Frequently Asked Questions

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE IB DP SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION PATHWAY?

All UCC Year 10 students will consult with the UCC University Counseling Office on their graduation pathway options, as part of the application process. As part of these consultations, students may consider whether this pathway is right for them and make an application.

This pathway may be ideal for students who are:

• interested in making the world a better place through social innovation, business and entrepreneurship, and opportunities to initiate change and develop leadership skills
• looking to balance and broaden their assessment experiences and enjoy collaborative, real-world focused learning, tackling authentic problems
• interested in science, medicine, engineering, technology with a desire to continue with a design focus and deeper pursuit of sciences and maths
• interested in the social sciences, law, global politics, international development with a desire to continue with a focus on social justice and action
• interested in languages, literature, communications, journalism and the arts with a desire to continue with a focus on the power of the arts and media in supporting community and wellbeing
• want more flexibility in their subject options, beyond the traditional IB Diploma requirements.

This course is likely not suitable for students who:

• have not demonstrated secure Approaches to Learning (ATLs) in Years 9 and 10
• prefer more traditional, exam-focused modes of learning
• think this will be an easier diploma option
• have specific course requirements for university which do not align with the IB Diploma model as a whole and/or who want to pursue course combinations not possible within this pathway

HOW DO STUDENTS APPLY?

Year 10 students entering Year 11 in September 2025 and after may submit an application outlining their interest in the IB DP Systems Transformation Pathway. Specific elements of the application will be noted at our information sessions this fall. Applications will require sign-off from the University Counselling Office and parents/guardians.

A selection committee will review all applications and select up to 24 students to participate in this pathway beginning in the 2025–26 academic year.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR MY UNIVERSITY PROSPECTS?

Graduates of this pathway will earn both the IB Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), which are well regarded by top-tier universities.

As one of four schools approved by the IB to offer this Systems Transformation Pathway, UCC is collaborating with other highly regarded schools and with the IB to build understanding of this pathway among universities. At UCC, the University Counselling Office has been actively engaging universities in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. who have expressed interest in graduates of this pathway due to alignment of ethos and program offerings.

The UCO will work with students to understand their areas of interest, ambition and their goals for postsecondary in order to determine if this pathway is the right choice to support their university aspirations.

WHAT COURSE QUALITY ASSURANCE MEASURES ARE IN PLACE?

The Systems Transformation: Innovation for a Better World course is new and unique. A broad, diverse team of experienced UCC academic leaders and teachers with expertise in design, the sciences and humanities have been working in close collaboration with the IB since 2023 on its development to ensure it meets their rigorous standards for curriculum and assessment. It will be delivered to students by an exceptional interdisciplinary team of UCC faculty who have deep knowledge of their subject matter.

As with every course, we will gather teacher reflections and student feedback and adjust to ensure we are delivering the highest quality transformational learning experiences our students and families have come to expect.

HOW DOES THE COURSE ASSESSMENT APPROACH COMPARE WITH OTHER IB DP COURSES?

The Systems Transformation: Innovation for a Better World course has been developed with an alternative assessment approach for the DP. This means that, while Systems Transformation students will be graded using the same 1–7 system, and will work towards the same IB Diploma qualification, they won’t be assessed through traditional exam models. Instead, assessments on this course will be project-based, including a reflective process portfolio, a case study and reports.

Assessment is designed to be:

Balanced: The assessment model distributes the number of formal assessment components across the two-year course and is project- based rather than culminating in a final examination at the end of the course. Students will demonstrate skills and transdisciplinary understanding through a process portfolio, case study work and projects. Fifty per cent is assessed externally by IB examiners; fifty per cent is assessed by UCC teachers, and moderated by the IB.

Authentic: Projects will tackle pressing, real-world issues, with students designing interventions or artifacts for authentic audiences. This could include community partners, external experts and others.

Iterative: Ongoing, formative assessment, including peer review and targeted self-reflection, is a key feature of the project-based approach on this course. Students will revisit, re-evaluate and refine their approach.

Read more IB DP Systems Transformation Pathways FAQs here.