Career-related Programme (CP)
What is CP?
Discovery College offers a programme called the ‘IB Career-related Programme’ (CP), alongside the IB Diploma Programme (DP), as an option for students in Years 12-13. This programme provides a pathway in which students in these year groups can learn and progress to Higher Education. Students in the current Year 11 will be able to choose between studying the DP and studying the CP.
The CP is the fourth International Baccalaureate programme (along with the PYP, MYP and DP) and it is aimed at students entering the last two years of Secondary School who have a particular career path in mind. The CP allows students to specialise and dedicate themselves to an area of learning that they know they want to pursue. CP students undertake a minimum of two IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses, a core consisting of four components and a career-related study.
For CP students, DP courses provide the theoretical underpinning and academic rigour of the programme; the career-related study further supports the programme’s academic strength and provides practical, real-world approaches to learning; and the CP core helps them to develop skills and competencies required for lifelong learning. (IBO, 2020)
How is the CP structured?
The CP encompasses some elements of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) within its structure. It also encompasses the IB’s educational philosophy and mission.
Curriculum Model
CP students take four core elements consisting of:
- Reflective Project (RP)
- Service Learning (SL)
- Language Development (LD)
- Personal and Professional Skills (PPS)
Students also take two to four DP subjects (see Diploma Programme page for details of subjects available) at Standard or Higher level and one career-related course.
Core Components
| Core Component | Description of course | Study mode |
| Personal and Professional Skills (PPS) course | Course that aims to support students in developing practical life and career-related skills.
5 main themes: 1. Personal development 2. Intercultural understanding 3. Effective communication 4. Thinking processes 5. Applied ethics |
3 blocks per cycle |
| Language Development course | Student must study a language that is NOT their best language.
Chinese and Spanish can be studied as one of the DP course. Any other language can be studied with an outside service provider or online |
1 block per cycle to work on portfolio |
| Reflective Project | Student will have to produce a written essay about an ethical dilemma directly linked to the student’s career-related study.
They will also have to complete a Reflections on planning and progress form (RPPF). |
Independent learning + support from a supervisor |
| Service Learning | For Service Learning, students work with community members to undertake service activities that satisfy identified community needs. They will need to reflect about their learning and the impact of their actions.
The Service learning should be related to the student’s chosen career path. |
Independent learning + support from a supervisor |
Comparison of CP and DP course elements
|
CP course elements |
DP course elements |
|
4 IBDP Courses (min. 2 HL) + Career-related study course |
6 IBDP Courses (3 HL) |
|
Personal and Professional Skills (PPS) course |
Theory of Knowledge course |
|
Language Development course |
Language is one of the 6 IBDP courses |
|
Reflective Project |
Extended Essay |
|
Service Learning |
CAS |
What does the CP offer in comparison to the DP?
| The CP can be characterised as… | The DP can be characterised as… |
| Specialised – studies focus on one or two areas | Broad – studies encompass six different subject groups |
| Career-related – studies are framed around a career path and the way learning can be applied to this field of employment | Academic – studies draw on knowledge and understanding from across a number of academic disciplines |
What Career-related study specialisms are available to Discovery College students from August 2021?
Career-related studies occur through a partner-provider. Partnerships with the following institutions have been/are being established for August 2021.
|
Institution |
Course(s) |
Campus Location |
Qualification |
|
HK Academy for the Performing Arts (Hong Kong) |
Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) |
Pok Fu Lam |
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma – Level 3 |
|
International Culinary Institute (ICI) and Hotel and Tourism Institute (HTI) |
Culinary Arts and Hospitality |
Pok Fu Lam |
Certificate in Hotel and Culinary Arts (Level 3) |
|
BSD Education (Hong Kong) |
Digital Skills |
Sheung Wan |
University Credit- Level 4 (by SUMAS) |
|
Savannah College of Art and Design (Hong Kong/USA) |
Art and Design |
Online |
College Credit |
|
Sustainability Management School – Switzerland – SUMAS |
Business & Sustainability |
Online |
University Acceptance Credit- Level 4 |
|
Federation University / World Academy of Sports |
International Sport Management |
Online |
Credit points towards a Bachelor of International Sport Management |
|
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
Aeronautics or Aviation Maintenance |
Online |
College Credits |
|
Australian Guild Of Music |
Music |
Online |
Foundation Diploma of Music |
What qualifications do students receive at the end and how does this relate to university admissions?
An important feature of the CP is that it is a framework of different learning experiences.
Firstly, the CP is a qualification in its own right, similar to the DP. Students satisfying the passing conditions will emerge with the CP certificate.
Secondly, completion of the CP will facilitate graduation from Discovery College. Universities, particularly in the USA, look for High School graduation as an indicator as part of their admissions process.
Thirdly, the career-related study aspect of the CP will offer a qualification that they can use as part of university admissions. For instance, students taking their career-related study via HKAPA will complete a BTEC qualification. Students studying with SCAD and BSD will complete a series of foundation degree modules, which in some circumstances can be transferred as university credit to offset against future university studies.
Fourthly, students will complete between two and four DP courses. Courses can also be the basis for admission to a university.
So the CP provides a number of ways in which students can gain access to a broad range of university courses in different countries around the world.
Assessment
Students are assessed using a variety of methods, including essays, case studies, oral presentations, fieldwork, investigations and artistic performances. Some assessment tasks are marked internally by teachers and some are assessed internally but externally moderated by the IB. Some assessments are conducted by the career-related provider.
Learning Team Programme
In addition to the academic programme, students in Years 12 and 13 have one hour per week in Learning Teams which is devoted to the Reflective Project and Service Learning, work on Higher Education applications, and activities designed to develop life skills such as cooking, having a healthy lifestyle and making responsible decisions.
Further information
For general information on the CP, see the IBO website: http://www.ibo.org/programmes/career-related-programme/.
More information on the IB Diploma at Discovery College, see our Senior School Prospectus.
Downloads
- General Regulations – Career Programme
- Year 12-13 Subject Options 2020-2022
- DP General Regulations
- DP Calendar Class of 2021
Contact
Raina Zhaparova, Career-related Programme (CP) Coordinator zhapar2@dc.edu.hk.