International Baccalaureate Inaugurates 2012 Conference of the Americas

Culture of Learning theme draws international educators to Riviera Maya, Mexico

RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico, July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 2012 International Baccalaureate (IB) Conference of the Americas kicks off  today at the Moon Palace in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The Conference of the Americas, held from July 12-15, is a unique event that brings together educators for four days of learning and discussion about innovations in education and focuses on ways to empower students with a challenging and comprehensive IB education. 

"This year's theme, The Culture of Learning, as well as the conference's location in Mexico underscores our commitment to meaningfully engage the academic communities and cultures represented by the 28 countries in attendance here," Drew Deutsch, Director of IB Americas, said.  "As we bring together nearly 880 educators and representatives from 35 Universities from across the Americas and around the world, we will celebrate the culture of learning and its connection to our diverse communities and classrooms."

This year's IB Conference of the Americas will feature 4 plenary sessions, 96 break-out sessions, 22 exclusively Spanish language sessions, and 12 bilingual sessions. Among the conference's featured speakers include Sarah Kay, noted spoken word poet, founder and co-director of Project V.O.I.C.E., and a former IB student; Rosa Barocio, noted author and expert in child development and education; Tony Wagner, the first appointed Innovation Education Fellow at the Technology & Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard University; and Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A, a leading expert on service learning, among others. To follow the conference on twitter use the hashtag #IBMexico2012.

About the International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate is a not-for-profit foundation, which offers four high quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools. For over 40 years, IB programmes have gained a reputation for their high academic standards, for preparing students for life in a globalised 21st century, and for helping to develop the citizens who will create a better, more peaceful world. The IB currently works with 3,372 schools in 141 countries. To learn more, please visit www.ibo.org/iba.

The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities.

SOURCE International Baccalaureate