United World College of the Adriatic (UWC Adriatic or UWCAd ) is a part 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 school is attended by around 200 mixed-gender students aged between 16 and 19, mostly on full scholarship, from around 90 countries of the world, who study the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a two-year internationally recognized pre-university program. The school is hosted in the village of Duino, between Trieste and Monfalcone, in North-Eastern Italy in the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, less than 5 km from the Slovenian border. It was founded in 1982, by the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, with the support of the Italian Government (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), who are still the major financial supporters of the college. The founding headmaster of the college was David B. Sutcliffe, an influential part of the United World Colleges's movement and follower of the Kurt Hahn educational philosophy. Students and staff The students of UWCAd are selected by UWC national selection committees in their home countries on the basis of academic achievement, leadership potential, extracurricular activities involvement and personal qualities. The students selected are awarded a full scholarship. The Italian National Committee for United World Colleges acts under the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic and is responsible for communication with the international organisation and for the selection of Italian pupils. As an example, in academic year 2011–12, the school hosted 184 students, of which approximately 15% were Italian, 15% came from elsewhere in Western Europe, 20% from Eastern Europe, 15% from the Americas, 15% from Africa and the Middle East and 20% from Asia and Oceania. Teachers are also hired internationally. Apart from being responsible for classroom teaching they act as personal tutors for a group of students and contribute to the residential nature of the college and the running of activities and services. Since August 2022, the Rettore (headmaster) has been Khalid El-Metaal, who was previously the deputy head at the Toronto French School in Canada, and served as Deputy Headteacher at the Modern English School of Cairo. Life at UWCAd UWCAd, following the ideals of German educator Kurt Hahn, founder of the UWC movement, believes in a holistic approach to education which makes personal development of the student central. Courses at the college are