Project Details
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Focus Area
Education
Location
Global (with schools in 17 countries)
Beneficiaries
International secondary school students and alumni, particularly from diverse national and socioeconomic backgrounds
Safavi's Role
Partner-funded initiative (collaboration with Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education)
Key Impact
Comprehensive, data-driven understanding of how international, mission-driven education impacts students and alumni; findings used to refine educational models
Project Overview
Safavi supported a multi-year research initiative titled Investigating Impacts of Educational Experience, conducted in collaboration with United World Colleges (UWC) and Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The initiative aimed to evaluate how UWC’s unique international education model affects current students and alumni, exploring its success in fostering peace, ethical leadership, and cross-cultural understanding.
Howard Gardner
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Shelby Clark
SENIOR RESEARCH MANAGER
Danny Mucinskas
PROJECT MANAGER
Sarah Magagna
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Beneficiary Profile
The primary beneficiaries are students and alumni of UWC’s global network of 17 schools. These individuals are intentionally selected from a wide array of nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds, reflecting UWC’s mission of diversity and inclusion. The study also extended to similar mission-driven international schools to broaden the scope and applicability of findings.
Safavi's Role
Safavi provided funding and strategic support for this research initiative. By collaborating with Project Zero and UWC, Safavi enabled an in-depth, comparative analysis of educational impacts across international learning environments. The partnership ensured rigorous data collection through surveys, interviews, and on-site evaluations.
Project Gallery
Photo Credit: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Impact Achieved
The project resulted in a detailed 300-page report capturing the nuanced effects of UWC’s educational model. It highlighted key components contributing to students' personal growth, cross-cultural empathy, and lifelong civic engagement. The findings are now used to inform UWC’s internal practices and offer valuable insights to other international education institutions.
Purpose & Signifigance
Safavi supported this initiative to promote evidence-based educational reform in line with its commitment to advancing equitable, global education. By helping identify what works in diverse school settings, Safavi reinforces its mission to foster educational models that nurture peace, justice, and sustainability.
Future Outlook
The findings from this initiative continue to shape educational practices within UWC and inspire improvements in similar institutions. Safavi remains committed to backing research that bridges theory and practice in international education and may support further longitudinal studies or adaptations of this research framework in other contexts.
