The IB and SEK Education Group are partnering to introduce the first online Diploma Programme (DP) pilot with both English and Spanish class offerings to high school students in Spain. Students enrolled in the pilot programme will have the opportunity to obtain the DP via an innovative, 100% online high school programme.
The IB and SEK will collaborate on the delivery of an online DP pilot to extend access to high-quality international education to a wider demographic of students both in Spain and abroad. SEK represents the first authorized educational institution in Spain to offer the DP and since then, more than 3,000 students have studied the DP at SEK International Schools.
SEK will also offer the DP online in three language modalities: 100% English, 100% Spanish and bilingual Spanish-English, giving students a competitive edge as well as helping them gain admission to the world’s best universities and perform better throughout their careers.
Maricruz Lagar, General Director of SEK International Schools said, "Our constant commitment to placing students at the heart of everything we do, to offering them a unique learning experience, to innovation and internationalisation have placed us in an ideal place to be part of this project."
Since the first IB World School in 1977, the IB has grown its presence in the Spanish education ecosystem over the years, reaching more than 270 IB programmes offered across schools, and more than 4,500 students taking the Diploma Programme (DP) exams in 2022.
“The IB is renowned for its focus on languages and global values, creating an international-minded atmosphere where students can master a second language and develop nuanced cultural awareness. Collaborating with our partners in offering the online DP will help a wider cohort of students emerge as multilingual thinkers who can comfortably live, work and make a difference the world over,” said Mr Matt Costello, Chief Business Development Officer at the International Baccalaureate.
Through these pilots, the IB aims to explore new pathways to better understand the needs of students who may not be able to attend traditional brick-and-mortar education. Furthermore, the pilots will work alongside and inform the IB strategy as we collaboratively innovate with our global community to empower IB students to take ownership of their own learning and develop future-ready skills to make a difference and thrive in a fast-changing world.