UWC Red Cross Nordic
10 February 2025
Flekke, Norway
104 students, aged 17 to 19 years- Founded - 1995
Established in 1995, UWC Red Cross Nordic College (UWC RCN) is situated in Flekke, Norway. Proudly operating as a Foundation, the college is sustained by the collective contributions of all Nordic countries, with the Red Cross in Norway and Sogn & Fjordane standing as key founders. Embracing UWC’s commitment to humanitarian principles, students at UWC RCN actively pursue a Red Cross diploma,
embodying our dedication to fostering global understanding and service.
Three unique features
Nordic: Public funding from the Nordic countries enables the college to undertake selection based entirely on merit and potential, creating a learning environment where diversity is truly experienced as a value for all.
Humanitarian: The Norwegian Red Cross is one of the founders of the college. In the extra academic programme all students take an extensive Red Cross diploma, providing knowledge of the humanitarian principles of the
organisation and the practical skills associated with them. The College shares the campus and cooperates with the Red Cross Haugland Rehabilitation Centre, who also gives access to their training facilities.
Environmental: The college emphasises awareness of themes related to sustainability in several subjects and has an action component related to it in several extra academic groups, including cooperation with the region. The certification for Environmental Lighthouse is undertaken with a yearly report.
Academic curriculum
Our students follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), which is made up of three core components and six subject groups.
Average class size: 14 students
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Core components
Theory of Knowledge: students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know.- The Extended Essay: an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): students take part in a range of experiences and at least one project.
Subjects
Studies in language and literature: Danish Literature, English Literature, English Language & Literature, Norwegian Literature, Spanish Literature, Swedish Literature, School Supported Self-Taught Literature - Language acquisition: English B, French Ab Initio, Norwegian B, Spanish Ab Initio, Spanish B
- Individuals and societies: Economics, Geography, History, Global
Politics, Environmental Systems & Societies, Philosophy, Psychology - Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Systems & Societies
- Mathematics: Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches, Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation
- The arts: Visual Arts, Theatre
Co-Curricular
All students at UWC complete a co-curricular programme called Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) - an integral part of the IB qualification. Students get the opportunity to choose a physical, a creative and a social service activity.
At UWC RCN, students also complete their Red Cross diploma as part of the CAS programme.
Physical activities:
- Badminton
- Ballet Fit
- Basketball
- Canoeing
- Cricket
- Dance
- Diving
- Football
- Interval Training
- Outdoor Leadership
- Paddlesports
- RCN Boats (rowing and maintaining several historical Norwegian wooden boats)
- Rock Climbing
- Running (including Mountain Running)
- Sailing
- Sea Kayaking
- Skiing
- Sports and Outdoor Fitness
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Various ball games
- Volleyball
- Yoga
Creative activities:
- Ceramics
- College newspaper
- Cooking
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Drama club
- International Show
- Model United Nations
- Music
- Music composition
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Programming (IT)
- Robotics
- TEDx
- World News
- Yearbook
Social service:
- Activities with the elderly
- Activities with local "functions-limited" Centre
- Amnesty International
- Campus care
- Climate Activism
- Coastal Clean Up
- First Aid Team
- Gender and Sexuality
- Model United Nations
- Peer listeners
- Red Cross Rehabilitation/Health Centre (projects with patients)
- Ridderne – The Knights
- Social entrepreneurship (BOOST, DROP, LEAF)
- SOS Children's Villages
- Student Council
- Work with adults with mental disabilities
- Work with adults with physical disabilities
- Work with refugees
- Work with young children (primary school)
- World Today
Facilities and residences
The beautiful UWC RCN campus is nestled on the edge of a fjord in Flekke, Norway. The outdoor setting provides extensive opportunities for engaging with the natural environment and this is a defining aspect of the college.
Facilities
Medical Centre- Theatre Stage
- Indoor Swimming Pool
- Football pitch
- Art Centre
- Music Room
- Baking House
- Library
Auditorium- ‘Kantine’ Student Kitchen
Residential accommodation
The students live in rooms of five (a combination of 1st and 2nd year students) with an ensuite bathroom. The Houses have individual common areas, with sofas, a table and chairs, refrigerator and freezer, notice boards and simple cooking tools including a stove, microwave and toaster. House Leaders live adjacent to the boarding houses.
Wellbeing support
Medical provisions
- Full-time nurse
- Medical Centre
- Wellbeing counsellor
- Student First Aid Team
- Nearby doctor in Dale and hospital in Førde
- Students registered with the national health system
Academic and emotional wellbeing
UWC RCN requires an extra level of resilience given its remote location and the darkness of the winter period. Some students find the isolation of the campus to be more challenging than they expected, although there is a wide range of support in place to help them manage this.
The school supports students’ academic and emotional wellbeing through:
- Wellbeing Counsellor - qualified Social Worker offering socio-emotional support to students
- Community Life Leader and House Leaders are qualified Mental Health First Aiders
- SAD lamps in the common areas
- Peer support organisations including the Peer Listeners, Gender and Sexuality Group and Student Council
- Regular workshops on Diversity and Inclusion, Consent, Non-Violent Communication skills, Active Listening
- Each student has a personal advisor, with whom they meet regularly, as well as a House Leader
