► The International Baccalaureate (IB) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968 as a nonprofit educational foundation aimed at providing students preparing for college with a qualification recognised by universities around the world.

► There have been more than half a million IB graduates since 1970 and more than 1,500 schools all over the world now offer the programme.

► Diploma students take six subjects, write a 4,000 word extended essay, complete a course in theory of knowledge and do a number of creativity, action and service projects.

► The IB educational foundation's website — at www.ibo.org — states that its learners should strive to be: enquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, openminded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective.

► Only schools authorised by the IB foundation as IB World Schools can offer the diploma programme. The authorisation process can take more than two years.