UWC (United World Colleges) is an initiative to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future through the force of education. UWC firmly believes that education can bring together young people from all backgrounds on the basis of their shared humanity, to engage with the possibility of social change through courageous action, personal example and selfless leadership.
UWC Mahindra College was founded on 28 November 1997, inaugurated by Queen Noor of Jordan and Nelson Mandela in India as one of the now eighteen United World Colleges (UWC) and the third UWC in Asia. The school was largely funded by donations from the Mahindra family, especially Harish Mahindra. The Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra is the current Chairman of the School.
The school follows the IB program, which is a two-year programme with about 250 full-time residential students.
The college is located near the village of Paud in the Taluka Mulshi region of the western state of Maharashtra, India. It is around 40 km from the city of Pune. The MUWCI campus is placed on a hill surrounded by rural communities and overlooking the valley of the Mula river near Mulshi Dam.
The residential side of campus is divided into communal clusters called “Wadas”. The Wadas hosts between 40 and 60 students and 4-6 teachers and families. Students live in independent houses of 8 students each, with common courtyards. Teachers serve as ‘Wada parents’ and ‘House parents’, providing emotional and learning support in a residential learning context.
The campus is divided into a residential and an academic area. The design is an amalgamation of traditional elements and local building materials
The school encourages arts and experiences that involve creative thinking and doing. For example theatre, music, art-history, cultural visits, and dance.
Some examples of physical activities are climbing, kayaking, running groups, basketball, and orienteering, with many more available.
