Within the various IB programs, international-mindedness is defined by the attributes listed in the IB Learner Profile.
The world we live in is increasingly interconnected, globalized and multicultural; as a result, there are more opportunities for people of today’s world to communicate easily with those from different cultures and traditions. To ensure these interactions are meaningful, positive, and constructive, it has become necessary for world citizens to be lifelong learners who continually examine what they know, think, and feel about the global society. The IB Learner Profile aims to enrich it.
In the words of Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, “I do think the 21st-century is about a more global view. Where you don’t just think, yes my country is doing well, but you think about the world at large”.
What is International Mindedness Learning?
An internationally minded learner:
- is a competent communicator
- is open-minded and knowledgeable
- is a caring and principled thinker
- uses his or her curiosity and research skills to inquire about the world
- thinks and reflects critically about opportunities and challenges
International-mindedness is a view of the world in which people see themselves connected to the global community and assume a sense of responsibility to its members. It is an awareness of the inter-relatedness of all nations and peoples, and a recognition of the complexity of these relationships. The IB Learner Profile aim to address & include International Mindedness Learning.
The 10 attributes reflect the holistic nature of an IB education and support international-mindedness. They highlight the importance of nurturing dispositions such as curiosity and compassion, as well as developing knowledge and skills. They also highlight that, along with cognitive development, IB programmes are concerned with students’ social, emotional and physical well-being, and with ensuring that students learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.
IB educators help students to develop these attributes over the course of their IB education, and to demonstrate them in increasingly robust and sophisticated ways as they mature. The development of these attributes is the foundation of developing internationally minded students who can help to build a better world. Read more here.
| Balanced | Communicators |
| Caring | Principled |
| Inquirers | Thinkers |
| Knowledgeable | Reflective |
| Open-Minded | Risk Taker |