Strengthening Resilience Through the DofE Award

Confidence for a Rapidly Changing World

Young people today are growing up in an environment shaped by constant and fast-paced change. Increasing academic expectations, shifting social dynamics, and the influence of the digital world often leave students questioning which skills will genuinely prepare them for the future. While traditional education provides essential knowledge, it does not always equip them with the broader life skills needed beyond the classroom.

Why Experiences Beyond School Matter

Lessons and examinations help build discipline and critical thinking, but many important personal qualities—such as perseverance, empathy, teamwork, and resilience—are most naturally developed through real-life experiences. Many students feel academically prepared yet less confident when faced with unfamiliar challenges or responsibilities outside structured school settings.

This is why purposeful activities beyond school are so valuable. When teenagers choose their own challenges, they often uncover strengths, interests, and confidence that might otherwise remain hidden.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award as a Pathway

The Award offers a structured and supportive framework that encourages participants to explore new skills and set personal goals. Instead of competing with others or focusing solely on academic results, young people commit to their own development in areas such as community service, physical activity, skill-building, and outdoor exploration.

A key strength of the Award is how it promotes independence. Participants learn to plan, stay organised, and follow through—not because they are told to, but because they are working towards something meaningful to them. This shift from external pressure to internal motivation is one of the Award’s greatest benefits.

Building Stronger Community Connections

One of the most common challenges students face is feeling disconnected from their communities. Through the Award’s service component, participants take part in activities that support others—helping local organisations, tutoring younger pupils, joining environmental projects, or assisting at events. These experiences deepen their understanding of social responsibility.

Such involvement nurtures empathy, communication skills, and awareness of others’ needs—qualities that continue to influence how young people see their role in society long after completing the Award programme.

The Importance of Outdoor Challenges

In an age dominated by screens, the Award’s outdoor expeditions offer something increasingly rare: meaningful time spent in nature, away from digital distractions. Working in teams, students plan and complete journeys that require them to manage uncertainty, adapt to changing conditions, and rely on one another.

These expeditions are not extreme adventures but carefully supervised challenges designed to build resilience, problem-solving abilities, and confidence—qualities that flourish when young people step outside their comfort zones.

Enriching the School Community

At The British International School Bratislava, the Award has become an important part of how the school supports students’ personal development. Participants return with new skills, stories, and perspectives that enrich the wider school community. Their achievements often inspire younger pupils, encourage collaboration across year groups, and strengthen a culture of curiosity and responsibility.

Teachers also observe that students involved in the Award tend to manage their time more effectively and approach academic work with greater independence.

Preparing for Life Beyond School

Whether students continue with further studies or move directly into the workplace, the qualities developed through the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award—adaptability, teamwork, and community awareness—are increasingly valued. Universities and employers actively look for evidence of these traits, and the Award provides a meaningful way to demonstrate them.

Yet the most lasting impact is personal. Through the Award, young people discover what motivates them, how they respond to challenges, and what they can achieve when they commit to their goals—insights that guide them well beyond their school years.

Beáta Romhányi, ICT Teacher & Duke of Edinburgh´s International Award Leader