Today, children are growing up in an increasingly interconnected world which is why it becomes incumbent on educators to teach them how to become global citizens. This includes teaching them skills on how to cope with the complex dynamics of the modern world and how to actively contribute to it. It involves enabling children to develop a sense of empathy, social justice, environmental awareness and cultural awareness, among others. This kind of global awareness creates a realisation in students about how individuals, communities, and nations across the world are interconnected and how they can rely on one another to materialise a full and meaningful life. 

Fostering global citizenship in the classroom not only builds characters in young learners but also shifts their mindset towards global consciousness and equips them with real life skills to practice compassion and tolerance, all of which are needed to thrive in a globally interconnected world. More than that, it broadens their horizons and world views and equips them to actively play their part as global citizens, providing them opportunities for action to make a positive impact in the world. The skills acquired from global citizenship education, when applied, could potentially contribute to positive outcomes such as world peace, environmental conservation, greater economic equalities among different ethnicities, sustainable development, tolerance, inclusion and so forth.

Global awareness involves recognizing and valuing the diverse cultures, traditions and viewpoints around the world. It promotes respect and understanding of these differences among both students and teachers, encouraging unity while acknowledging the significance of diversity. In education, global awareness helps learners understand the interconnectedness of people and environments, preparing them to be informed and engaged members of the global community. 

Environmental awareness highlights the responsibility individuals bear in understanding the natural world and the interdependence of ecosystems. It is important for both students and teachers to acknowledge the effects of human activities on the planet. By promoting environmental stewardship, schools can inspire sustainable practices and encourage students to take actions that support the Earth and future generations. 

Social responsibility goes beyond personal success, encouraging individuals to act in ways that benefit society as a whole. For educators, teaching social responsibility helps students develop a sense of purpose and dedication to the broader community. This involves making ethical choices, engaging in civic activities, and supporting environmental sustainability, all of which are essential for living a purposeful and meaningful life. 

Citizenship involves individuals actively participating in their communities at both local and global levels. For students, this entails understanding their rights and duties, contributing to the well-being of society, and interacting with others respectfully and cooperatively. Teachers play a key role by exemplifying these behaviours, guiding students in developing the attitudes and skills that are essential for engaged citizenship. 

Global systemic thinking refers to the capacity to comprehend intricate systems and their interconnectedness across social, economic, political, and environmental spheres. This holistic approach benefits both students and educators by helping them identify patterns, predict the consequences of actions, and make informed choices that consider the wider global context. It equips individuals to tackle global challenges with greater purpose and motivation.
 

This can be initiated with small steps such as introducing students to different languages as well as teaching them about geography, travel, cultures, current affairs and international law to name just a few. Teachers are now expected to integrate these lessons into the curriculum so that students are taught about global citizenship in a classroom environment. Furthermore, with technology making our world feel like a smaller place and world travel becoming increasingly common, teachers can utilise these trends to teach global citizenship more effectively. For educators, this also means not only teaching students how to navigate the complexities of the modern world but also embodying these values themselves.

The UAE government introduced the Moral Education Program in 2017 to foster values such as tolerance, responsibility, and respect for different cultures among students. This initiative is now part of the curriculum in schools across the UAE to promote global citizenship education. The program covers a range of topics including ethics, respect, national loyalty, cultural heritage, sustainability, personal and community development, civic education, and an understanding of rights and responsibilities.

Below are some strategies teachers can adopt to incorporate global citizenship in education:

This does not mean that the teacher needs to be an expert in global issues. It can be as simple as building a participatory classroom environment and playing the role of facilitator where the teacher supports learners to explore, negotiate, make informed decisions, solve problems and work both independently and collaboratively with their peers. For example, teachers can select one global issue to explore each month, such as environmental sustainability, by delving into the impact of deforestation and promoting discussion around this topic.

Students can be taught to socialise and connect with one another in a healthy way, build bridges of mutual respect and develop an understanding of others’ experiences and backgrounds so they can truly coexist with diverse viewpoints in the world. Teachers can encourage students to understand the challenges people face globally and how their actions or words impact others and how they can learn to be more tolerant of diverse perspectives, addressing biases and stereotypes. For example, teachers can organise a multicultural day, celebrating a specific heritage month, or organising a festival focused on a specific culture.

Creating engaging learning environments that integrate technology for cultural literacy, and other tech-savvy skills into classroom instruction gives students instant exposure into diverse cultures and lets them enjoy cultural exchanges with others. For example, teachers can encourage students to interact with each other in person or use online platforms such as Zoom, Skype or social media to explore international perspectives. This international exposure creates a more inclusive culture within the classroom, especially in multicultural communities, where all students must feel that their background, experiences and different points of view are equally valued.

Allowing students to ponder over global issues and discuss them to gain further perspectives about them prompts them to go beyond the basics of how an issue may seem from the outside. It enables them to dig deeper to develop a further understanding of global issues and form their own opinions and conclusions about them. To encourage critical thinking, teachers can organise debates and discussions in the classroom to teach students communication skills, learn from others and give them an understanding of the importance of appreciating and accepting opposing viewpoints.

An education on global citizenship is incomplete without action. Students must be encouraged to lead by example and be the change they want to see in the world. To promote this, teachers can devise action-planning tools and exercises to help students track progress towards a certain global citizenship goal. Students can be formed into different groups, and they can discuss and suggest how they will take action to address a certain challenge to bring about an improvement.

The important global citizenship concept of “think globally, act locally” encourages people and communities to consider the greater global impact of their local actions. It also enables them to be aware of how their local actions can meaningfully affect the world and people. Small actions taken locally such as protecting the environment, advocating for social justice or even changing personal habits to protect others can build up and lead to positive changes on a global scale. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to teach students global citizenship and equip them with the knowledge, skills and values that they will need to live a meaningful life and make a positive impact in the world.