The place of the IGCA and global citizenship in the curriculum

[Boyd Roberts]

(January 2019)

How does the IGCA fit in with other aspects of the curriculum and philosophy of schools, and how, more generally, is global citizenship viewed in this context.

Thanks to Craig Perrier, a social studies specialist in the US, I recently came across the “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative of Battelle for Kids. This encourages US schools to set out what characteristics a high school graduate should have. Those familiar with the IB will recognise that this is very similar to the IB Learner Profile.

 Among these graduate profiles is one from Shelby County Public Schools, which includes global citizenship as one facet of a graduate.

https://www.shelby.kyschools.us/domain/1353

 It is good to see being a global citizen as one key component of what Shelby thinks a successful graduate should look like.

My only concern with the way this appears, is that being a global citizen could appear to be separate and distinct from “a responsible collaborator” or “a critical thinker”.  Within the IGCA critical thinking and responsible collaboration are essential elements of being a global citizen.

 Oxfam’s definition of a global citizen has been high influential in schools, and stimulated my own work in the area:

https://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/education-for-global-c...

 Oxfam goes on to say:

"Education for global citizenship is not an additional subject - it's a framework for learning, reaching beyond school to the wider community. It can be promoted in class through the existing curriculum or through new initiatives and activities.”

(https://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/who-we-are/what-is-global-citize...)

 To my mind, global citizenship should not be a separate component of the curriculum, but it can be helpful to spend time specifically working on a global citizenship approach – to shine a global citizenship spotlight on areas of our knowledge, lives, and experience, and to sharpen up the skills and approaches of a global citizen.

 It seems to me that this is what the IGCA offers.

Do share any thoughts or views on this.