Welsh college that changed world education

St Donat’s Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a location for an international college.

UWC Atlantic College in Llantwit Major was set up at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis to promote peace and understanding among youngsters from across the world.

It was the first of twelve United World Colleges around the world, with an ethos of ‘transforming lives through education’.

The college helped to create the International Baccalaureate and started a worldwide education movement.

Students there also invented the rigid hulled inflatable lifeboat, selling the patent to the RNLI for £1. The uncashed cheque still hangs in the College and would be worth £15m a year today.

A new qualification, the Atlantic Diploma, is being launched to coincide with the college's 50th anniversary, combining 'academic rigour with community service'.

Students already spend afternoons in services like teaching older people how to use computers, music therapy with Alzheimer's patients, translation services at Parc Prison, and life-saving skills.

Today UWC president Queen Noor of Jordan will be sitting in on lessons, meeting students and alumni and burying a time capsule containing students’ stories on Wales’ effect on their world.

Education Minister Leighton Andrews will also be present.

Later this week 350 students from over 90 nations, including Wales, will showcase song, dance, food and celebration from their own countries.