Red Cross Nordic United World College

Infobox_School
name = Red Cross Nordic United World College
established = 1995
type = International Baccalaureate
affiliation = United World Colleges
grades = IB 1 & 2
patron = Queen Sonja of Norway
rektor = Dr. John Lawrenson
faculty = 25
staff =
students = 200
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campus type = Residential
campus size =
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location = Flekke, Fjaler
country = NORWAY
information =
website = [http://www.rcnuwc.uwc.org/ www.rcnuwc.uwc.org]

The Red Cross Nordic United World College (RCNUWC), founded in 1995, is the ninth member of the family of United World Colleges. Patrons of the college and the movement include Nelson Mandela, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan and Queen Sonja of Norway . The first college, Atlantic College, was established by the German Educationalist Kurt Hahn to promote international understanding and peace. The size of the colleges varies between 200 (Pearson, Nordic and Adriatic) and more than 2000 (South East Asia). Students are selected from 135 nations by National Committees or selection contacts on merit and many receive full scholarships. Students at the college are eligible, after graduation, to participate in the Shelby Davis Scholarship programme, which funds undergraduate study (based on need) for UWC students at many US universities.

RCNUWC is located on the remote shores of Flekkefjord in the municipality of Fjaler, Western Coastal Norway at approximately coord|61|19|58|N|5|20|08|E|. The college enrols 200 students from more than 80 different nations, including pupils from SOS Children's Villages and refugees. After the two year education following the guidelines of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme students usually go on to higher education. The school does not only focus on academics but also seeks to find a balance between studies, community services and activities.

The Red Cross Nordic United World College opened in September 1995 in Sogn og Fjordane County in Western Norway. Located on the shores of Flekke Fjord, in this mountainous region, the College lies alongside the Red Cross Rehabilitation Centre at Haugland. The two communities work closely together and share many facilities. This College has become a reality through the cooperative efforts of many organisations including the Nordic UWC Committee, the Norwegian Red Cross and the host municipality of Fjaler. The College is in large parts funded by the government of Norway and is further supported by the other Nordic Countries and by private sponsors who have supported the building program. The Nordic College is the ninth United World College, others having been established in Wales, Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Singapore, Swaziland, United States, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Bosnia- Herzegovina.

200 students aged 16-20 attend Red Cross Nordic College from over 80 countries, the majority selected on scholarships by a network of UWC National Committees around the world.

Activities that are offered at the college include climbing, kayaking and hiking, debating- and environmental groups and musical activities. The college also raises political awareness through weekly presentations on political issues which are open to the whole college and the surrounding community. Further, the college participates in aid projects and works very closely together with the local and national Red Cross. Many staff and all students offer a range of activities to youngsters from many Norwegian schools during one week courses in spring, summer and autumn. This is organised through the college Leirskule (Camp School) which is led by staff with the additional support of EVS volunteers.

Students in RCNUWC live in a rather liberal environment and concentrate not only on the academics, but also on international understanding and global awareness, in addition to a host of other activities, as in all other United World Colleges. Cultural and religious disagreements may arise on issues such as alcohol consumption and how liberal the school should be. Students tend to become emotionally attached to one another due to the small, remote environment and some 'blame' it on the 'long and dark winters of Norway'. The isolated location and distance from their homes may cause homesickness amongst some students. A lot of students stay very close friends after the intense two-year experience of studying at a United World College and living in the RCNUWC community, and after going through emotional roller-coasters about academic, friendship, relationship, spiritual and global issues. Some students gather in different parts of the world and sometimes pay a visit to Flekke after graduating. Some find it takes time to integrate into 'normal' life once they leave the college due to the close environment, yet these worries are no more severe than those of other students leaving home for university school.

Aims

The aim of the United World Colleges is to use education as a force to unite people. The Nordic College, with a special emphasis on environmental and humanitarian concerns, brings highly motivated young students from all parts of the world so they can live and learn together. The school's objective is to help students become active, involved and educated citizens whose attitudes towards understanding and service will be a powerful catalyst for change. Through these students, who are selected on merit as representatives of their countries, RCNUWC hopes to influence their wider communities to become more understanding, compassionate and peaceful. The Red Cross United World College “wishes to create a better and more tolerant world.” However, this is not the case.

Notable Alumni

* Mette Karlsvik, author
* Andrés Gómez Emilsson, Winner of Mexico's National Youth Award 2007

External links

* [http://www.rcnuwc.uwc.org Red Cross Nordic UWC Web page]
* [http://www.leirskule.no Leirskule]
* [http://www.uwc.org UWC Website]
* [http://www.fluffyelephant.com Pictures and Panoramas from RCNUWC]
* [http://www.rkhr.no/index.html Haugland Rehabilitation Center]
* [http://www.fjaler.kommune.no Fjaler Kommune]