Key Takeaways
- Real-time check-ins for 200 boarding students across three residences
- Seamless handling of weekend passes and leave approvals
- Efficiently tracks student whereabouts while balancing cultural sensitivity
- Supports student wellbeing through structured but discreet pastoral care
Background
UWC Maastricht is part of the United World Colleges network, hosting 200 boarding students from nearly 100 countries. Many are on scholarship and come from diverse, and often challenging, backgrounds. Students live on campus for two years while completing the IB Diploma Programme, making residential life a crucial part of their experience.
Simon Ramsay, Head of Residential Life, describes the environment as more than just a dormitory. “My role is a bit of everything — part parent, part teacher, part therapist,” he said. “For many students, it’s their first time away from home, and we’re here to ensure their physical, social, and emotional wellbeing.”
Building Accountability with Real-Time Attendance
UWC Maastricht’s primary use of Orah focuses on essentials: nightly check-ins, weekend passes, and incident logging.
“Every student is checked in physically, seen by a mentor and marked present,” Simon explained. “It’s critical for student safety, but also for peace of mind. In a community this diverse, knowing where everyone is at night is non-negotiable.”
Orah is also used to manage passes for weekend leave, sports, and external activities. Students submit passes independently, reducing administrative friction.
The Challenges of Global Diversity and Limited Parent Access
With students from around the world — many from areas with limited internet access or without English-speaking parents — UWC Maastricht faced unique challenges.
“Some parents simply can’t engage in the way most school systems assume,” Simon noted. “Orah allows us to adapt by having students manage their own passes, while we confirm guardian awareness separately when needed.”
Simon emphasized the delicate balance required. “We deal with students from conflict zones, students who might not have parents, or whose guardians can’t easily engage online. The tool needs to be robust, but flexible enough to account for these realities.”
Coordinating Care Across a Complex School Environment
UWC Maastricht operates both a boarding and day program, each with its own systems and needs. Orah plays a critical role in the boarding program, enabling staff to focus on pastoral care, student wellbeing, and safety without interfering in the academic space.
“We focus on providing support where it's needed most—after hours, on weekends, and during key moments when students are away from home,” Simon said.
This approach allows the boarding team to track, support, and intervene when necessary, while allowing academic staff to focus on the learning environment—ensuring both student wellbeing and privacy are respected.
Continuous Refinement
While Orah provides the foundation for UWC Maastricht’s residential operations, Simon is focused on improving the student experience further.
“We need simple, reliable tools,” Simon said. “Our students will make mistakes, and the system should make it easy to handle them without unnecessary complexity. Orah is great for what we need.”
Final Thoughts
For UWC Maastricht, Orah provides the essentials without overwhelming staff or students.
“Orah does the critical things well,” Simon concluded. “It lets us know where students are, helps us track issues, and fits into the complex world our students come from. That’s what matters.”
