The United World College Costa Rica (UWC Costa Rica, also known by its acronym UWCCR) (Spanish - Colegio del Mundo Unido Costa Rica), located in the Santa Ana suburb of San José, is the 11th college in the UWC movement and the first to offer instruction in both English and Spanish. The College, formerly the "Colegio Internacional SOS Hermann Gmeiner," (named after the SOS Children's Villages' founder, Hermann Gmeiner) re-opened as a United World College in August 2006, and graduated its first UWC-admitted applicants in 2008. The school hosts over 200 students from more than 70 different countries. Students attending colleges throughout the UWC movement are selected on the basis of merit, and with the support to an extensive scholarship program, are accepted regardless of their social or economic status. Given its historic connection with SOS Children's Villages, UWC Costa Rica aims to ensure that students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds are admitted to the school each year. Depending on their academic needs, students may apply for a three-year programme with a preparatory pre-IB year before enrolling in the regular IB Diploma Programme. The college is primarily committed to three areas: conflict resolution, the environment and multiculturalism. Programs Selection and admissions of students Every year the College makes offers of places and scholarships to the UWC national committees, which select students to create a student body which reflects the priorities and identity of the College but within the context of their financial resources. UWC Costa Rica is committed to having at least 50% of students from Latin America, a significant population of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and an overall global diversity. Academic programs International Baccalaureate The College provide students a pre-university academic program for the 11th and 12th grades. It is designed to encourage independent thinking and develop global perspectives of development. The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous academic program that prepares students for university life. The students of the IB Diploma Programme are required to study six subjects in different areas: Language A (first language), Language B (second language), Experimental Sciences, Individuals and Society, Mathematics and Arts. The areas are complemented with a course on Theory of Knowledge and the Program Creativity, Action, and Service. Students are also required to write an Extended Essay; a 4000 word research project from a self formulated question within a subject. University Counseling program The IB Diploma Programme offered by UWC Costa