International Baccalaureate Programmes

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Since its inception in the late 1960s, the International Baccalaureate (IB) has played a major role in the field of international education. A key aim of the original Diploma Program that remains central to the IB mission today is the provision of ‘education for a better world’. At the heart of this vision is a commitment to educational programs that foster engaged and active world citizens, and facilitate the development of personal dispositions and social values that include a love of learning, civic participation, and international mindedness.

The qualitative study, International Baccalaureate Programmes: Longer Term Outcomes, funded by the International Baccalaureate, explored what a small group of IB graduates identified as significant and lasting influences of participation in the programs. The twenty-three interviewees had taken part in IB programs in a range of geographic locations and different school types, from the late 1960s to the 2010s. Drawing on a life history and case study approach, the project sought to provide in-depth insights into alumni perceptions of the impact of the IB over their life course, including in relation to their social values, beliefs, and worldviews, as well as professional pathways, community involvement, and attitudes towards cultural diversity and lifelong learning.

The findings from this study suggest a multiplicity of influences for the majority of people interviewed, including profound and long-lasting effects for some. These encompass influences on academic and career trajectories, as well as dispositional orientations and social values.