The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Career-related Programme (CP) is a framework of international education that combines the IB’s vision and educational principles with a specialized program designed for students pursuing career-related learning.
What the CP offers students:
The CP offers a comprehensive educational framework. It blends esteemed, internationally recognized courses from the IB Diploma Programme (DP). This is combined with a distinctive CP core and an approved career-related study.
The CP helps develop students who are:
- Academically strong
- Skilled in a practical field
- Critical and ethical thinkers
- Self-directed
- Collaborative
- Resilient and determined
- Confident and assured
- Caring and reflective
- Inquirers
What are the benefits of the CP for students?
The CP empowers students to:
- Apply their knowledge to practical, real-world contexts.
- Pursue their preferred educational and career paths.
- Blend academic learning with personal interests and professional skills.
- Participate in meaningful learning that positively impacts their community.
- Develop critical and creative thinking skills.
- Communicate effectively and adapt to various situations.
- Work both independently and collaboratively.
- Embrace new perspectives and diverse viewpoints.
- Build self-confidence and self-awareness.
- Exhibit resilience and adaptability in different circumstances.
- Cultivate a global mindset and international awareness.
A central component of the International Baccalaureate® Career-related Programme (CP), the CP core focuses on experiential learning to foster students’ personal and interpersonal growth.
The CP core connects IB academic courses with career-related studies, equipping students with a blend of academic knowledge and practical skills.
It is comprised of four interconnected components.
Personal and Professional Skills:
The Personal and Professional Skills course is designed to help students develop attitudes, strategies, and skills. These can be applied to both personal and professional contexts, both now and in the future.
This course emphasizes workplace skill development, focusing on transferable skills that can be utilized across a variety of situations.
Service Learning:
Service learning involves applying knowledge and skills to address a specific, authentic community need.
Through this research-driven approach, students often engage in service projects. These projects are connected to topics explored in their academic disciplines. They leverage the skills, insights, and values gained from their studies.
Reflective Project:
The reflective project is a comprehensive piece of work created over an extended period and submitted at the conclusion of the CP. It allows students to identify, analyze, critically examine, and evaluate an ethical issue related to their career-focused studies.
This project is designed to foster advanced research, writing, and communication skills, while encouraging intellectual exploration and creativity.
Language Development:
Language development provides all students with access to a language program. This program supports and enhances their understanding of the broader world. The ability to communicate in multiple languages is fundamental to the IB’s vision of international education.
Language development encourages students to strengthen their skills in a language other than their native one.
Overview of the IB Career-related Programme (CP)
The International Baccalaureate® Career-related Programme (CP) offers students a unique blend of academic courses and career-related studies, fostering the development of critical thinking, practical skills, and global awareness. The CP prepares students to be confident, resilient, and ethical thinkers by connecting academic learning with real-world applications.
Key components such as Personal and Professional Skills, Service Learning, the Reflective Project, and Language Development empower students in several ways. They help students gain hands-on experience. They also enable them to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Additionally, students develop the skills necessary to thrive in both personal and professional contexts.
Lehigh Valley Academy RCS 