Our students have big ambitions. And whether it’s earning a place at Oxford, embarking on a career in chemical engineering, or pursuing a passion for the visual arts, our role, at NAIS Dublin, is to help them get exactly where they want to go.
So, how do we do this? And what are the skills, qualifications, and attributes that top higher education institutions and employers look for in our graduates?
In this blog, we share how the education we offer prepares our young people for university – and explain what it means to be university and careers ready.
The term ‘university readiness’ refers to the set of skills, knowledge, and behaviours a student needs to get into – and flourish at – university or college.
To prepare for university, a young person needs to develop a wide range of competencies, which are gained both through and beyond the academic curriculum.
These ‘university ready’ capabilities tend to fall into three key areas:
• Academic knowledge – both general (core subjects and the ‘theory of learning’) and specific to the degree or course a student wants to study.
• Skills – such as essay writing, critical thinking, problem solving, time management, decision-making, and communication.
• Behaviours – the right mindset, for example, being motivated, determined, and open-minded, having a strong work ethic, and possessing the ability to overcome challenges.
University readiness starts with academic excellence.
Fundamentally, whether a student is accepted by their dream university or not is largely determined by their exam results and other performance benchmarks. The curriculum a school offers is also important.
At NAIS Dublin, we teach the International Baccalaureate (IB) from the Early Years all the way through to 18.
Unique in Dublin, our all-through, future-focused, truly global IB continuum encourages independence, creativity, and critical thinking. The continuum is packed with skill-boosting experiences that pique our learners’ curiosity, encourage innovation, and instil a lifetime love of learning.
The IB also lays an outstanding academic foundation, which is recognised by the world’s leading universities.
Our IB continuum culminates in the prestigious IB Diploma.
With its equal focus on subject knowledge and skill development, the IB Diploma is universally recognised as the best way to prepare for university.
The curriculum comprises six subject areas and a core programme. The six subjects span language, literature, individuals and societies, sciences, maths, and the arts, providing a broad and balanced pre-university education. The core programme, meanwhile, contains three elements: Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), the Extended Essay, and a Theory of Knowledge course.
Alongside academic success, our students need to build a wide and varied skillset to prepare for university.
The IB Diploma core programme helps our students do exactly this.
• The Extended Essay is an in-depth research and assignment writing project that replicates the demands of university self-study. It’s the ideal preparation for the challenge of higher education coursework and projects.
• The Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) element of the core programme provides opportunities for our young people to make a difference, learn about the world, and develop a strong portfolio of skills.
• The Theory of Knowledge course gives our students an understanding of how we learn, encouraging independent thinking, enquiry, and self-reflection.
Skill development is woven into all levels of our IB curriculum.
Our exclusive STEAM collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), for example, encourages critical thinking and problem solving, as students tackle challenges set by university professors. Our performing arts collaboration with The Juilliard School, meanwhile, gives our young people a platform to express their creativity and grow in confidence.
Through the IB Learner Profile, our Approaches to Learning framework, and Nord Anglia Education’s Learner Ambitions, we also create a character education framework for our students. This is designed to help them develop the values, outlook, and mindset they need to flourish.
Beyond our IB curriculum, our students take part in a range of extra-curricular activities.
This is important for lots of reasons, not least because it develops a host of skills prized by universities. Getting involved in activities outside of lessons also helps our students to stand out from the crowd when it comes to the competitive college application process.
We organise a variety of clubs, which span athletics and team sports, the arts, languages, and technology. Life-changing international trips to destinations like Switzerland develop independence and confidence, and broaden horizons. Our students also take part in global competitions and challenges, including STEAM festivals and Model United Nations debates.
When our students graduate, we don’t just want them to be prepared for university, we also want them to be ready for a global future.
We believe that young people with a global mindset have competitive advantages in an increasingly interconnected world. This is why we seek to inspire creative, confident citizens with a thirst for knowledge and a vision to effect positive change in society.
Our collaboration with UNICEF is one of the ways we do this. Every year, our students support hundreds of local causes through activities and work toward the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This opens their eyes to the world and encourages them to develop their own ways of helping, both locally and globally.
To realise their ambitions – and ensure they’re prepared for university – every student receives specialist support and guidance.
This includes help to find, work towards, and apply for their dream university course. Working with our families, we identify a student’s unique aspirations and create a plan to achieve them. This includes IB Diploma subject selection, additional qualifications, and areas for development. It also includes practical support throughout the application process.
We prioritise our students’ health and wellbeing in everything we do, too. The six pillars of sustained wellbeing are embedded into our IB curriculum, which equips our learners with the tools to realise their potential. It also gives them an understanding of how they can live their best possible life.
As a school, we do everything we can to make sure our students are prepared for university.
This sees our graduates gain entry to the world’s top higher education institutions. Destinations include: University of Cambridge, Durham University, Kings College of London, The University of Edinburgh, Trinity College Dublin, Seoul University, University of Toronto, Utrecht Law College Netherlands and University of Hong Kong.
What does it mean to be ‘university ready’?
Being ‘university ready’ means a student is prepared – academically, emotionally, and practically – for the demands of higher education.
This includes academic knowledge, as well as independence, emotional resilience, and fundamental life skills. Academic success is, ultimately, the foundation – but it’s also about having the skills, competencies, and behaviours to thrive in a new, challenging environment.
How do international schools, like NAIS Dublin, help students prepare for university?
Our role, at NAIS Dublin, is to prepare our students for the future – which, for many of our students, means preparing them for university and employment.
We do this through our all-through IB curriculum, which nurtures essential academic skills, like critical thinking, research, and time management. The IB is globally respected, too, opening doors to the world’s best universities.
We also ensure our students develop a broad and varied set of skills. Our extra-curricular activity programmme, which includes team sports, arts, and community service projects, encourages personal growth and builds teamwork, communication, and leadership qualities.
Expert, personalised support and guidance also helps our young people to prepare for university. We organise university fairs and visits, help with the application process, and offer the very best wellbeing support.
Together, this ensures our students are not only academically prepared, but also emotionally and practically university ready.
How do you ensure students are also ‘career ready’?
Being ‘career ready’ is much the same as being ‘university ready’.
Career readiness, fundamentally, means being prepared to thrive in the world of work. It involves the development of essential skills, like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and confidence, along with an understanding of personal strengths, career options, and the ability to adapt and grow.
To find out more about how we prepare students for university at NAIS Dublin, please get in touch with us at: admissions@naisdublin.com.
We know that children learn best when they feel safe, happy, and supported. We also understand the importance of providing state-of-the-art settings that inspire and challenge our learners.
At Nord Anglia Education schools, we encourage our students not only to learn foreign languages but to think, feel, and experience the world through them. Many of our schools around the world, from the United States to Switzerland and from Vietnam to China, offer a world-class bilingual education.
Bilingualism—the ability to communicate fluently in two languages—helps children learn and grow. At our schools, we understand being bilingual helps students truly excel because it boosts their thinking skills, improves decision-making, and enhances communication. Plus, it helps them appreciate other cultures on a deeper level.
Read on for a closer look at all the benefits of bilingualism.
