, University of Edinburgh, University of St. Andrews; Netherlands: University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Erasmus University College, TU Delft; France: Sciences Po, Université Paris Nanterre; Germany: Bard College Berlin.
Orientation week 2023
This year has another important angle. It is our 10th year and we are starting the programme of events in the run up to the 10th Anniversary to be celebrated in October 2024.
Commenting on the start of his tenure as Head of UWC Dilijan Adam Armanski said, “I have every confidence that this academic year we will do our utmost to build on the strong foundations of UWCD and consolidate what has been achieved in preparation for the celebration of the UWC Dilijan’s first decade in 2024. On a personal level, aware of the tremendous hospitality and warmth of the Armenian people, I look forward to learning more about this wonderful country and contributing to its development through education.”
About UWC Dilijan
UWC Dilijan is the first international boarding school of the UWC education model in the region. The school opened in 2014 in the Armenian town of Dilijan and currently has 220 students from 72 countries and 84 staff members from 16 countries.
UWC Dilijan is part of the UWC movement, which comprises 18 international schools and colleges as well as national committees in almost 160 countries.
UWC Dilijan was initiated and masterminded by impact investors and entrepreneurs Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend with the support of other Founding Patrons. Its admissions policy is in accordance with the UWC movement. Students are accepted through a selection process and enrolled regardless of socio-economic background, on the basis of demonstrated need. Over 70% of students receive full or partial scholarships.
The UWC Dilijan academic programme – The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) – is an assessed programme for students aged 16 to 19.
UWC Dilijan has over 800 alumni around the world.
