GROUND Asia and the IB

Author : GROUND Asia Team | Tag : About GROUND, For Teachers, For Parents

At GROUND Asia we believe that instilling skills of leadership, resilience and compassion in students will build a more positive future for participants in our student travel programs. Which is why we deliver trips that can complement and enhance the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards – striving for a more balanced and compassionate society.

Each of our student travel programs can be tailored to your school’s desired learning outcomes – enabling students to build important life skills so that they can become strong communicators, as well as responsible, caring global citizens with empathy for their fellow team members. Our programs are based in local communities across Asia – matching the real needs of a particular community, with the education goals of the IB curriculum for each student.

On our travel programs, students learn how to work in a team where different group dynamics and personalities are at play. However, the learning process begins even before the program starts, as the students can also be involved in planning and researching their own itinerary and the country to be visited prior to departure.

Once students arrive at their destination they will be faced with a completely different culture and language where they will need to think of their feet and learn how to interact effectively with people from another culture. Students will also need to learn to work together with others in a team to reach new goals and achieve the best possible results. This is turn teaches respect for other team members, as well as a better understanding of the customs and cultural beliefs of the communities in which they are working and exploring.

Whether students are leading a group for the first time, or overcoming a language barrier, our programs encourage them to move out of their comfort zones and tackle the dynamics of a new environment. In short, students develop the ability to tackle real-time problems – important skills that will enhance their IB curriculum goals.

GROUND Asia’s educational travel programs can also be used as a creative platform for students when writing their extended essays, a mandatory core component of the IB diploma program. Our transformational travel programs, which are in line with the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals, encourage students to think outside the box, and explore sustainability and global social responsibility by immersing them in sustainable community service projects that provide proven and demonstrated benefits for the communities in which they are based.  

Some of the extended essay topics we recommend for students include:

•        Sustainable and community-based tourism practices in Siem Reap
•        The importance of sanitation in the hill tribes of Vietnam
•        The connection between consumer waste, irresponsible tourist behavior and the coastal marine environment of west Bali

GROUND Asia itineraries also complement the CAS (Creative, Action and Service) component of the IB with itineraries that encourage student Creativity through a whole range of community service projects in the Asian region; with such community-based activities as building, painting and renovation work, teaching and playing games with local children, and even putting on shows for the communities in which students are based. In addition, each program offers some downtime to students during which they can take part in such outdoor enterprises as hiking, bike riding and even surfing – all of which add an element of Action, as well as fun and adventure to each trip. In addition, the goals of each program provide an important Service in a responsible and sustainable way – creating not only challenging, positive learning experiences for students, but also directly benefiting the local communities in which our projects are set up.

GROUND Asia’s programs offer IB curriculum students a unique opportunity to learn outside the classroom, providing them with skill sets that will bolster their confidence, their ability to strategize, lead and work with others, while at same time, having a broader understanding of global and sustainable issues – all qualities that provide IB curriculum students with the edge they need to successfully go on and complete their courses and shape their careers.

If you’re interested in one of our student travel programs offered in six Asian countries, get in touch with us for a personalized proposal.