ON AN INTERNATIONAL-MINDEDNESS JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD

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June 12, 2024

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

Research into international-mindedness in schools with IB at all levels shows an overarching construct related to intercultural understanding, global engagement and multilingualism.

(Source: International Baccalaureate)

BACKGROUND
International-mindedness is an overarching construct related to intercultural understanding, global engagement and multilingualism. The concept, which is particular to the International Baccalaureate (IB), is at the heart of the IB’s educational policies and programs. 

The objective of a study conducted by university researchers and the IB was to examine how IB World Schools conceptualize, implement and assess international-mindedness and to understand related challenges. Additionally, the researchers aimed to identify promising practice in developing and assessing international-mindedness. 

While schools had a wide range of different definitions and ways of framing international-mindedness depending on their context, at heart, these conceptions centered around the idea that international-mindedness is relational in that it is about “reaching out,” in how we interact with others, and “reaching in,” to understand ourselves in relation to others. Additionally, there was an overwhelming sense that international-mindedness is not an endpoint but rather a journey, a constant process of defining, acting, learning, reflecting and re(de)fining. This process was seen as being more important than the definition itself.

CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that intentionality is one of the hallmarks of promising practice with regard to international-mindedness. All of the IB World Schools involved in this study were intentionally thinking about and actively working on the conceptualization and development of international-mindedness. This was not something that was taken for granted or left to happen as a result of adopt-ing an IB program or having a diverse school population. 
Additionally, this study has shown that it is important for schools to make international-mindedness their own, suited to their particular communities and contexts. This can best be understood as a journey. In this ongoing journey, the school community:

1) discusses and defines international-mindedness

2) develops practice

3) assesses and evaluates international-mindedness. 

Research summary

Full report  

The IB at NDP

Notre Dame Prep's upper school has served as an IB ‘World School” since 2007 when it was first authorized by the IB organization to offer the Diploma Program. Its middle and lower schools became IB-authorized in the years that followed. In addition, NDP is the only Catholic school in the United States with all three IB curriculum levels, the Primary Years Program, the Middle Years Program and the Diploma Program. 

Colleges and universities recognize the IB program, its significance, and what it takes to participate in it. The IB designation on a student’s high school transcript is a noteworthy achievement, and it stands out and signals to admission officers that you are a dedicated and advanced learner. Many colleges and universities in the U.S. offer benefits to IB diploma graduates, such as college credit, scholarships and/or tuition assistance. Some universities allow IB graduates to enter as second-year students. 

IB for college prep 

The acceptance rate of IB students into Ivy League universities is up to 18% higher than the total population acceptance rate. The gap is even more significant for top-ranked universities outside of the Ivy League, where it is 22% higher, on average. Research shows that U.S. Diploma Program students are outperforming students nationally in university enrollment, persistence and graduation.

Research summary

Full report  

More on the IB at Notre Dame Prep

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.