The International Baccalaureate programme was crafted in the 1960s to promote holistic development and has been operating in Hong Kong since 1988– it is one of the world’s most respected curricula

Responding to the fallout from two world wars, a group of educators came together in the 1960s with a vision to create a standardised curriculum and assessment system called the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), which would prepare students for a new global landscape and help ensure future world peace.

By contrast with the purely academic focus of traditional curricula prominent in the mid-20th century, the IBDP was crafted to promote students’ holistic development. Besides bringing academic rigour, the system challenges students to think critically, communicate effectively, and become active, compassionate members of their communities.

“The IB was born out of a commitment to develop a new way of thinking about teaching, learning and assessment – grounded in education for a better and more peaceful world,” says Stuart Jones, head of IB World Schools.

In the early days, the IBDP was a niche offering taught in elite schools to the children of transient professionals such as diplomats. Today, the programme has exploded in popularity and spread to over 150 countries, becoming one of the world’s most respected curricula.

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) notes that the programme’s global expansion over the last 10 years has been dramatic, citing a 64.5 per cent growth rate; while the number of IB World Schools has increased at a rate of 47.9 per cent. Programme uptake has been particularly rapid across Asia including mainland China, with 267 of the nation’s schools having adopted the curriculum.

The IB programme has been operating here in Hong Kong since 1988. Today, there are 71 IB World Schools in the city, of which 38 offer the IBDP.