United World College of the Adriatic

The United World College of the Adriatic (also known as UWC Adriatic, UWCAd, or in Italian, Collegio del Mondo Unito dell'Adriatico) is an international school in Italy, and a member of the United World Colleges, a global educational movement that brings together students from all over the world with the aim to foster peace and international understanding. The college is attended by around 180 students aged between 16 and 19, from around 80 countries, who live at the college for two years and study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The college is located in the village of Duino, near the city of Trieste, in Italy's north-eastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and is located less than 5 km from the Slovenian border. It was founded in 1982, with the support of the Italian government and regional authorities, who are still major financial supporters of the college. Founding The United World Colleges were established by German educator Kurt Hahn, and the college is heavily influenced by his pedagogical philosophy. Following the founding the United World College of the Atlantic in 1962, further colleges were opened in Singapore (the United World College of South East Asia) and Canada (the Lester B Pearson United World College of the Pacific). Lord Mountbatten, then the president of the United World Colleges, collaborated with Prince Raimond of Torre e Tasso, to found the United World College of the Adriatic in Duino, the first in the movement based in a non-English speaking country. With the support of local politician, former Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and member of Parliament , a law was passed in 1976 which ensured that the regional government of Friuli Venezia Giulia would provide funding and support for the new institution. The college continues to benefit from support from both the government of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.