The Australian International Academy is an IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Program from year 6 to year 12. The IB Middle Years program (MYP) is offered in years 6 – 10, and the IB Diploma Program (IB) is offered in years 11 – 12 in addition to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).

IB Middle Years Program  MYP

The Academy has introduced the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program MYP for years 6 – 10 from 1999 as an attempt to better prepare students for the demands of VCE and IB Diploma studies.

The MYP complements the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS), but it enhances its effectiveness while developing in students a number of qualities, which the Academy sees as necessary for effective citizens of the 21^st Century. The VELS sets the learning curriculum and standards while the MYP sets the learning framework and assessment in years 6 – 10.

The MYP advances a holistic view of knowledge by accentuating the interrelatedness of the various disciplines through the implementation of interdisciplinary perspectives into all subject areas. It also seeks to foster intercultural awareness, the development of global perspectives, cooperative learning, and an understanding of universal values.

Communication is a cornerstone of the MYP and this extends beyond the learning of first and second language skills towards development of listening, the ability to be attuned to the nuances of intention and variation.

The student’s intellectual and social development is the focus of the MYP. Five broad areas known as the areas of interaction give the MYP its distinctive core. These are common themes embedded within, and visible across academic subjects:

·         Approaches to Learning encourages students to take increasing responsibility for their learning. It is concerned with learning how to learn and how to evaluate information critically.

·         Community and Service encourages students to become aware of their roles and their responsibilities as members of communities.

·         Health and Social Education encourages students to explore personal, physical and societal issues and to develop respect for body and mind

·         Environments encourages students to become aware of their interdependence with the world and to develop responsible and positive attitudes towards their environments.

·         Human Ingenuity encourages students to examine and reflect on the ingenious ways in which humans think, create and initiate change.

Year 10 Transition Program

The year 10 Program at AIA is partly a culmination of the more holistic MYP and a preparation for the rigorous academic requirements of the VCE and the IB Diploma Programs. It seeks to ensure students can make informed choices in planning their courses of study while maintaining the growth in personal development fostered throughout the MYP and concentrated within the IB and VCE Programs.

In essence, the year 10 Transition Program consists of five key components:

§  Core Subjects. Students must study English, LOTE, Islamic Studies, Mathematics and Science.

§  Options: Throughout the year students must study five option subjects from amongst a broad list agreed to before the commencement of year 10. Most options lead on to VCE or IB studies.

§  Extension Projects: Students must successfully complete one individual Personal Extension Project, and two Group Extension Projects during the course of the year.

§  Community Involvement Activities: Students must complete a minimum number of hours of Community Service each Semester.

§  Extra Curricular Activities: Students must participate in a selection from a number of activities which include sports, camps, interschool debating, drama activities, publications involvement, SRC membership, clubs and interfaith groups, and cross age tutoring.

Successful completion of the year 10 Program requires the successful completion of a stipulated number of units made up from all five groups. The wide variety of choice available encourages students to explore and develop their interests and talents while preparing them for the decisions that need to be made for the VCE and IB Programs and beyond.

International Baccalaureate Program  IB

The IB is a rigorous Diploma Program recognised by Universities around the world as preparing students exceptionally well for Tertiary study within a global context. The IB Program educates the whole person by developing all facets of the individual while demanding rigorous scholarship. Each of the disciplines is learned at a very high standard, emphasising in students the need for critical thinking and learning how to learn.

Students study six subjects, one of each of which must come from each of the general fields; First Language, Second Language, Humanities, Sciences, Mathematics. The sixth subject may be a creative Art subject or may be a second option from any of the fields of study.

In addition students must complete a 4000 word research essay on a topic of choice, they study Theory of Knowledge as an assessable subject, and they must complete 240 hours of voluntary involvement in creative activity, sports involvement and community service (CAS).

The major component of the assessment of each subject consists of externally set and corrected examinations, with internally assessed and externally moderated Work Requirements forming the minor portion.

Victorian Certificate of Education  VCE

The first year 12 VCE class graduated from AIA in 1995. Since then the Academy has been able to develop its VCE program to satisfy the requirements of almost all students. The orientation of nearly all students completing the VCE is towards Tertiary study and the subjects on offer reflect this academic demand.

Though year 11 IB and VCE students attend some common classes, it is not possible for VCE students to transfer into the IB program at the end of year 11 because of differences in the structures of the two courses. IB students can however transfer into the VCE program.

A highly qualified and largely experienced staff, most of whom teach within both the VCE and IB programs, provides the students with caring support while emphasising personal responsibility for success. Extensive guidance and counseling are an integral part of assisting students towards the achievement of their study and career goals.