Governments

The IB in partnership with governments and inter-governmental organizations

The IB works closely with governments in different ways. In some cases our aim is to implement the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes in state school systems. In other cases we aim to establish distance-learning programmes, or to assist curriculum development, assessment and teacher training within state systems. The collaborative relationship also leads to exchanges of ideas that result in small or large reforms and innovations in state education programmes. Read the list [127 kb, PDF] of partnerships and exchanges with governments and inter-governmental organizations (IGOs).

Inter-governmental organizations and IB partnerships

United Nations, New York
The Global Teaching and Learning Project division of the UN in New York accepted an IB tender to produce two teaching booklets about UN global issues: one each for primary and secondary years. This project has been undertaken by the International Baccalaureate Curriculum and Assessment Centre in Cardiff using experienced curriculum writers from around the world, principally in IB World Schools, and having UN input and approval as each of the 20 units is completed. The booklets are expected to be published in English in 2008 and will eventually be available in all six UN languages. They will be copyrighted by the UN, with acknowledgement to the IB for its work, and disseminated to the governments of all member states for use in schools. The content of the booklets reflects the structure and philosophy of the IB programmes and includes the following sample units:

• A safe place (refugees)
• For all the world's children (children's rights)
• The busy marketplace (global trade)
• Water for life (sustainable development)
• Indigenous people
• Stereotypes and discrimination.
  

UNESCO
The IB has been recognized as a NGO of UNESCO since 1970 and currently has the status of “formal consultative relations as a network” with UNESCO. IB representatives participate regularly in UNESCO meetings and comment on UNESCO proposals in education. Some projects have received UNESCO funding—see Cambodia and Nigeria in the list of partnerships [125 kb, PDF] and exchanges with governments and inter-governmental organizations (IGOs).

Council of Europe

The IB has had consultative status with this body since 1989 and has taken part in working groups, in the early 1990s, on reforming the teaching of history in Central/Eastern Europe.  The Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (which includes the USA, Canada and Australia), known as the "Lisbon Convention"[137 kb, DOC], was signed in Lisbon in 1997. In 1999 a Recommendation on International Access Qualifications was accepted as an addendum to the Lisbon Convention; this supports IB diploma recognition in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia. The Council of Europe has major responsibility for the implementation of the Lisbon Convention, assisted by UNESCO. This convention prevents any country from denying access to higher education because students do not have a qualification from the country in which they wish to study. The institution being solicited is obliged to show that the foreign qualification is not of the same academic rigour before it can refuse acceptance. More than one IB student has been "saved" by the application of this agreement.

Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)
The IB has category C status - "mutual information relations" - with the OIF since 1998. The OIF comprises all countries where French is an official language plus a handful of others where it is still used (for example Egypt). There are 53 member countries. The OIF is funded by its member countries and supports the promotion of the French language. It also engages in discussions on, and provides assistance for, global and humanitarian issues. Meetings between the OIF and the IB have taken place. The OIF is a potentially useful partner to the IB in maintaining and furthering the use of the French language in IB programmes.