The Career-related Programme core

The components of the core are at the heart of the Career-related Programme and are designed to enhance students’ personal qualities and professional development.

The Career-related Programme core contextualizes the Diploma Programme courses and the career‑related study and draws all aspects of the framework together. The core is designed to develop many of the characteristics and attributes described in the IB learner profile.

All components of the core are mandatory. They are:

• personal and professional skills
• service learning
• language development
• reflective project

Personal and professional skills

The personal and professional skills course aims to develop responsibility, practical problem-solving, good intellectual habits, ethical understandings, perseverance, resilience, an appreciation of identity and perspective, and an understanding of the complexity of the modern world. Emphasis is on the development of skills needed to successfully navigate higher education, the workplace and society.

A minimum of 90 timetabled hours is expected to be devoted to the personal and professional skills course.

Service learning

Service learning is the practical application of knowledge and skills towards meeting an identified community need. Through service, students develop and apply personal and social skills in real-life situations involving decision-making, problem-solving, initiative, responsibility and accountability for their actions.

A minimum of 50 hours is expected to be devoted to service learning.

Language development

Language development ensures that all students have access and are exposed to an additional language, which is a central tenet of an IB education and will increase their understanding of the wider world. Students are encouraged to begin or extend the study of a language other than their best language that suits their needs, background and context. It develops students in the areas of oral, visual and written linguistic and communicative abilities.

A minimum of 50 hours is expected to be devoted to language development.

Reflective project

The reflective project is an in-depth body of work produced over an extended period and submitted in year 2 of the Career-related Programme. Through the reflective project, students identify, analyse, discuss and evaluate an ethical dilemma associated with an issue from their career-related studies. This work
encourages students to engage in personal inquiry, intellectual discovery, creativity, action and reflection, and to develop strong thinking, research and communication skills.

The reflective project is assessed using grades A to E, with A representing the highest level of achievement.

A minimum of 50 hours is expected to be devoted to the reflective project.

Diploma programme courses

Students complete at least two Diploma Programme courses, either at standard or higher level, in any of the following subject groups:

• studies in language and literature
• language acquisition
• individuals and societies
• sciences
• mathematics
• the arts.

The courses chosen should be relevant to the students’ career-related studies.
The Diploma Programme courses (except for languages) will be examined in English, French or Spanish. Career-related studies The career-related studies are offered and awarded by the school. Each school must choose the careerrelated studies most suited to local conditions and the needs of their students.

It is important that the career-related study has a clear career focus. Career-related studies prepare students for further or higher education, an internship or apprenticeship, or a position in a designated field of interest. It provides the opportunity for students to learn about theories and concepts through application
and practice while developing broad-based skills in authentic and meaningful contexts.

Career-related studies are not offered or awarded by the IB; however, each career-related study must satisfy IB criteria in relation to accreditation, assessment and quality assurance.

Diploma Programme courses

The students chosen Diploma Programme courses are assessed according to the specific requirements listed in the subject guides.

The Career-related Programme core

The personal and professional skills course is internally assessed by the school.

The language development course is internally assessed, either by the school or by the external provider, and authenticated by the school.

The reflective project is internally assessed by the school but externally moderated by the IB.

The personal and professional skills, language development and service learning courses must be satisfactorily completed for the award of the Career-related Programme; satisfactory completion is determined by the school and reported to the IB through the IB Information Systems (IBIS).

The career-related study

The career-related study is assessed (or validated) by the relevant external authority, not by the IB.

The Certificate of the Career-related Programme of the International Baccalaureate will be awarded subject to satisfactory completion of the following requirements by a candidate:

1. The candidate has completed the specified career-related study.
2. The candidate has been awarded a grade 3 or more in at least two of the Diploma Programme courses registered for the Career-related Programme.
3. The candidate has been awarded a passing grade for the reflective project.
4. Personal and professional skills, service learning and language development requirements have been met.
5. The candidate has not received a penalty for academic misconduct.

All candidates will receive programme results detailing their level of achievement in the Diploma Programme courses and the reflective project along with the status of completion of the Career-related Programme core.