UCLA UNESCO Chair on Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education

While the world may be increasingly interconnected, human rights violations, inequality, and poverty still threaten peace and sustainability. Global Citizenship Education is UNESCO’s response to these challenges. It works by empowering learners of all ages to understand that these are global, not local issues and to become active promoters of more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, secure and sustainable societies. Global Citizenship Education is a strategic area of UNESCO’s Education Sector program and builds on the work of Peace and Human Rights Education. It aims to instill in learners the values, attitudes, and behaviors that support responsible global citizenship: creativity, innovation, and commitment to peace, human rights and sustainable development.

Core Conceptual Dimensions of Global Citizenship Education

Cognitive:

To acquire knowledge, understanding and critical thinking about global, regional, national and local issues and the interconnectedness and interdependency of different countries and populations.

Socio-emotional:

To have a sense of belonging to a common humanity, sharing values and responsibilities, empathy, solidarity and respect for differences and diversity.

Behavioral:

To act effectively and responsibly at local, national and global levels for a more peaceful and sustainable world.