The letters CAS form the acronym commonly used for the IBDP component 'Creativity, Action and Service'. It is a compulsory (though non-examined) component of the IBDP, which emphasises experiential and reflective learning.
Over the full two-year programme, all students must engage in activities outside the classroom, at least 50 hours in each of the role components. To give the students the opportunity to reflect, improve and develop over time, the activities are spread over three semesters, amounting to approximately three hours per week or half a day a week. The CAS spirit enables students to take seriously the importance of life outside the world of academia. It provides a refreshing counter balance to the self-absorption, some may feel within a demanding academic environment. The IB goal of educating the whole person and fostering a more compassionate and active citizen comes alive when students reach beyond themselves and their books.
The CAS programme is a reflective process and not merely a record of hours clocked. CAS is the spirit of the IBDP.
