About

World Class Scholars (WCS) is a global education platform on a mission to reinvent
learning for the digital age. Founded with a bold vision to democratize access to education,
WCS connects students and teachers in real-time across 100+ countries and over 1,000
schools, completely free of charge.

At the heart of WCS is a belief that education should no longer be limited by geography,
income, or language. As the world advances into an AI-powered future, traditional
education models remain outdated and inaccessible for millions. WCS is beginning to
break down barriers to education – with new developments in AI-enabled simultaneous
translation and personalized, adaptive learning pathways—delivering multilingual
experiences that are borderless, inclusive, and future-ready.

Headquarters
• Operational HQ: Dubai, UAE
• Administrative HQ: Charleston, SC, USA
• African HQ: Tamale, Ghana

Our Story

World Class Scholars (WCS) began as a bold idea to reimagine education for a globally connected world. Its origins trace back to early collaborations with the BBC, engaging global audiences of over 800 million people in 40 languages. From there, WCS partnered with MIT Media Lab and Google to develop and pilot an initial platform in 100 schools across 26 countries.

Building on this foundation, Microsoft developed and funded the current WCS platform, enabling its global launch as one of only 16 NGOs selected as an Official Participant at Expo 2020 Dubai—alongside major institutions like the UN, EU, and GCC. This recognition affirmed WCS’s position as a leader in global education innovation.

Today, WCS is active in more than 1,000 schools across 100+ countries, offering a free, AI-powered, multilingual platform that connects students and teachers worldwide. It fosters cultural understanding, collaboration, and critical future-ready skills through virtual global classrooms and real-time learning exchanges.

Looking ahead, WCS aims to reach 1 billion students and 25 million teachers over the next 5–7 years through initiatives such as mobile-first learning, vocational certification, and real-time language translation—removing barriers to education and building a truly global learning community.

We are grateful to all our past and present partners who have contributed to our success along the way.

How It Works

It’s all about the teachers. WCS has been designed, tested and perfected with teachers in dozens of classrooms around the world.

WCS is designed for all grade levels, subjects areas, countries and types of technologies.

Get all the details here from the Teacher Handbook

Everything you need to know in easy step-by-step directions.

Teacher Handbook

The Benefits

Benefits for Students
The WCS project is designed to help students learn the skills they need to work effectively in the interconnected global marketplace of the 21st century.
Students will:
1) Learn to use new technology effectively.
2) Work collaboratively with other students from different countries.
3) Connect to people, cultures and ideas in the wider world around them.
4) Receive a WCS Diploma once they finish a term.
WCS is designed around a set of standard formats, templates, and samples that teachers and students from grades 1 to 12 can use virtually in any subject area. The WCS Diploma is given by the South Carolina Department of Education in the United States where the program initially began.
Benefits for Teachers
Teachers all over the world are special. We at WCS recognize this and want to help teachers in any way we can. This is why we provide these valuable tools and training for free to everyone.
Teachers will have:
1) Free Microsoft Tools – As soon as you sign up for WCS, you will automatically be given an unlimited Microsoft Office 365 for Teachers account and you will continue to have free access to these tools as long as you are in the program.
2) Microsoft Innovator Teacher Certification – You can enroll for free in this program that provides valuable training and certifications. Once completed, you will join a network of over 22,000 teachers worldwide and be known for your professionalism and commitment to innovation for your students.
3) Professional Development Credits – You will also be part of a series of Professional Development Programs delivered by an elite set of Microsoft Innovative Educators on digital teaching and learning proficiencies and skills.
4) Teacher Certificate from WCS – All teachers whose class completes at least one term of WCS will receive a WCS Teachers’ Certificate given by the State Department of Education in South Carolina in the United States where the program initially began.
5)Win Free Global Travel – When teachers join the WCS program, they will automatically be entered to possibly win free business class global travel (teachers deserve it) provided by our partner Etihad Airways. Winners will travel to various Microsoft Education conferences around the world.
Teachers will teach what they are already teaching
We ask teachers to conduct 6 to 8 WCS classes with their Partner Teacher for about an hour each week at the same time. We will not ask teachers to teach something different or special – instead, teachers will be giving the subjects they already teach but in a new and fun way –
with a Partner Teacher around the world.
Regardless of the students’ age, subject or country, the process is the same.
As detailed in the Teacher Handbook, the process is:
Connect

Teachers and students from all over the world will connect with other classes in real-time using a standard internet connection.

Learn

Schools from different countries collaborate online and learn with simple fill-in-the-blank lesson plans and projects that teachers develop together. The students will learn about each other’s cultures, lives, and the world around them.

Share

The projects are shared within the school, with students’ families, in their local community – and with other schools around the world via the WCS platform.

It’s easy and fun – We don’t know who likes WCS the most, the teachers or the students!

Partners

Leadership

Our Chairman
David Beasley is a distinguished leader, humanitarian, and former Governor of South Carolina (1995–1999). He most recently served as the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) from 2017 to April 2023, having been nominated by two U.S. presidential administrations from different parties and appointed by the UN Secretary-General.

Under Beasley’s leadership, WFP became the largest humanitarian organization in the world, assisting over 160 million people in 2022 alone and raising over $55 billion to combat global hunger. In 2020, he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of WFP for its efforts to provide food assistance in conflict areas and prevent food from being used as a weapon of war. In his Oslo acceptance speech on December 10, 2021, he remarked:

“We have learned that there is great richness in those who are seen, in the eyes of the world, as ‘the poor.’ And many of us who are considered ‘rich’ are actually poor in the things that matter most.”

Beasley has also been recognized for his courageous leadership beyond humanitarian work, receiving the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for taking a stand on the Confederate Flag issue in South Carolina.

He majored in Microbiology at Clemson University and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of South Carolina. Beasley was also a Fellow and lecturer at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and is now a professor at the University of South Carolina Law School.

Today, Beasley remains an influential advocate for global food security, education, humanitarian action, and international cooperation. He currently serves as the Founding Chairman of the Global Board of Advisors of World Class Scholars.

Our Leadership
WCS has a diverse and unique leadership structure. A number of our leadership hold government, corporate or other positions that may preclude them from accepting a specific position or title within the WCS structure – but they are all active and engaged on an ongoing basis. In time, we expect a somewhat more traditional leadership structure to evolve. This flexible leadership structure enables WCS to attract world class talent that is captivated by our unique vision and finds our audacious ambitions compelling.



Expo 2020 Dubai

World Class Scholars is an independent program that has been in development for five years and is being launched globally as part of Expo 2020 Dubai World’s Fair and its theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.

EXPO is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration – the largest event ever staged in the Arab world. It will welcome 190
participating countries and their invited heads of state and up to 25+ million global visitors.

World Class Scholars is Expo’s gift to the young people of the world.

Phil Noble, Founder, World Class Scholars.

Connecting Classes at Expo – At Expo 2020, WCS has a dedicated space where we will be connecting schools around the world in real time.
Students from schools in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates will visit WCS’ space at Expo and sit in a Real Space in front of a giant screen where they will be connected a Partner Classroom around the world in Virtual Space – in real time.
The students will begin to get to know each other, learn about each other’s country and culture and begin to study together and explore the world around them.
Once the two classrooms connect at Expo, they will continue connecting with each other on an ongoing basis throughout the school year.

What They Say

Get Your Free Info Packet!

Any teacher from any place in the world can sign up for free and start an exciting learning experience for their students – and themselves.

What Teachers
Need for Success
– A reliable internet connection and any kind of device – the more technology the better. However, some classes do just fine with a single smartphone.
– Communicate with your Partner Teacher on a regular basis to work better together.
– Meet with your Partner Classrooms once a week for about an hour for four to six times – or more – over the school term.
– An open and curious attitude to teach and learn with others.
That’s it… and have fun!.
Sign Up For
More Information

FAQ

What does it cost to participate?

Nothing! WCS is free to all schools around the world.

What do the students learn with WCS?

The WCS project is designed to help students learn the skills they need to work and be competitive in the interconnected global marketplace of the 21st century.

Students will:

  • Learn to use new technology effectively
  • Work collaboratively with others of different countries
  • Connect to people, cultures and ideas in the wider world around them

WCS is designed around a set of standard formats and templates that can be used by teachers and students in grades 1 – 12 in any academic subject area.

What languages are used?

Generally, WCS class partnerships are conducted in English. Students in many classes speak English as a second language and part of connecting with other students around the world is learning to work with other students and teachers who don’t have the same native language. Teachers with a background in Teaching English as a Foreign Language may feel more comfortable connecting with a class with little English experience.

What technology is required?

The most basic technology needed is a computer with internet access, and a webcam (if there is not a camera already built into the computer) – that’s it.

A simple webcam can be purchased at a local computer store for under US$50. Although it is not required, it is good if a projector and screen or a connected smartboard are available so that the classroom images are projected in a large format for the whole class to see.

Is there some way to get help if we have a problem?

Yes, there are several ways you can get help.

  • WCS Teachers’ Handbook – an easy to use, step-by-step guide to setting up and running a WCS classroom with your Partner Teacher.Click here
  • Microsoft User Guide – From Microsoft Office 365 Suite, it tells you everything about using the technology.Click here
  • The Teachers’ Lounge – This easy-to-use space lets any teacher ask a question and other teachers in the program can post their responses about how to solve a specific problem, share what’s worked for them, learn useful tips and ideas.Click here
Are there benefits and rewards for students’ and teachers’ participation?

Yes, there are lots of benefits and rewards for both students and teachers to participate. Click here for all the details. (takes you to the benefit section)

This sounds like it’s easy and fun. How do I get started?

All you have to do to get started is fill out the form click here and we will send you all you need to register and get started.

What happens after I register?

As soon as you register, and your details are verified and approved by World Class Scholars, you will receive your Welcome Pack
consisting of Teacher’s Handbook, your login credentials for Office 365 for Educators, a user guide for Microsoft Office 365 Educator
Suite and a detailed profile link to help you give more information
about your areas of interest, age group of students, location, preference on the country you would like to build connections with.

You will then be able to see other educators, send connection request and start your exciting World Class Scholars journey.

I have some more questions. Who can I contact?
Please contact Meka meka@worldclassscholars.org.

Contact

We want to hear from you. Do you have an idea, a problem or comment?