EDUC44110

Global citizenship education has a wide remit to address including gender, peace and non-violence, lifestyles and consumption. It includes complex knowledge areas, value changes and relies upon transformational learning so that learners are empowered and motivated towards positive changes.
GCE origins lies in Development Education, Environmental education and other adjectival educations. In 2015, the UN Sustainable Development Goals were launched with 17 goals for implementation by 2030 to transform our planet. Goal 4 centres on Quality Education and Target 4.7 stipulates that by 2030, and the Roadmap for 2030 sets out the challenge for education:
‘Educators in all educational settings can help learners understand the complex choices that sustainable development requires and motivate them to transform themselves and society’ (UNESCO 2020 p.30).
Education plays a large role in fulfilling this goal and preparing young people for future by understanding the complexity of the task and instilling motivation for social transformation. This is the challenge for education across the world; for teachers to be prepared and ready to address these issues and include in their lessons; for education policy-makers to include all aspects of GCE; and for learners to engage with the issues.
This module addresses many of these topics and questions; beginning with an overview of the history and policies supporting Development Education and GCE in Ireland and other countries; we will examine its implementation in developing country contexts; and address the underlying questions on the purpose of education.