BC students (PC years 35 and 36) at RaceRocks, taken by Mark Kelsey. Spring 2010.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Overview of Pearson College

If you have never heard of Pearson College or United World Colleges, here is a little overview for ya - all from Pearson's handy dandy website.

" What is Pearson College?

Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific is a unique two year pre-university school for two hundred students selected from around the world based solely on their personal merit, potential and demonstrated commitment to engage actively in creating a better world. All students attend on a full scholarship and live together while studying the International Baccalaureate program and pursuing explicitly the mission of the United World Colleges to make education a "force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. "

Aaaand some stats:


"General Description

Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific stands as a memorial to the life and work of the late Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Lester B. Pearson. The College promotes the cause of international understanding by creating an environment in which students from many countries and cultures are brought together to study and to serve the community.


Aims

The aims of Pearson College: To provide an education, in the total sense, which will produce involved, active, educated citizens, whose attitudes of understanding and service will be a force against bigotry and hatred between peoples. To provide a practical demonstration that international education works and that it can build bridges of understanding between peoples.


Location

Pearson College is located on the west coast of Canada on the shores of Pedder Bay, 29 km west of the city of Victoria, British Columbia. Clustered on the wooded shores of the bay, the cedar buildings on the College campus provide an ideal environment for the purpose, aims and philosophy of the institution.

Please click for Directions to Pearson College.


The Full Scholarship Policy

Lester B. Pearson felt strongly that Pearson College should "be open to all students with ability, regardless of financial means, religious belief or race." The Full Scholarship Policy was formally established by the Board of Trustees at the very beginning as one of the basic tenets of the College. As a result, all students are selected in open competition in their home countries and all students attend the College on full scholarship. Students selected are awarded a scholarship that covers their tuition, room and board. The value of this scholarship is over $30,000 per annum.


Residential Information

The constant intellectual and social exchange between students and staff of totally different cultural backgrounds is an important aspect of the education at Pearson College. The five student residences and other facilities are designed to create a comfortable environment for students to engage in discussions and share their varied international backgrounds. In each two-storey residence there are approximately 40 students, with female students living on one floor and male students on the other floor. There are four or five students in each room. College policy ensures that students share rooms with students of nationalities other than their own. A member of the faculty and their family live in an attached apartment and play an integral part in the life of each residence. The residences each have a common room or living room for use by the students. In the interest of the health of students, staff and faculty, smoking is prohibited on campus. British Columbia law and College policy prohibit students from possessing or using alcohol or illicit drugs.


Religious and Spiritual Practice

Our students are from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds. Students are encouraged to deepen their sense of spiritual values through inter-faith occasions, special programs on the religions of the world and opportunities to worship in the surrounding communities. A new, largely student-built Spiritual Centre was opened in April 2005 and offers a peaceful location for reflection and religious practice.

The College Calendar

The first term of the College year commences at the beginning of September and ends in mid-December. In late October, the students leave campus for five days to pursue individual projects. All students leave the campus for a three-week winter holiday in December and classes then resume in early January. The second term (January-May) is interrupted only by a week in early March and a long weekend in April. The school year ends in late May following the International Baccalaureate examinations. Specific dates will be provided to students upon selection. It is essential that students respect these dates.


Financial Support

Pearson College is a not-for-profit corporation constituted under the Federal laws of Canada. It is a registered charity. The College is also supported by donations to the Pearson College of the Pacific Foundation.


Operating Funds

The operating funds for the College come entirely from charitable donations. Pearson College students all attend on full scholarship. Their families do not pay fees. Support for the operation of the College and our scholarships comes from governments, foundations, corporations, individuals and our graduates. Each year, Pearson College conducts a fundraising campaign to support the operation of the College and to ensure that the students who attend may do so regardless of the economic circumstances of their family. The Pearson College of the Pacific Foundation makes a significant contribution to the College from the earnings of the endowment fund managed by the Foundation.


Endowment Fund

Over the years, an endowment fund has been established to secure the full scholarship policy at Pearson College in perpetuity. Donations to the endowment fund come from governments, foundations, companies and individuals. These tax-deductible donations are received by the Pearson College of the Pacific Foundation, which invests the capital and manages the endowment fund. Each year the trustees of the Foundation determine the level of support the endowment fund will provide for the full scholarship program.


Ways To Donate

Pearson College is in continual need of financial support to maintain our programs and ambitious full scholarship policy. Donations for the annual operating fund may be made direct to the College. Pearson College is registered as a charitable institution with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, under registration number 11901-8042-RR-0001. Donations to the endowment fund may be made direct to the Pearson College of the Pacific Foundation. The Foundation is registered as a charitable foundation with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, under registration number 86702-6312-RR0001. Donations to both Pearson College and the Pearson College of the Pacific Foundation are deductible from income tax under the appropriate Canadian laws. Tax receipts are issued for all donations. "

-http://www.pearsoncollege.ca

2 comments:

  1. Hi, I was watching a video in Youtube from your school and I wanted to know who was that boy from Estonia.

    Here's the video, if you don't know what I'm talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj_gauCnsy0.
    I just wanted to know because I'm from Estonia and I wanted to know get advice on how to get in Lester B Pearson College.
    I wish you the best of luck!
    PS: You're beautiful!
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Alice,
    I just read your lovely comment now! The boy from Estonia is my very good frient Timo, and if you still need advice on how to get in to Pearson please e-mail me: emmyliketheemmyawards@gmail.com

    Thank you so much.
    I'm sure you are beautiful too.

    ReplyDelete