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Download a brief overview of Pearson College UWC.
What is Pearson College UWC?
About Pearson College UWC
Pearson College UWC, located just outside Victoria, B.C., on the unceded territory of the Sc’ianew First Nation (also known as Beecher Bay), is one of 18 UWCs (United World Colleges) worldwide. The College is a two-year, pre-university school for more than 200 students from more than 100 countries who live, study and learn together, pursuing the International Baccalaureate within an experiential education approach. A group of visionaries founded the College in the early 1970s with the goal of creating a national memorial to Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Prime Minister of Canada, Lester B. Pearson. Mr. Pearson’s beliefs about peace and global understanding aligned very strongly with those of the UWC mission: “To make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.” After Mr. Pearson’s death in 1972, the nascent College was named in his honour, with the first students arriving in September 1974. Today, more than 4,300 students have graduated from Pearson College UWC and, as alumni, continue to live the UWC mission by working as leaders and agents of change in communities and organizations worldwide. For more information about the College and the UWC, please explore this website and our Facebook, X (Twitter) and other social media links (please see website footer).
Senior Leadership Team
Jason McBride
Head of College
Tyrone Pile, CMM, MSC, CD
Deputy Head of College - Operations
Arno Dirks
Deputy Head of College - Academics
Pearson College UWC brochure
An education like no other
Current Priorities
As we build our vision for the future, Pearson College UWC has established three primary objectives guide our work:
- To enhance public awareness and community engagement
- To ensure our program, both academic and experiential, is world-class and cutting-edge
- To ensure the College is on a sustainable financial footing
Scholarship Awards
Over 75% of our students received full or partial scholarships, either from Pearson College UWC or from an outside organization.
Cost of a Pearson College Education
While the vast majority of students receive full or partial scholarships, the cost of a comprehensive International Baccalaureate-based, experiential-infused education is about $70,000 Canadian annually.
Where our Students go
Over the last two years, Pearson College UWC graduating students went on to study at universities and other post-secondary institutions around the world.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a core principal of the learnings and practices of the College. Since 2008, the College has reduced electricity, natural gas, water and paper use by 10%. Food scraps are recovered for composting and ongoing improvements to buildings are further enhancing energy efficiencies.
Race Rocks Ecoguardian
Since March 1997, Pearson College UWC has acted as Ecoguardian of Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, a small collection of islands and a marine reserve located in the eastern entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Salish Sea. The College volunteered to take over a long-term lease from BC Parks to manage the area and provide a human presence for the protection of the island and marine reserve. The site is staffed by the official Pearson College UWC Ecoguardian, and has become a learning centre for the students of the College, due to the rich marine environment. It also acts as a test area for some of the College’s key sustainability initiatives and learning initiatives. For example, electricity for the buildings on Race Rocks is generated by the integrated energy system. Because of its high-current area, there is an exceptional variety of marine life found on Race Rocks. It remains a haul-out area for California and Northern sea lions, as well as a birthing rookery for Harbour and Elephant seals. Thanks to a three-camera remote viewing system, people from around the world can view Race Rocks via the live video feeds.
Key Facts About our Alumni
- Our students have come from over 150 different countries since 1974
- More than 4,800 Pearson scholars have graduated since 1974
- 15 Pearson Scholars have gone on to become Rhodes Scholars
- Close to 200 Pearson graduates are currently university professors
- More than 400 Pearson alumni have received or are working on their doctorate degrees
- More than 50 Pearson alumni are currently working for inter-governmental organizations, with more being added all the time
Notable Alumni
Pearson College UWC has a proud tradition graduating notable alumni who have gone one to achieve international, national and community acclaim. A small sampling of these individuals includes:
Latif Nasser (from O.N., Canada, graduated in 2004)
Former UWC Davis Scholar and accomplished science journalist, renowned for his engaging work as the host of NPR’s RadioLab and Netflix’s series “Connected.”
Mira Murati (from Albania, graduated in 2007)
Recipient of a UWC Davis Scholarship, showcasing the potential for Pearson graduates to excel in cutting-edge fields like AI and technology, as the Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, the company behind Chat GPT.
David He (from B.C., graduated in 2022)
Appointed to the Prime Minister’s Youth Council by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he now serves on the UN Human Rights Office as a Youth Advisor.
H.E. Shauna Aminath (from Maldives, graduated in 2004)
A prominent figure as Maldives’ Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology.
Evan Adams (from B.C., Canada, graduated in 1984)
Award-winning Coast Salish actor (Toby McTeague, Smoke Signals) and physician, now Chief Medical Officer for B.C.’s First Nations Health Authority, serving 250,000 Indigenous people.
Marta Morgan (from B.C., Canada, graduated in 1981)
Associate Deputy Minister of Finance; has been named in The Top 100 Most Powerful & Influential People in Government and Politics in Canada in 2015.
Jo Becker year 7 (from B.C., Canada, graduated in 1982)
Children’s Rights Advocacy Director for Human Rights Watch.
Abiodun Williams (from Sierra Leone, graduated in 1979)
President of The Hague Institute for Global Justice in The Hague, Netherlands and a noted academic in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and conflict management. He wasformerly a senior official at the United Nations.
Douglas Alexander (from United Kingdom, graduated in 1986)
Former Shadow Foreign Secretary and Former Minister of State for Europe; including cabinet posts in both Tony Blair’s and Gordon Brown’s governments.
Jorge Titinger (from Peru, graduated in 1980)
World-famous soccer star for the North American Soccer League, CEO and president of Silicon Graphics International; awarded, “Most Influential Latino in Silicon Valley in the Area of Technology.”
Audrey Mothupi (from Kenya, graduated in 1990)
Chief Executive Officer of SystemicLogic Group, focused on global research, innovation and digital technology. Prior to this, she headed inclusive banking at Standard Bank.
Arish Fyzee (from India, graduated in 1977)
Creative Director of Prana Studios — the film company that developed the fire-breathing beasts in Game of Thrones, and partnered with the group who made the special effect for Life of Pi.
Anne Enright (from Ireland, graduated in 1981)
Irish novelist longlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize; winner of the 2007 Man Booker Prize.