Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Programme
At Institut International de Lancy, we believe that young people need experiences outside the classroom to become engaged, responsible and fulfilled citizens of the world. We offer the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award programme to students who wish to develop through a variety of achievements.
As an accredited award centre for the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, IIL encourages students who want to develop their skills and grow through volunteering, physical challenges and expeditions to take part in this unique programme.
Founded in 1956 by the Duke of Edinburgh and available in over 130 countries, the International Award offers young people aged 14 to 24 an enriching and formative experience, enabling them to develop essential skills for both their personal and future professional lives.
The International Award encourages students to make a lasting commitment in four key areas: volunteering, physical activity, personal development and expedition planning. To complete each level, the participant commits to each area over a set period of time, under the supervision of our teaching staff.
Participants take part in voluntary activities in their community, making a positive contribution to society and demonstrating their social responsibility.
Young people are encouraged to improve their physical fitness and performance, and to adopt healthy lifestyles for their mental and physical well-being.
Participants are encouraged to develop their talents, broaden their abilities, increase their self-confidence and improve their employability.
Young people discover a sense of adventure and gain a better understanding of the environment and the great outdoors.
Students at the Institut International de Lancy have the opportunity to get involved in this programme from the age of 14 for the Bronze level, 15 for the Silver level and 16 for the Gold level. The time commitment is relative to each level and increases progressively; it is 3 to 6 months for the Bronze level, 6 to 12 months for the Silver level and 12 to 24 months for the Gold level.
Minimum 3 months (in 2 non-major activities) + minimum 6 months (in 1 major activity)
Minimum 6 months (in 2 non-major activities) + minimum 12 months (in 1 major activity)
A minimum of 12 months (in 2 non-major activities) + a minimum of 18 months (in 1 major activity)
This enriching experience encourages young people to set themselves personal challenges while fostering self-confidence, teamwork and resilience. Employers recognise the value of the skills acquired by award holders, making the International Award a valuable asset for university and professional applications.Today, 1.3 million young people worldwide are actively involved in the programme and more than 8 million young people worldwide have taken part in the DofE since 1956. In 2024, more than 70 IIL students took part in the programme.
To find out more about this programme, please visit the official International Award website.
