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Italy, Trieste
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UWC Adriatic was founded in 1982 with the support of the Italian government and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. David Sutcliffe served as the College's founding Rettore, and the first generation arrived in August, hosted at the nearby Hotel Europa. In 1983 the College relocated to Duino and the Opening Ceremony was held in Gorizia, presided by the President of the Italian Senate. In 1984 King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, visited and inaugurated the academic building, and a later reception hosted scholarship students funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1989 the International School of Chamber Music, led by the Trio di Trieste, was established at the College, and in 1993 President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro honoured the College with a visit.
UWC Adriatic is part of the global UWC movement and is the first UWC in Europe set up in a non-English-speaking country, welcoming students from over 80 countries. The alumni network numbers over 3,900 alumni worldwide who stay connected and support the College through talks, mentoring and scholarships. Reunions are usually held yearly in July; in 2026 four reunions are scheduled: 26–28 June 2026 for the 30-year and 25-year reunions, and 3–5 July 2026 for the 40-year and 10-year UWC-USA reunions.
UWC Adriatic is an international boarding college in the seaside village of Duino, Italy, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 18. The school combines a rigorous, oriented curriculum with a dynamic arts and music culture and a strong emphasis on service and community. Its campus includes multiple residences: Foresteria, Palazzine, Ples, Lucchese, Scholz and Purnama House, with 17 en-suite rooms and two teacher apartments. A Medical Centre provides on-site care with a full nursing team and a college doctor. Laboratories for science education, including facilities inaugurated in 1997 in honour of Rita Levi-Montalcini, support practical work. Arts spaces include the International School of Chamber Music and the International Community Music Academy. English is the working language; Italian is a language and is taught as a second language. The college offers language and study support, university counselling, and co-curricular programs in which students lead and collaborate.
