What is UWC?
Still confused about what role UWC Costa Rica has within the other UWC Colleges and the wider UWC Movement? What makes our college unique? Don’t worry—we know there is a lot to take in and learn. This guide will help set the foundations for your experience as a UWC student.
The Global UWC Movement
UWC (United World College) is a global movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. It comprises 18 schools and colleges worldwide; UWC Costa Rica is one of them and the only one in Latin America and the Caribbean.
What unites the movement:
- A truly global movement
- Deliberately diverse
- Selective but not exclusive
- Valuing service, as well as knowledge
- Building a community of role models
Costa Rica shapes our curriculum and ways of learning
UWC Costa Rica is located in the heart of Santa Ana, San José. Our current campus allows students to engage directly with the Costa Rican community while remaining surrounded by nature.
UWC Costa Rica is transitioning to a new space in San Isidro de Heredia in August 2027 (which means you are part of the first generation to experience it!). The new location will offer many learning opportunities in nature for new generations; a campus surrounded by a 40-hectare nature reserve is an ideal place for an immersive and transformative experience with nature.
UWC Costa Rica Mission
To cultivate in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet—learning from nature and from each other for a lifetime.
UWC Costa Rica Principles
Learning from nature and from each other for a lifetime.
UWC Costa Rica Values
- Empathy
- Â Reciprocity
- Â Accountability
Sustainability is always present
At UWC Costa Rica, sustainability is embedded in all aspects of the college, including the educational model (pedagogical focus, curriculum, programs, and projects), strategic planning, environmental management, and alliances with external communities and organizations.
Reciprocity is embraced as an essential component of understanding ourselves as part of an interconnected and diverse whole, where each action affects others. Understanding sustainability in this way and putting it into practice requires a shift in perspectives, behaviors, and ways of learning and living.
To get there, UWC Costa Rica created a Sustainability Framework to guide the College’s understanding and application of sustainability in this cultural shift.
Sustainability Principles
To this end, the College is also purposefully building a new campus with sustainable construction practices and restoring and conserving a nature reserve on its property.
Sustainability Action Lines
The framework also groups our sustainability actions into 5 different areas:Â