Les collèges du Monde Uni - UWC Senegal

13 January 2010

Mr Baidy Dieng

c/o Ernst & Young

22 rue Ramez Bourgi

BP 545 Dakar

Senegal

E-mail: baidy.dieng@sn.ey.com

Dear Baidy,

I am writing to offer a full scholarship place for a student from Senegal at Li Po Chun UWC for entry in

September 2010.

1. The Li Po Chun United World College Offer

The cost of a place at the College for 2010-2011 is currently estimated at HK$200,000, not

including an allowance for travel to and from Hong Kong or pocket money [up to HK$5,000 per

annum]. Fees for 2011-2012 are yet to be determined, but are unlikely to increase substantially

from the 2010-2011 figure.

UWC Committee Li Po Chun UWC

1 @ 0% 100%

At this stage the scholarship offer does not include pocket money [up to HK$5,000 per annum]

or annual return airfares, but these expenses can be subsidised upon application in full or part in

cases of extreme need. All tuition, boarding and extra-curricular expenses are included in our

offer.

2. Funding

We hope that you will be able to accept the above offer.

I understand that at this early stage of the selection process, you may not know the full extent to

which your Committee and/or the families of selected candidates can contribute to the cost of

airfares and local expenses at Li Po Chun UWC. From our viewpoint, we face a similar situation

in that the full extent of our own scholarship funding will not be confirmed until early 2010. In

that context, if your Committee or the parents are able to make some contribution to the

scholarship costs, this would be very much appreciated. Committees often tell us when they

need extra funding, but all too seldom offer to contribute more when it could have been

afforded, thus helping other needy students.

3. Time Frame

Please be aware that it can take up to 10 weeks to obtain a student visa for Hong Kong, so final

selection of candidates should be completed and advised to us before the end of April.

4. Selection Criteria and Personality

Reflecting its location, LPCUWC is a community that values Chinese morals and ethics.

Emphasis is placed on the Chinese traditions of proper conduct, practical wisdom, appropriate

social relationships and respect for academic learning. The sense of community is valued above

the rights of the individual, and harmony is valued above anarchy. The practice of reflecting

before speaking is valued above empty rhetoric.

Committees should be mindful that LPCUWC is a deeply Chinese as well as international

community, and therefore the students who thrive tend to be those who are not self-centred, but

who are:

and who have:

5. Language Competence

The standard of English in Hong Kong, and especially at LPCUWC, is extremely high, and

students with weak English often feel very uncomfortable and vulnerable in spite of the best

efforts of everyone in the College community. A student does not need to be totally fluent in

English before coming to LPCUWC, but s/he should have a strong working foundation to feel

comfortable in an environment where the level of English is generally excellent.

6. Atmosphere

A comment from some students, especially those from Western Europe, is that the College

atmosphere is relatively conservative. There certainly is an element of social restraint and

pragmatism resulting from the over 50% East Asian and to a lesser extent African, Central Asian

and Eastern European student body. The successful student in our community is more likely to

be a thoughtful, organised student who is prepared to do a lot of quiet work behind the scenes to

make things work well, rather than a charismatic extrovert. Of course we want a share of all

personality types to reflect the world’s diversity. However, while the Asian students may be

entertained by charismatic extroverts, they will seldom be impressed, unless the extroverts have

genuinely worthwhile things to say!

In general terms, students from Western and Latin American countries must expect to adjust in

subtle ways to the ethos of the College. Directness will often be misunderstood as lack of respect

or rudeness, and spontaneity can be seen as superficiality. To take one example, local students

from Hong Kong generally tend to think deeply before they speak.

7. Rules

Our written rules are similar in most respects to other Colleges, insofar as the following are

disallowed: drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual activity, bullying, harassment, assaulting others,

stealing and ‘borrowing without permission’. Moreover, the College insists on attendance at all

classes and College activities, academic integrity and adherence to curfew and/or quiet time.

However, there are some important differences between LPCUWC and other Colleges as

described below.

Hong Kong law regards sexual activity in shared areas (which means the entire campus, not only

the dormitories) as “sexual harassment” by creating a “sexually hostile environment”. The law

requires that the College guarantees protection to students from such harassment, and therefore

the teaching staff do make occasional random visits to dormitories and other parts of the campus

late at night, particularly when we have reason to believe the rules are not being observed.

Students should expect to be expelled for non-compliance of any of the College’s rules when the

behaviour violates Hong Kong laws.

Students coming to Hong Kong MUST understand how seriously drug use is regarded. This

includes marijuana use, which is strictly illegal. Under no circumstances may any student at

LPCUWC possess or use drugs, and non-compliance on this matter will usually result in the

student’s visa to study in Hong Kong being withdrawn. Sales of alcohol to people under 18 is

also prohibited.

LPCUWC is a smoke-free campus in compliance with Hong Kong Government law. Even off

campus, smoking is frowned upon by the vast majority of the students in the College.

8. The LPCUWC Experience

It is probably fair to say that the UWC experience at Li Po Chun UWC falls into four broad

areas:

opportunities for leadership to make the world a better place, and for breaking chains of

poverty and disempowerment. The academic area is probably taken more seriously by

students at LPCUWC than at most UWCs, perhaps reflecting the traditional Chinese respect

for the scholar that stems from Confucian ideals.

Before committing to come to Li Po Chun United World College a nominated applicant

must understand that the academic demands are very considerable. Furthermore, students

should be quite clear about the subjects offered here. Every year a few students arrive

thinking they will be able to take a subject that is not in our curriculum, or even worse, seem

surprised by the significant academic demands they encounter. The subjects on offer are

at LPCUWC for the expanded CAS programme that helps to define our identity as a UWC.

The Quan Cai programme requires students to be involved in at least one area of each of the

following four areas:

Week, where a deep commitment is made to learning from people of other cultures, serving

others, personal challenge, and building bridges of understanding between China and the

rest of the world for a new generation.

campus enables students to learn how to share, to trust, to get on with others, to learn from

one another, and to form friendships for life.

I would be pleased to receive your initial response to this offer. I would encourage you, your Committee

and all prospective students, to visit our website for more information and photographs of campus life

For your information our term dates for 2010-2011 are projected to be:

Student arrival September [3], 4, 5

Departure for December break December [17], 18, 19

Return for second semester January [7], 8, 9

Departure for Summer break* May 24

* Subject to confirmation of IB Examination Dates. [ ] only if unavoidable.

I look forward to your early reply.

Yours sincerely,

(Dr) Stephen Codrington

Principal

c.c. UWC International Office