Global classrooms, college credit: ASU expands access to high schoolers through International Baccalaureate partnership

Around the world, students face steep barriers to higher education, especially when pursuing opportunities beyond their home countries. Cost, geography and rigid admissions systems often limit what’s possible — even for highly motivated learners.

Arizona State University is reimagining what it means to prepare for college on a global scale. Through a growing partnership with the International Baccalaureate (IB), ASU is embedding college-level coursework into high schools across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Central America empowering students to earn U.S. university credit while still in high school.

This is made possible through Accelerate ASU, ASU’s dual enrollment offering,  that has enabled more than 22,000 students across the globe to earn widely transferable college credit while still in high school. By bringing this program to IB classrooms worldwide, ASU is opening new academic pathways for learners across the globe.

Meeting students where they are — and where they want to go

Launched in 2023, the ASU-IB collaboration has expanded quickly from three pilot schools to a fast-growing global network. Students enrolled in IB’s Career-related Program (CP) can now learn foundational career skills while earning widely-transferrable college credit. Subjects include business, sustainability, health and data analytics, and learners can opt into career certificates aligned with in-demand pathways.

ASU Career Foundations Certificates consist of Universal Learner Courses developed by many schools and colleges across the university, including W.P. Carey School of Business, Fulton Schools of Engineering, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, and College of Integrative Sciences and Arts. This partnership makes ASU the first public U.S. university formally recognized by IB as a global provider of career-related study, allowing ASU courses to count toward CP completion and streamlining future admission to U.S. institutions.

“Our partnership with ASU represents a significant step forward in expanding access and opportunity in higher education and career pathways,” said Miriam Choi, IB’s Senior Development Associate for North America. “Through this collaboration, students around the world can pursue opportunities that align with their passions and help them build the future they’ve envisioned.”  

Expanding options, deepening impact

For schools like the International Community School of Addis Ababa (ICS Addis), the ASU IB collaboration is an opportunity to expand academic choice while maintaining high standards.

“Ahead of offering ASU Career Mastery and Foundation certificates, we found the biggest draw was students’ ability to explore specific careers and fields of study while earning college credit,” said Deanna Milne, curriculum coordinator at ICS Addis. “These unique certificates from ASU enable students to explore a career, gain confidence in university-level work and reduce the cost and time commitment of earning a college degree at the same time. It’s the triple play of higher education.”

By integrating ASU coursework and career foundation certificates into the IB framework, ICS Addis employs a hybrid model that consists of on-site support from educators combined with ASU faculty instruction and optional industry credentials online.

Custom pathways for growing schools

At Creation Village World School, a newer IB campus, leaders are tailoring the ASU course experience to build foundational skills early. Students begin with project management in ninth grade, then progress into tracks like healthcare and technology. The emphasis is on building agency and real-world preparedness.

“It really provides the core competencies students need to prepare for university, continued education or even going directly into the workforce,” said Derek Cummings, head of school. “For the families who have embraced it, it’s built a much better understanding of what their students can do — and how ASU will play a part in that.”

Supporting university readiness worldwide

While schools like Creation Village are laying early foundations, more established IB campuses are using the ASU–IB partnership to expand cost-effective, high-quality university access. At IGB International School in Malaysia, the program is reshaping how students prepare for life after high school.

“ASU’s outstanding reputation, flexibility and breadth of academic offerings provide our students with meaningful pathways, such as the custom academic track, to begin university-level work in a supportive and low-risk environment,” said Dr. Gregory Brunton, head of school.

To support learners, IGB created The Nest — a student-designed space with sofas, bean bags and worktables for focusing on ASU coursework between IB classes. It also serves as a hub for advising and peer support.

“Our families value global university access, but they also recognize the importance of cost,” Brunton added. “Students can earn credits in high school that reduce the time and cost  to complete a university degree, without compromising on quality.”

A model designed for access

Unlike many dual enrollment models, ASU’s approach is built for flexibility and inclusion. There are no GPA, transcript or application requirements to get started. Students only pay if they choose to transcript a course and are satisfied with their final grade. Courses are taught by ASU faculty and delivered asynchronously online, allowing students to learn from anywhere in the world and on their own schedule.

That flexibility has been especially important for globally minded schools with diverse student populations. “Global learners deserve flexible, low-risk ways to access college-level learning,” said Scott Weatherford, executive director of Universal Pathways at ASU Learning Enterprise. “Our collaboration with IB is about expanding what’s possible. When students see they can succeed in university coursework, on their terms, it builds confidence and momentum.”

At ICS Addis, that momentum is already taking root. “ASU’s program being widely recognized means students can take these courses with the security of knowing their transcript will be honored wherever they’re headed after high school,” said curriculum coordinator Deanna Milne.

Early signals, long-term promise

Most students in the ASU–IB program are still in their first year, but early indicators suggest high engagement and enthusiasm. Participating schools report that students are not only completing college-level work, but they are also building confidence and expanding their sense of what’s possible.

ASU’s dual enrollment programs have already reached students in over 30 countries. Through the IB partnership, ASU is building a globally relevant, learner-centered model of college preparation — one that opens new doors for students and communities alike.