Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
Overview
Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Programme at Advivum International Academy
Welcome to the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program at Advivum International Academy in Graubünden, Switzerland. This prestigious programme, known globally for its commitment to youth development, provides young people with a structured, challenging, and rewarding framework to achieve their potential and contribute to their communities.
Award Levels
Involves at least 6 months of commitment.
Involves at least 12 months of commitment.
Involves at least 18 months of commitment.
Award achievement
We signify your amazing achievements with a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Here’s how to achieve your Award, continue your DofE journey, or help others starting out on theirs.
Once you’ve completed your activities, you need to make sure:
– You’ve done all your sections for the minimum time required, for an average of an hour a week (or the required timescale for your expedition)
– You’ve uploaded all your evidence to eDofE Portal.
– Your Assessors have provided an Assessor’s Report for each of your activities, detailing how you met your goals and how you have progressed, and you have added them into eDofE
Whether you’ve submitted each section for approval as you’ve gone along, or are submitting them all at the end, your Leader will check and approve them in eDofE Portal. Once they’ve approved your final section they will then send it to your Advivum Academy who will check everything is in order. All being well you will be told that you’ve achieved your Award – congratulations.
If for whatever reason you cannot complete all the sections of your DofE programme you can still be recognised for the section(s) you have completed. Your DofE Leader may arrange to use sectional certificates.
For your Bronze and Silver Award you’ll receive your certificate and badge at Advivum Academy.
On completion of your Gold programme, you must complete the Gold Award Form on eDofE Portal. Forms submitted through eDofE portal will be sent for approval automatically.
Printed forms should be sent to your Leader who will sign it and send it to your Advivum Academy and DofE Country office to authorise.
Once approved your Advivum Academy will give you a choice of a Gold badge or brooch, and Head Office will get in touch to invite you to a Gold Award Presentation to receive your certificate in the presence of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at a Royal palace.
It’s a huge achievement to complete The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, but each section is a milestone to be celebrated. Sectional certificates recognise your hard work and commitment throughout your DofE journey.
As soon as any section of your Award receives its final approval, you’re able to download your certificate via the ‘My Achievements’ section of your eDofE account, or the DofE app. Upon completion of your DofE Award you’ll have access to a certificate for each of the completed sections of the Award, along with the overall certificate to celebrate the completion of that award level.
Completing multiple sections of an Award deserves recognition and your DofE Leader can choose to celebrate this achievement by awarding you with a Certificate of Achievement if you have completed any three sections of your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The Certificate of Achievement recognises your dedication to your programme and everything you’ve achieved through these three sections. It can be added to your CV or personal statement, helping highlight the many skills and useful experiences you’ve gained.
We absolutely encourage you to continue your programme and complete the final sections of your DofE Award if you’re able to as all sections provide hugely valuable experiences that develop vital skills and character. We understand that sometimes completing all sections may not be possible for you, hence offering the Certificate of Achievement.
If your Leader has awarded you with a Certificate of Achievement, you can download your certificate via the My Achievements section of your eDofE account, or the DofE app.
Every young person who achieves their Gold Award is invited to attend a Gold Award celebration event at a Royal Palace, attended by a Member of The Royal Family. Achieving a Gold Award is a big deal so, it’s only right you get a proper celebration of your outstanding achievements. We hold Gold Award celebration events in three locations. Check out the highlights from previous events:
London in Buckingham Palace Gardens – two days a year
Your Gold Award Certificate and choice of badge or brooch will be posted to you in the month after you achieve your Award and will be sent to the address registered on the Gold Award celebration event page of your eDofE account.
If you have chosen not to attend a Gold Award celebration event, you’ll receive your certificate in a in a bespoke certificate presentation folder. This will be posted to you in the month after you achieve your Award along with your Gold Award badge or brooch.
Programme Sections
There are four main sections of a DofE programme; Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition. At Gold participants will also complete a Residential section.
Below, find the requirements for each section, including information on what activities count and how long to do them.
Engage in community service activities to make a positive impact on society. Participants can choose from various opportunities such as environmental projects, assisting at local shelters, or tutoring peers.
Improve physical fitness through regular participation in sports or other physical activities. Options include team sports, individual fitness regimes, and adventurous outdoor activities.
Develop practical and social skills by exploring new interests and hobbies. Participants can learn a new language, play a musical instrument, or take up photography.
Plan, train for, and undertake a challenging journey in the outdoors. Participants will embark on expeditions in the stunning landscapes of Graubünden, learning navigation, teamwork, and survival skills.
Spend five days and four nights on a purposeful project with new people. This could include a residential course, volunteer work, or a personal development program in an unfamiliar setting.
DofE Young Leaders Programme
Want to develop your leadership skills, support your peers, and help deliver DofE? The Young Leader Programme might be for you!
A DofE Young Leader is a DofE participant who takes on additional responsibility to support DofE activities at their centre. There’s lots of activities you can engage with and the activities you as a Young Leader undertake will be tailored to the needs of your centre and your own interests. You might support peers with their programme choices and eDofE, launch assemblies or meetings, or use multimedia to produce expedition training videos. The possibilities are endless!
The programme is designed to support your development into leadership roles, developing additional skills for work and life. It’s an asset to your CV, and can count, if you wish, towards your Volunteering section.
To become a DofE Young Leader you must be nominated by your centre and have completed at least one level, or section, of your DofE Award.
You’ll need to attend an initial training session run virtually by our team at the DofE. Then you’ll agree with your Leader what activities you’re going to support and plan to undertake in your role.
After your Introduction to the DofE Young Leaders Programme, you’ll need to attend two modules of your choice to support with your planned activities. At the end of your time as a Young Leader, you’ll also attend an Exit session to achieve your Young Leaders Certificate.
We’re all about developing young people into leaders, so the great news is that it is totally free to become a Young Leader.
Speak to your Leader or Co-ordinator if you’re interested in becoming a Young Leader!
Programme Benefits
How to Do DofE at Advivum
Enrollment in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program at Advivum International Academy is open to all eligible students. Follow these steps to get started:
Application Form - Opening soon
You must complete the online application form (when available) on our website.
Parent/Guardian Consent
Obtain consent from a parent or guardian if you are under 18.
Programme Fee
Pay the program fee, which covers materials, training, and support.
Orientation Session
Attend an orientation session to learn more about the program requirements and expectations.