IDEAS Hub

The IDEAS Hub at Dover and the newly established UWCSEA East Innovation ecosystem encourage students of all ages to internalise an innovator’s mindset, think critically and to connect and collaborate with their local community as they seek to create solutions to real-world issues.

Respect for diversity lies at the heart of the UWC mission and linguistic diversity is an important component of how we define diversity. A growing body of research shows that bi- and multilingualism brings cognitive, linguistic, socio-cultural and emotional benefits and that all members of a community benefit from being in a multilingual environment because it provides increased opportunities to develop intercultural understanding.

Historian Benot Godin recounts the tale that in 1636, Henry Burton, a Church of England minister was found guilty of innovating, against King Edwards VI’s earlier Proclamation against Those that Doeth Innovate. While Burton had his ears cut and was sentenced to life imprisonment, innovation is now a central value of our society—and this small tale shows how attitudes can utterly transform over time.

Innovation initiatives at UWCSEA support students to take their original concepts from ideation to launch, learning from both their successes and mistakes in pursuit of the UWC mission. The IDEAS Hub at Dover and the UWCSEA East Innovation ecosystem, encourages students to internalise an innovator’s mindset, think critically and to connect and collaborate with our local community.

Innovation@East supports students to take their original concepts from ideation to launch, learning from both their successes and mistakes.

Kate Woodford, Senior Marketing Manager

Both campuses have been awarded Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification by Singapore’s BCA, recognising our efforts to maximise the sustainable design features of each campus. On Dover, many of these were incorporated during the 5-year campus rejuvenation, completed in 2016. A long-term commitment and significant effort saw existing structures (some dating back to the 1960s) retrofitted during the renovation, thanks to the efforts of our operations teams with support from our donors. Students are engaged in maximising these sustainable features, gaining valuable learning as changemakers in action.