For Institutions

Global Citizenship Schools 2022

A global network of schools from 100+ countries fostering Global Citizenship with the support of the Global Citizenship Foundation in partnership with UNESCO MGIEP

About the Global Citizenship Schools

The Global Citizenship Schools is a fully-funded initiative of the Global Citizenship Foundation in partnership with UNESCO MGIEP.

Global Citizenship Schools are a network of global schools from 100+ countries who share a commitment to advance United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4.7: Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development and the values enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990).

Global Citizenship Schools approach education from a new perspective, unleashing the transformative potential of Global Citizenship Education by adopting and adhering to the GCED School Code and fostering the GCED Innovative Mindset.

With the certification course for learners, capacity-building, and a community synergize and supercharge your school to be one of the leading institutions fostering global citizenship in your country.

Join the global network of schools from 100+ countries and be part of the two-month online Global Citizenship Course designed by UNESCO MGIEP for learners in the age group of 12-17 years.

Who can apply?

Any school affiliated and recognized by an approved local, national, and international education board/council catering to learners in the age group of 12-17 years is eligible to apply.

What you get?

By joining the initiative, participating schools and their educators benefit from the Global Citizenship Schools program’s 5C Approach Course, Capacity Building, Community Engagement, Certification, and Commendation that includes:

  • A Self-Paced and Flexible Online Course 💻
    Learners will gain access to the six module self-paced and online Global Citizenship course designed and hosted by UNESCO MGIEP. The duration of the course is 14 to 16 hours.
  • A Comprehensive Toolkit 🛠
    Gain access to AMA Sessions, Onboarding Course and the teacher toolkit that includes the information and tools needed to successfully prepare, implement, monitor, and support the implementation of the Global Citizenship Course.
  • Access to Collaborative Platforms and Community 🤝
    Gain access to Educational Leadership Commune, an online global community for educators. Learn and interact with other education leaders from around the world.
  • Access and invitation to dedicated and exclusive activities. 📅
    Participating institutions will be invited to both regular and exclusive Global Citizenship Foundation events, including the Online Educational Leadership Forum, the .ed Magazine, and more.
  • Certification for learners by UNESCO MGIEP 🥇
    Automatic certificate by UNESCO MGIEP for learners who finish the course successfully.
  • Certification for Educators & Schools 🥇
    Verifiable certificate for educators and school by the Global Citizenship Foundation.
  • Awardmark for Schools 🏆
    The initiative provides the Global Citizenship Schools Awardmark for schools, which can be used on collaterals and publications of the school.
  • Letter of Appreciation from UNESCO MGIEP 📜
    A Letter of Appreciation to be issued by UNESCO MGIEP to schools that meet the success criteria.

What it takes?

We will give you the support, tools, frameworks, process, know-how, and inspiration you need to provide a transformative experience to the learners at your school. In return, we will need Commitment, courage, teamwork, and a positive, and GCED innovative mindset.

  • Active participation from school leadership, educators, and learners.
  • Dedicate an average 24 hours in a span of eight weeks.
  • Engage proactively in your country to advance Global Citizenship.
  • One to two educators per participating classroom.
  • Minimum 240* participating learners.

1. Choose the Cohort

The initiative has four intake options for participating schools. Priority Deadline for Cohort 3 is August 30, 2022 and Final Deadline to Apply is September 7, 2022 23:59 hrs UTC.

Participating schools can choose the following Cohort options:

  • Cohort 3: September 15, 2022
  • Cohort 4: October 14, 2022

2. Gather the team

Effective implementation of a transformative initiative is collective team effort. Gather a team of educators and nominate the Global Citizenship Education (GCED) Coordinator for your school. It would be ideal to assign one to two educators per participating class room. Every educator of the team will receive a two-hour self-paced capacity building course and a toolkit to support learners in the classroom.

3. Decide the course engagement strategy

It is ideal that learners are engaged in the school to take up the Global Citizenship Course for collective success. Schools have the flexibility to either host the learners during school hours or after school. To ensure we address digital divide in accessing and optimally experiencing the course, we encourage participating schools to engage learners in computer halls/labs/rooms.

4. Apply to become a Global Citizenship School

Each country is allocated a specific quota of participation slots. We recommend that you apply at the earliest. To increase your chances of receiving admission to participate in the initiative you are encouraged to apply by priority deadline of June 30, 2022. Applications are accepted until July 10, 2022.

5. Implement the Global Citizenship Course

Participate in the Educator Orientation and Implement the Global Citizenship Course and share the final report with the Global Citizenship Schools team.

How does it work?

Step 1: Apply to become a Certified Global Citizenship School.

The first step in the application process is registration of the school and nominated GCED Coordinator. Upon registration, the GCED Coordinator receives access to a form that would enable them to enroll all participating educators from the school. Upon completing this step, participating educators receive access to the self-paced onboarding course.

Step 2: Complete the Onboarding Course.

Once all educators at the school complete the onboarding course. The GCED coordinator notifies the Global Citizenship Schools team of completing the onboarding requirements.

Step 3: Receive Induction and Platform Access.

Upon meeting the criteria of selection and completing the core requirements enlisted in step 1 and 2, educators are onboarded on our core platforms and are provided dedicated access to attend AMA sessions, toolkit, and critical support required for successful implementation of the initiative.

Step 4: Implement the Global Citizenship Course.

The course can be implemented over 14 - 16 hours over a period of six weeks.

Step 5: Submit the Final Report

Using the toolkit provided by the Global Citizenship Foundation in partnership with the UNESCO MGIEP, submit the final report to receive the recognition benefits.

About the Global Citizenship Course

The Global Citizenship course is UNESCO MGIEP's digital, self-paced and interactive course for learners in the age group of 12 to 17 years, or Grade 6-12. It aims to nurture Global Citizens who can help the world become a kinder, peaceful and a sustainable planet for all animals, plants and humans.

The course centers on contemporary global issues, with a focus on Global Citizenship. It is designed to enhance the learners competencies of Empathy, Mindfulness, Compassion, and Critical Inquiry (EMC2), alongside the learner’s understanding of global citizenship themes.

Themes include: Freedom, Human Migration, Governance, Citizenship Rights and Duties, Identity and Stereotypes, Violence and ways to navigate it.

Course Design

The Global Citizenship course's curriculum has been been designed using the Libre process. The Libre process has been designed to include the following distinct features:

  • Cognitive Science and Brain Research
  • Freire's 'Problem-Posing Approach'
  • Digital Pedagogies and Personalized Learning Experiences

Course Pedagogy: Libre

The Libre process adopts a ‘problem-based’ approach to education as a tool that enables learners to build critical consciousness to drive ‘active’ citizenship that not only frames their identity, but powers them to critically analyze and understand the systemic, cultural and physical causes and manifestations of exclusion and marginalization.

In light of advancing Social and Emotional Learning Skills (Empathy, Mindfulness, Compassion, Critical Inquiry), the Global Citizenship course is designed to be a self-paced course and based on the Libre process, integrates the below five pedagogies that exploit the best practices of cognitive science.

  • Storytelling
  • Dialogue
  • Inquiry
  • Reflection
  • Games & Gamification

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the processes of critical inquiry and using the processes in service of global citizenship.
  • Develop an understanding of mindfulness, empathy and compassion, and use these as tools to enhance one’s emotional wellbeing and social relationships.
  • Demonstrate pro-social behavior towards others, including those belonging to a different race, ethnicity, culture, color, gender or nationality.
  • Develop an understanding of Global Citizenship.

Course Modules

The course includes the below six modules:

  1. Getting Curious
    In this module, learners will begin to inquire, ask questions and explore the power of inquiry.
  1. Displacing Homes: Movement and Separation
    In this module, learners will inquire about what movement is, what does it entail, and what it may feel like.
  1. Co-creating Governance: Active Citizens
    In this module, learners will inquire about a nearly perfect recipe for successful governance.
  1. Blurring boundaries: Citizens of the world
    In this module, learners will inquire about what it is to be a global citizen and the need for global citizenship. Learners look at the stories from the world to broaden their horizons on the constraints that people encounter.
  1. Discovering Myself: Who am I?
    In this module, learners will study human behavior. Learners will understand what governs humans and inquire into who they are and what shapes them.
  1. De-rooting Violence
    In this module, learners will understand the essential elements of a violent act and identify them in different scenarios. They will explore the types of violence, nature of violence, causes of violence, and triggers of violence.

Module Design

Each of the six modules is divided into 3 parts:

  • Tutorial
    In the tutorial, you will learn the tools to investigate a concept. These skills will help you in the later parts of the course.
  • Part 1 and Part 2
    These parts will focus on personal and global challenges and how pupils can navigate them.
2022 Focus

100+

Countries

300+

Schools

60,000+

Learners

Become a certified Global Citizenship School. Give your learners an edge with UNESCO MGIEP's Global Citizenship Course!

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Implementation Timeline

Week 1

Preparation

In this phase, the educators complete the onboarding and learner enrollment requirements to implement the Global Citizenship course at the school.

Week 2-7

Course Implementation

In this phase, the educators support, supervise progress and enable learners to experience the self-paced, digital, and interactive Global Citizenship Course designed by UNESCO MGIEP.

Week 8

Reporting and De-Boarding

In this phase, the educators formalize and share the final progress report with the Global Citizenship Schools team through the GCED coordinator.

FAQs

What is the aim of the Global Citizenship Schools initiative?

The Global Citizenship Schools initiative is a global network of schools fostering Global Citizenship and Socio-Emotional Learning. On the one hand, through the UNESCO MGIEP's Global Citizenship course, the aim of the project is to mainstreaming GCED and SEL in the education system. While on the other hand, the program also aims to build a network of schools and educators that share a commitment to advance the United Nations' SDG 4.7, that is, Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development.

Why should learners participate in the Global Citizenship Course?

The aims of the Global Citizenship course is to nurture Global Citizens who can help shape a kinder, peaceful and a sustainable world for all. Research in cognitive neuroscience shows that the brain learns when it is ‘socially connected’ and ‘emotionally engaged’. The course also incorporates Social and Emotional Learning competencies designed to empower students to enhance self-awareness to build strong relationships in their school community and globally.

What are the additional reward(s) of taking the course?

The Global Citizenship course's curriculum is made up of six modules, that cover issues such as freedom, human migration, governance, citizenship rights and duties, identity and stereotype, violence and ways to navigate it towards developing SEL competencies such as Empathy, Mindfulness, Compassion & Critical Inquiry. Upon successfully completing the course, learners will automatically receive a certificate from UNESCO MGIEP.

What is the duration and best strategy to implement the Global Citizenship Course?

The Global Citizenship Schools initiative has a mandatory engagement of approximately two months for each cohort, and learners have about six weeks to finish the course. The Global Citizenship course is self-paced and interactive, and the average time needed to complete the course is 14 to 16 hours, spread across the 6 weeks.

When will the program start and what is the deadline to apply?

The initiative has four intake options for participating schools. Priority Deadline is August 30, 2022 and Final Deadline to Apply is September 07, 2022 23:59 hrs UTC.

Participating schools can choose the following Cohort options:

  • Cohort 3: September 15, 2022
  • Cohort 4: October 14, 2022

Apply Now

Can we apply if we have less than 240 learners in the age group of 12-17 years at our school?

Yes, you may enroll. We do consider exceptions to this requirement. However, in case we receive more applications from your country than the allocated quota, preference will be first accorded to schools with maximum enrollment of learners. Please reach out to us, and we will try our best to accommodate you in the initiative.

How will the learners enroll for the course?

The teachers fellows will have to assist learners in registering as a participants of the course on FramerSpace through a link provided by GCF.

What are the technology requirements?

Since the Global Citizenship course is online, the learners need access to a computer and a reliable internet connection, and a speaker or headphones. Even though the Global Citizenship course is self-paced, it is advisable for the school to stipulate a dedicated hour/session in the calendar to engage the learners in a computer lab to address concerns around access to gadgets and the internet.

Does the course have assessments? If yes, what type of assessments are included in the course?

The Global Citizenship course uses formative assessment methods, including activities and tools incorporated into the course to investigate concepts and learn how to navigate personal and global issues.

Do we need any additional materials for the course?

​No. The Global Citizenship course is an online course hosted on FramerSpace, a wholly GDPR compliant platform developed by UNESCO MGIEP. FramerSpace allows for audio, rich text, video, journaling, and games, to name a few, to be embedded into a course. So, everything that the learners need for the Global Citizenship course is included on the platform itself.

What is the fee to participate?

The program is fully funded, and you would not be asked to pay any fee for participation as a school, educator, or learner. Additionally, we expect participating schools to clearly communicate to all learners that enrolling in the Global Citizenship course is no participation fee.

Can I, as a teacher, access the course beforehand?

​Yes. As part of the orientation & on-boarding process, the teachers will be able to access the Global Citizenship course so that they can get a feel of what the course is about. This is to prepare the teachers to facilitate the course in their schools and supervise and support learners taking the course.

Who are Global Citizenship School Ambassadors?

Global Citizenship School Ambassadors are global education leaders recognized for their commitment to advancing United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4.7: Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development. Global Citizenship School Ambassadors are thought leaders who foster GCED Innovative Mindset through the GCED Innovative School Code to realize and advance the transformative potential of education.

Global Citizenship School Ambassadors:

  • Share their knowledge and experience with fellow education leaders.
  • Inform their colleagues on Global Citizenship Education
  • Present and Share strategies and practices to foster deeper global teaching and learning experiences.
  • Implement the Global Citizenship Course designed by the UNESCO MGIEP.
  • Engage with professional education networks and the Educational Leadership Commune.

Where can I download the Prospectus of the Global Citizenship Schools initiative?

You may download the prospectus of the Global Citizenship Schools by visiting the link here.

What are the organizations involved in the Global Citizenship Schools initiative?

The Global Citizenship Schools is an initiative of the Global Citizenship Foundation in partnership with UNESCO MGIEP.

Can you tell us about the UNESCO MGIEP?

UNESCO MGIEP is UNESCO’s Category-I Research Institute that focuses on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 towards education for building peaceful and sustainable societies across the world. UNESCO MGIEP focuses on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 towards education for building peaceful and sustainable societies across the world by developing programs and products that promote social and emotional learning, innovate digital pedagogies and empower the youth. UNESCO MGIEP‘s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) interventions draw on the science of learning and aim to build intellectual and emotional intelligence among learners through innovative pedagogies.

VISIT UNESCO MGIEP WEBSITE

UNESCO MGIEP does not endorse any product, service, brand, and company.

Can you tell us about the Global Citizenship Foundation?

The Global Citizenship Foundation is a global not-for-profit organization established with a mandate to advance active global citizenship and global citizenship education (GCED). The Global Citizenship Foundation is one of the leading specialist organizations focusing on achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 towards fostering education for global citizenship and sustainable development.

How can we contact the team?

You may please feel free to explore our Help Center or email us at gcs@globalcitizenshipfoundation.org

Become a certified Global Citizenship School.

Be part of a global network of schools advancing Global Citizenship Education using EMC2, UNESCO MGIEP's Framework on Social and Emotional Learning

Download the Prospectus

Apply Now