The WSEE invites students to conduct an in-depth, interdisciplinary investigation into an issue of contemporary global importance (maximum 4,000 words).
Examples of potential topics include:
Global health crisis | Climate change | Terrorism |
Energy security | Migration | Global health problems |
Disaster relief and rehabilitation | Civil protest and unrest | Global financial crisis |
Disadvantaged groups | Infringements on human rights | Discrimination and persecution |
The perspective of just one subject may not be adequate to address complex issues like these. The WSEE therefore requires students to bring together aspects of different disciplines to illuminate their chosen topic.
Students should use two Diploma Programme subjects. It is strongly recommended that students are undertaking a course of study in at least one of the subjects chosen for their essay.
Students are not expected to address the topic in its full complexity, but should aim to generate understandings that are new to them
Students are encouraged to focus on just one or two contexts in some depth, for example:
Students can refer to other places and events beyond the primary context(s) when relevant to the argument. In fact, the IB encourages this as it displays global consciousness. However, a detailed contextualized study of these additional cases is impossible within the 4,000-word limit.
The aims of the WSEE are to enable students to: