Overview

Teacher in classroom pointing to a world map

Through global learning and engagement, our international and local learners can develop their self-awareness and the ability to engage and interact with diverse cultures, languages, beliefs and perspectives.

Global citizenship competencies also help develop awareness of our interconnectedness with people and environments around the globe and their contribution to a global society and economy. When students develop a sense of global citizenship, they learn to respect key universal values such as peace, sustainability and upholding the rights and dignity of all people.¹

Why global learning and engagement

Global learning and engagement is vital for living in a more complex, globalised and competitive world.

The global pandemic has taught us how connected and interdependent the world is while highlighting the importance of collaboration, critical literacy and creative thinking. Equipping students with these skills is a key element of preparing young students, regardless of their background or where they live, for today’s challenges and opportunities and the future workforce. It also builds social, cultural and economic prosperity by helping them become all they can be by lifting student aspirations,resilience and wellbeing.

Global citizens are aware of and understand 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 peaceful, sustainable and fairer.²

Global learning and engagement opportunities in schools include:

student cultural and language immersions and mobility
student and teacher and peer-to-peer joint projects
teacher professional development focused on exchanging good practice in teaching methods, curriculum development and assessment
principal networks to lead whole-school approach to global learning through intercultural and global competence.

A globally oriented education system

A globally oriented education system is crucial to ensuring students are equipped with personal and practical skills to live the lives they want to live and get the jobs they need. The importance for global learning for students is explicitly acknowledged by the inclusion of Languages and Intercultural Capability areas in the Victorian Curriculum F-10. The Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) 2.0 measures of resilience, sense of confidence, student voice and agency, and respect for diversity, are all strengthened by global learning and engagement.

Schools that adopt a whole school approach to global learning prepare students to be the next generation of leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and globally-ready employees.

A globally-oriented education system is where all:

students speak more than one language, demonstrate intercultural competence, respect cultural diversity, participate in digital and in-person cultural immersion activities, and understand their responsibilities as global citizens
teachers participate in exchanges overseas, connect with peer networks globally and embed a global outlook in their teaching and learning programs
principals invest in staff development to establish a culture of global learning across the school. They support an active sister school relationship, embrace a thriving international student program and provide opportunities for students to participate in cultural immersion experiences.

A whole school approach to global learning

Schools can activate the attributes for global learning and engagement, and global citizenship through the following core elements and dimensions included in the FISO 2.0:

2 outcomes of learning and wellbeing
5 core elements of leadership, teaching and learning, assessment, engagement, and support and resources
10 dimensions that underpin the elements and, indicate priority areas of practice to improve students' learning and wellbeing.

Leadership

Leaders actively support and celebrate diversity and inclusion, promote cultural awareness and safety and address discrimination and racism to promote respectful and inclusive attitudes, behaviours and practices.

Learning and teaching

Students and teachers collaborate to design learning intentions that connect to real world contexts and empowers students to explore issues and take action to solve problems.

Engagement

Strong relationships and active partnerships between schools and families/carers, communities, and organisations increase students' participation and engagement in school. Activation of student voice, agency, leadership and learning strengthen students' participation in global learning.

Support and resources

Students are provided opportunities to lead and demonstrate agency in collaboration with teachers and parents and carers. This creates a shared understanding of how to support and enhance learning and wellbeing in respect to the school's culture and context.

Schools can achieve a whole-school benefit by implementing global learning and engagement activities. The below programs and resources help schools embed global learning across the system and improve student achievement and wellbeing.

References:

Monash University and Australian Government (2021) Toolkit - Supporting Australian schools to build global engagement.
Oxfam - What is global citizenship?