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June 6, 2014

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School starts China’s first IBCC program as career aid

By Zhao Wen | June 6, 2014, Friday | Print Edition

EVERYONE has a dream job as a child but not many end up following that dream, as they get sidetracked by busy studies or limited knowledge about how to enter the field.

To help students pursue their dream jobs, the Shanghai Singapore International School has initiated an International Baccalaureate Career-related Certificate (IBCC) program, the first ever in China.

“People are beginning to realize that relevant hands-on curriculum is unbelievably powerful when they go to the real working world,” said Claudia Berner, head of the international school, at the launching event of the new program on May 29.

China’s first IBCC program is scheduled to open to students at the school in August. The two-year program, targeting students aged 16 to 19, will offer two sets of courses leading to a career-related qualification from the BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council). Students can choose from either hospitality or art and design-fashion and clothing.

Some 73 schools worldwide have adopted the IBCC program. Most of them are in the US, UK, Australia and UAE.

“The standards of the IBCC are very high. They won’t allow you to enter a program until they are 100 percent sure that you will do it right,” said Berner.

Berner said she decided to introduce the program because it fits into the needs of the students.

“We have many students interested in those areas, but IBDP courses don’t provide career-related learning,” said Berner. This year, five students from the school will go to Switzerland to study hospitality, and the school also has produced many artists in fashion and textile.

In the IBCC program, students will choose a career path. They will be taught by industry experts and professionals and will gain work and practical experience via internships and on-site tours to the workplaces.

Students are also required to learn at least two IBDP courses such as Mathematics, English and Business Management, do community service and study a second language.

“It’s the best choice for the students. They can learn things they will never find in books,” said Kailash B. Sobha, director of the SSIS curriculum and assessment.

Sobha said the IBCC program is designed for students who have a clear view of their future career or who want to progress to higher education. It is also aimed at helping students make the right choices for college and universities.

“The students must be very focused on their career path,” said Sobha. “They cannot say I’d like to be a hotel manager today and a doctor tomorrow.”

Sobha said the IBCC is as rigorous as the IBDP, but it is more flexible in many ways. For instance, students can express their thoughts and ideas in different forms such as by making a movie or a web page to analyze or discuss ethical issues in their career-related studies rather than writing essays only. The school can also decide the on-site and off-site time for students to learn.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded both the IBCC and the BTEC Level 3 Diploma. In addition, graduates from the program with good grades in specific modules may enjoy credits or exemptions from part of a degree program, or be eligible for membership in a relevant professional body.

Berner said the school has four partners, including Sheraton, that are willing to support the program. The school is also talking to overseas universities that show strong interest in IBCC graduates.

“It’s so important for students to go outside and meet people in the real industries, which will bring them unexpected opportunities for career development,” said Berner.

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