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UWC SELECTION COMMISSION: "ARMENIAN CHILDREN ARE VERY TALENTED"
Monday 31 March 2014 14:20
Photo: Mediamax.
UWC Selection Commission: "Armenian children are very talented"
On March 29 and 30, education experts and representatives of United
World Colleges (UWC) network conducted the final round of interviews
with children from Armenia.
This year, 21 children from Armenia will be able to study in UWC
system. 10 of them will enter UWC Dilijan and 11 - UWC colleges in
other countries (Italy, Wales, Hong Kong, Holland, Norway, Germany,
U.S., Singapore and India).
The main peculiarity of the selection process in UWC system is that
it doesn't involve schools as admissions and selection processes are
carried out by independent structures - UWC National Committees in
each country.
UWC Armenian National Committee received 270 applications. After
preliminary examination of the applications, 159 young people were
selected and UWC specialists interviewed them on Skype. 64 boys and
girls who passed this round got an invitation to the interview in
Yerevan on March 29 and 30.
Heavy snowfall at the night of March 30 was like a special test for
children from regions. Though many republican highways were closed
on March 30, parents of children from Gyumri, Spitak and other towns
managed to take children to the capital with all the possible and
impossible ways.
The selection commission comprised Armenian and foreign education
specialists, particularly representative of Anania Shirakatsi Complex
Satine Karakeshishyan, Director of Armenian Branch of PH International
Mariam Martirosyan, representative of UWC Adriatic (Italy) Rimma
Rapoporte, head of UWC Armenian National Committee Simone Sgarbossa,
graduate of UWC USA School Samir Mastaki, representative of UWC
Russian National Committee Darya Brodnikovskaya, UWC International
Office Senior Officer Mia Eskelund (Denmark) and others.
While selecting students for UWC schools, preference is given to
talented and socially active children. This selection system allows
bringing together interesting young people with out-of-box mindset
who are creative and socially active.
The members of the selection commission were pleasantly surprised by
the level of training of Armenian children. Mia Eskelund and Rimma
Rapoporte pointed out high level of mathematics knowledge. "I can
honestly say comparing the knowledge of mathematics in my own country,
Denmark, the knowledge is much better here", admitted Mia Eskelund
talking to Mediamax.
Mia Eskelund.
ФоÑ~Bо: Mediamax.
Rimma Rapoporte especially stressed the knowledge of languages among
participants.
"It was a big surprise to see how many people speak Russian. In some
other former Soviet Union republics people don't speak Russian. In
Armenia, it is fantastic - they can write in 3 completely different
alphabets, which is not something that average kids are able to do
worldwide", said UWC Adriatic representative.
Another selection commission member, UWC USA alumni Samir Mastaki
admitted talking to Mediamax that it will be difficult to select 21
people out of 64. "Every one of them can be a UWC student", he said.
At the same time, he advised teenagers to "remember that this is a
very competitive process". "Don't take it personally - if you were
not selected, it doesn't mean that we didn't like you or you wasn't
good enough", he stressed.
Samir Mastaki.
ФоÑ~Bо: Mediamax.
Samir Mastaki said that all the people were very positive in Armenia,
"starting from the officer at passports control at the Yerevan
airport". "Next time I would like to spend a couple of weeks in
Armenia", said Samir.
Simone Sgarbossa, Head of UWC Armenian National Committee, said that
many Armenian boys and girls surprised him a lot, especially those
from regions.
Simone Sgarbossa.
ФоÑ~Bо: Mediamax.
"They are very ambitious in a very human way. They really want
their lives to improve, they really care for their country, they
have very strong roots with their families", Simone Sgarbossa shared
his impressions.
Rimma Rapoporte pointed out that UWC Dilijan College is not a college
itself; it is going to become a part of bigger Dilijan community. "I
believe students can also participate in the developments and projects
related to the preservation of the National Park", she noted.
Rimma Rapoporte.
ФоÑ~Bо: Mediamax.
UWC International Office Senior Officer Mia Eskelund also said that
before Dilijan School establishment, the UWC hadn't been represented
in the region. "We welcomed UWC Dilijan initiative on setting up
National Committees in the countries of the region", she said.
The results of the selection round held on March 29-30 will be
announced in late April. Following it, colleges, including UWC Dilijan,
should give their consent and approve the candidate students.
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/society/9715/
Monday 31 March 2014 14:20
Photo: Mediamax.
UWC Selection Commission: "Armenian children are very talented"
On March 29 and 30, education experts and representatives of United
World Colleges (UWC) network conducted the final round of interviews
with children from Armenia.
This year, 21 children from Armenia will be able to study in UWC
system. 10 of them will enter UWC Dilijan and 11 - UWC colleges in
other countries (Italy, Wales, Hong Kong, Holland, Norway, Germany,
U.S., Singapore and India).
The main peculiarity of the selection process in UWC system is that
it doesn't involve schools as admissions and selection processes are
carried out by independent structures - UWC National Committees in
each country.
UWC Armenian National Committee received 270 applications. After
preliminary examination of the applications, 159 young people were
selected and UWC specialists interviewed them on Skype. 64 boys and
girls who passed this round got an invitation to the interview in
Yerevan on March 29 and 30.
Heavy snowfall at the night of March 30 was like a special test for
children from regions. Though many republican highways were closed
on March 30, parents of children from Gyumri, Spitak and other towns
managed to take children to the capital with all the possible and
impossible ways.
The selection commission comprised Armenian and foreign education
specialists, particularly representative of Anania Shirakatsi Complex
Satine Karakeshishyan, Director of Armenian Branch of PH International
Mariam Martirosyan, representative of UWC Adriatic (Italy) Rimma
Rapoporte, head of UWC Armenian National Committee Simone Sgarbossa,
graduate of UWC USA School Samir Mastaki, representative of UWC
Russian National Committee Darya Brodnikovskaya, UWC International
Office Senior Officer Mia Eskelund (Denmark) and others.
While selecting students for UWC schools, preference is given to
talented and socially active children. This selection system allows
bringing together interesting young people with out-of-box mindset
who are creative and socially active.
The members of the selection commission were pleasantly surprised by
the level of training of Armenian children. Mia Eskelund and Rimma
Rapoporte pointed out high level of mathematics knowledge. "I can
honestly say comparing the knowledge of mathematics in my own country,
Denmark, the knowledge is much better here", admitted Mia Eskelund
talking to Mediamax.
Mia Eskelund.
ФоÑ~Bо: Mediamax.
Rimma Rapoporte especially stressed the knowledge of languages among
participants.
"It was a big surprise to see how many people speak Russian. In some
other former Soviet Union republics people don't speak Russian. In
Armenia, it is fantastic - they can write in 3 completely different
alphabets, which is not something that average kids are able to do
worldwide", said UWC Adriatic representative.
Another selection commission member, UWC USA alumni Samir Mastaki
admitted talking to Mediamax that it will be difficult to select 21
people out of 64. "Every one of them can be a UWC student", he said.
At the same time, he advised teenagers to "remember that this is a
very competitive process". "Don't take it personally - if you were
not selected, it doesn't mean that we didn't like you or you wasn't
good enough", he stressed.
Samir Mastaki.
ФоÑ~Bо: Mediamax.
Samir Mastaki said that all the people were very positive in Armenia,
"starting from the officer at passports control at the Yerevan
airport". "Next time I would like to spend a couple of weeks in
Armenia", said Samir.
Simone Sgarbossa, Head of UWC Armenian National Committee, said that
many Armenian boys and girls surprised him a lot, especially those
from regions.
Simone Sgarbossa.
ФоÑ~Bо: Mediamax.
"They are very ambitious in a very human way. They really want
their lives to improve, they really care for their country, they
have very strong roots with their families", Simone Sgarbossa shared
his impressions.
Rimma Rapoporte pointed out that UWC Dilijan College is not a college
itself; it is going to become a part of bigger Dilijan community. "I
believe students can also participate in the developments and projects
related to the preservation of the National Park", she noted.
Rimma Rapoporte.
ФоÑ~Bо: Mediamax.
UWC International Office Senior Officer Mia Eskelund also said that
before Dilijan School establishment, the UWC hadn't been represented
in the region. "We welcomed UWC Dilijan initiative on setting up
National Committees in the countries of the region", she said.
The results of the selection round held on March 29-30 will be
announced in late April. Following it, colleges, including UWC Dilijan,
should give their consent and approve the candidate students.
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/society/9715/