We hope that as the years go on, more and more young people from Canada and the United States will come and enjoy this experience, which has meant so much each year to some 80 students from different parts of the North American continent. - L. Wilde, 1962

History & Governance

History

NJC was the dream of an Englishman named Leonard Wilde who, while teaching at a local school in Neuchâtel in the early 1950’s, yearned to bring young Canadians to Switzerland to introduce them to the civilization and culture of the Old World. Mr. Wilde had a passion for history and teaching, and he recognized the many benefits of a location such as Neuchâtel where students could study, live amongst the Swiss, and travel, all in order to develop a keen understanding of the European way of life.

And so, with 5,000 Swiss Francs in his pocket (a gift from the Directeur of the school where he was teaching at the time) Wilde came to Canada in pursuit of his dream. Following a period teaching at Shawnigan Lake School in BC, where he learned about Canadian youngsters as well as Canadian curriculum and teaching methods, Wilde began recruiting his first students from across Canada. When Wilde returned to Neuchatel in 1955, a Swiss non-profit foundation was formed in the name of Neuchâtel Junior College. In 1956, the College’s first 43 students left by boat from Montreal; their orientation tour included a steamship crossing to Liverpool, several days stay in London, a boat crossing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, and a train ride to Neuchâtel with stops in Cologne and Heidelberg. By the time they arrived in Neuchâtel, they had seen and learned more in those few weeks than they had in all their previous years of high school. And their adventure was only beginning.

As the year passed, the students’ travels were illuminated by Wilde’s vitality, his great knowledge, and his own personal interest in them. Classes were held at a local school, allowing the students to mix and mingle with others who had come from across Europe to the university town of Neuchâtel to study. In 1965, NJC acquired its own school building, a century-old manor called the Foyer, and in the early 70’s a second classroom building was constructed, the Pavillon, thus creating our own campus within Neuchâtel.

Wilde died in 1965 having fulfilled his dream, which to date has given more than 4,400 people the chance to experience their own extraordinary year, and to make friends with others from across Canada and around the globe. For many, their year at NJC has helped them to make career and life choices.

Over fifty years later, we continue to keep the dream and memory of Leonard Wilde alive. Each year brings a new crop of eager students who arrive in Neuchâtel ready to become citizens of the world.

Governance

Neuchâtel Junior College is a Swiss non-profit foundation of the Ville de Neuchâtel. As such, the College is governed by a Swiss Board of Governors (Le Conseil de Fondation) that works in close collaboration with a Canadian Advisory Committee (Le Comité Canadien). The members of the Conseil are appointed by the Neuchâtel City Council and come largely from the fields of education and business. The Comité Canadien members are alumni of NJC and/or parents of recent students. Together they are responsible for the selection of the Head of School, the financial operation of the College, and the strategic direction of NJC’s programs. All members of the governing council act on a volunteer basis, and put in countless hours to ensure that NJC remains a school among the best, and most unique, in the world.

©2005-2010 Alexandre Roche Design