ARTICULATE A PERSONAL DEFINITION OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

A Global Citizen is someone who is aware of and understands the wider world - and their place
in it. They take an active role in their community, and work with others to make our planet more
equal, fair and sustainable. For Oxfam, Global Citizenship is all about encouraging young people
to develop the knowledge, skills and values they need to engage with the world. And it's about
the belief that we can all make a difference. 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.
The BENEFITS  are felt across the school and beyond. Global citizenship helps young people
to:
 Build their own understanding of world events.
 Think about their values and what's important to them.
 Take learning into the real world.
 Challenge ignorance and intolerance.
 Get involved in their local, national and global communities.
 Develop an argument and voice their opinions.
 See that they have power to act and influence the world around them.

What's more, global citizenship inspires and informs teachers and parents, too. But above all, it
shows young people that they have a voice. The world may be changing fast, but they can make
a positive difference - and help build a fairer, safer and more secure world for everyone.

Global Citizenship is the idea that all people have rights and civic responsibilities that come with

being a member of the world, with whole-world philosophy and sensibilities, rather than as a
citizen of a particular nation or place. The idea is that one’s identity transcends geography or
political borders and that responsibilities or rights are derived from membership in a broader
class: "humanity". This does not mean that such a person denounces or waives their nationality
or other, more local identities, but such identities are given "second place" to their membership
in a global community. Extended, the idea leads to questions about the state of global society in
the age of globalization.

Global citizenship is becoming a widespread topic in higher education because it

deals with issues of global interdependence, diversity of identities and cultures,
sustainable development, peace and conflict, and inequities related to power,
resources, and respect. The movement of ideas and culture through media and
technology is growing, international politics and international relations create
systems in which we all live, and environmentally we are all responsible for the
health and future of our planet. This means that 21st-century students will require
adequate preparation, so that they may succeed in this quickly-developing world, in
both their professional and their personal lives. Universities therefore seek to
‘internationalize’ their campuses by increasing international exposure to their
students.