GENE would like to congratulate the Maltese colleagues from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation and the college team with the recent opening of the first of the four Centres for Global Citizenship Education, at St Ignatius College in Qormi in Malta. The purpose of the centre is to foster critical thinking, appreciation for nature, problem-solving skills, and other essential competencies among students. It aims to go beyond the traditional learning methods and equip students with practical skills and knowledge that extend beyond the classroom. The school inauguration was honored by the presence of Education Minister Dr Clifton Grima and Permanent Secretary Mr Matthew Vella. Minister Grima emphasised that such projects provide students with the necessary competencies to become global citizens, equipped to face the challenges of tomorrow. GENE is delighted to be working in partnership with Maltese colleagues from the Ministry of Education and Education Malta to realise increased and improved Global Education, in line with the Dublin Declaration. Read more.

On 30 May 2024, GENE Executive Director Liam Wegimont had the honor of being welcomed by Marco Riccardo Rusconi, Director of AICS – the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, at their headquarters in Rome. Our meeting was a valuable opportunity to highlight the significant work AICS is doing to translate the commitments made in the National Strategy for Global Citizenship Education and the Dublin Declaration into action through a National Action Plan. Italy's involvement of regions and local authorities, as well as the promotion of inter- and intra-regional dialogue on Global Education, is commendable. We also discussed ways in which GENE and AICS might further cooperate. In GENE we are delighted to continue the partnership with AICS and look forward to supporting Italy's efforts in advancing Global Education, towards the day when all people in Italy have access to quality global education. Read more.

Embark on a journey towards a brighter future through the European Declaration on Global Education to 2050. This strategic framework aims to shape learning for a future we can all anticipate with optimism.

In 2021, GENE, in collaboration with European member states, initiated the development of this groundbreaking declaration to address the evolving landscape of Global Education policy and practice. The result is the 'European Declaration on Global Education to 2050,' also known as 'The Dublin Declaration.' To explore the guide to this transformative declaration, click here. For the full-length declaration, visit here and delve into the commitments and vision that propel Global Education towards the forefront of policy and strategy in European countries. Join us in shaping a future where quality Global Education is accessible to all in Europe and beyond.

On 21-22 May, GENE conducted a comprehensive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training in Global Education for the team at the Portuguese Agency for Language, Culture, and Development (Camões - Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, I.P.). As a valued member agency, GENE was privileged to lead this intensive training at the request of Camões' Directors, management, and human resources department. The training focused on integrating Global Education into Camões' work, aligning with Portuguese Development Cooperation policy. Through collaborative sessions, the GENE Secretariat team engaged Camões staff from various divisions to update them on the national strategy on Global Education and international advancements in the field. Furthermore, the training fostered organisational cohesion by enhancing team spirit and coherence across Camões' diverse functions. For more details on how GENE can provide tailored Global Education training for ministries and agencies, reach out to us here.

GENE has been bringing together global education policymakers, through Multilateral Roundtables, since 2001. In April 2024, GENE celebrated its 50th Roundtable in Madrid, co-hosted by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). This video captures attendees sharing their perspectives on GENE's work, what inspires them about our mission, and how GENE has contributed to national Global Education policy and strengthened multilateralism. Watch the summary video here.

GENE was honored to participate in the recent meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) committee on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Geneva from 29-31 May. During the meeting, member states presented progress reports on the committee's work plan and received updates from international partners on ESD initiatives in various global forums. GENE shared insights from its work with the Dublin Declaration and its collaborative efforts with the UNECE ESD committee to advance sustainable development through transformative education. The partnership between GENE and UNECE underscores a shared dedication to aligning agendas and fostering a unified approach to Global Education and ESD across Europe. Collaboration among stakeholders in related fields is crucial in realising the ambitious objectives outlined in Agenda 2030, as well as in the Dublin Declaration on Global Education to 2050 and the UNECE ESD Strategy to 2030 at the European level.

GENE Global Education Youth Award is intended to value initiatives that enable young people to reflect critically on the world and their place in it; to open their eyes, hearts and minds to the reality of the world at local and global level; and empowers them to understand, imagine, hope and act to bring about a work of social and climate justice, peace, solidarity, equity and equality, planetary sustainability and international understanding. Through the Award, GENE also facilitates learning from quality Global Education youth initiatives to improve policy on Global Education and youth across Europe. The deadline for applications is 9 September 2024. Applicants will be asked to describe their initiative by submitting a short text (max 1000 words) and a short video (2-3 min). They will be encouraged to tell their story. Why this is a youth-led Global Education activity? How does your youth-led initiative contribute to transformative learning? In what ways does this learning happen? What aspects do you consider innovative? Apply here.

GENE Roundtable 50 took place on 18-19 April in Madrid. For two days, we gathered in person with over 100 policymakers from Ministries and Agencies of Foreign Affairs and Education from across Europe. Together, we shared reports on national situations, identified cross-cutting issues, and engaged in policy networking to advance Global Education. During the high-level opening interventions on Day 1, our esteemed speakers shared the following insights. Ms. Erica Gerretsen (European Commission INTPA) highlighted the crucial shift needed in education narratives and financing, emphasising education's pivotal role in the green transition, international partnerships, and shaping the world we want to live in. Ms. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO, discussed the complementarity and significance of the new UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development and the European Declaration on Global Education to 2050, as guiding lights in turbulent times. And Mr. Carsten Staur, Chair of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), stressed that we need Global Education to help build trust. Watch the video highlights here. To learn more about past GENE Roundtables, read here.

Congratulations to our Belgian colleagues, especially Minister Caroline Gennez and our GENE colleague Mara Coppens, on the launch of the new Belgian Strategic Note on Global Education! The launch took place on 22 April and was co-hosted by Belgium and GENE under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the EU. The event highlighted the importance of global citizenship education within international cooperation. Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation Caroline Gennez opened the event and presented the strategic note. A variety of testimonials illustrated the impact of global citizenship education. Belgian and European players commented on the importance of this note at their level. Experts in international relations, economics, inclusion and global citizenship discussed the limits of current paradigms, and the alternatives that are possible and necessary for a fair and sustainable world. Read more.

At the invitation of the Asia-Pacific network on global citizenship education, we had the opportunity to discuss the purpose, process, and content of the Dublin Declaration. We considered the pivotal role of policymakers and other stakeholders in this process and explored how insights from our work with policymakers towards the agreement of the Declaration could benefit advocates and national policymakers in global citizenship education in the Asia-Pacific region. GENE Executive Director, Liam Wegimont, commented: The Dublin Declaration has been an impetus and inspiration for advancing Global Education in European countries. Inspired by our process, our Global Critical Friends from the Asia-Pacific region are considering the initiation of a similar, but different, process to develop a regional initiative. Our contexts are different, but we share similar aspirations regarding Global Education. With the agreement of the 2023 UNESCO Recommendation, there is a great opportunity for alignment between regional initiatives to enhance Global Education. Read more.

At the UNESCO World Conference on Culture and Arts Education, GENE's Executive Director, Liam Wegimont, chaired an inter-ministerial panel focusing on equitable access to culture and arts in education. The panel brought together Ministers of Education, Arts, and Culture from various countries and regional intergovernmental organisations to explore the vital role of arts and culture in shaping inclusive education systems. The discussions emphasised the transformative power of arts, culture, creativity, and imagination in contributing to global justice, peace, human rights, and sustainability, aligning with the UNESCO 2023 Recommendation and the European Declaration on Global Education to 2050. This underscores the essential role of Global Education in enabling critical reflection, imagination, and contributions to social and climate justice, peace, solidarity, and international understanding. Watch the panel here.

On 14 and 15 February 2024, we had the privilege of engaging in detailed conversation with Skolverket, the Swedish agency for education and Sida, the Swedish development cooperation agency in Stockholm regarding Swedish policy and strategy in Global Education and Learning for Sustainability. At the seminar in Stockholm, we explored the Swedish, European and international contexts for Global Education and looked at further possibilities for partnership and joint learning. On the second day, we were joined by professors Karen Pashby (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Louise Sund (Mälardalen University), who shared insights from their research in the field, reminding us of the benefits of linking policy and research conversations in Global Education.

On 12-13 March, GENE facilitated the inter-ministerial dialogue "Global Education Policy in Central Europe" – a regional event, hosted by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One year after the Dublin Declaration, this event offered a unique opportunity to revisit national commitments to Global Education and to create an environment conducive to sharing insights, navigating challenges, and exploring opportunities in Central Europe. This inter-ministerial dialogue served as a catalyst for partnership development and strengthening, shaping the trajectory of education policy in the region. We are looking forward to this collective pursuit of enhancing Global Education policies in Central Europe.

We had the privilege of attending the European Declaration on Global Education to 2050 conference in Bilbao, where Ms. Ditta Trindade, GENE's Head of Support and Innovation, delivered an insightful presentation on the process, contents, and implementation of the Declaration. She also identified exciting opportunities for cooperation at the regional and local levels. The conference featured a thought-provoking one-day Seminar on the Implementation of the Dublin Declaration in the Basque country, emphasising the urgent need for a transformative shift in education. It's time to embrace the intricacies of our interconnected world and equip our learners with the skills they need to thrive.

Delighted to share the launch of two groundbreaking books on global education and sustainable development that took place on 30 November. The books were presented by Prof. Douglas Bourn, Professor of Development Education at University College London (UCL) and Director of the Development Education Research Centre (DERC). The hybrid launch featured a brief introduction to each book, and a series of short presentations from the authors of key chapters from both collections. Read more.

On 4 November, we marked the first anniversary of the Dublin Congress and Declaration. We would like to take a moment to celebrate the many achievements in follow-up to the Declaration, made together with everyone who has been involved in this process. Since the adoption of the European Declaration on Global Education to 2050, there has been incredible progress. To get a glimpse of the highlights, please take a look at this one-pager.

After a few virtual roundtables, we met again in-person in Athens for GENE Roundtable 49. On 19 and 20 October we brought together over 50 Policymakers from Ministries and Agencies, of Foreign Affairs and Education, from across Europe to meet and share reports on national situations, identify cross-cutting issues, and learn together through policy networking for more and better Global Education. Read more about GENE's Roundtables here.

Exciting discussions at Ambrela Development Day Deep Talks on Global Education on 8 November! GENE Director Liam Wegimont joined esteemed panelists to address challenges in liberal democracies in Central and Eastern Europe. We explored the role of Global Education in countering fake news and misinformation, fostering critical thinking and media literacy. Looking forward to finalising their new strategy by Spring and gaining government approval by Summer. Read more.

The Peer Review of Global Education on Latvia is underway, and our team visited Riga during the first week of October 2023. Joined by Peer Experts from Irish Aid and the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Research, GENE Secretariat members engaged in a productive week of meetings and discussions with Latvian stakeholders in Global Education. Our goal was to learn from Latvia's experiences and identify opportunities for enhancing and expanding Global Education. Read more.

The 2023 conference of the Academic Network on Global Education Learning (ANGEL) took place on 19-20 June at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. It showcased the latest research on Global Education and also encouraged closer dialogue and interaction between policymakers and researchers. GENE co-organised two sessions on advancing policy and practice in the evaluation of Global Education, as well as policy-related research and research-informed policymaking. Read more.

On 22 June, the Czech Forum for Development Cooperation (FoRS) and People in Need, in partnership with GENE, held an online event on the Dublin Declaration Implementation. This international online event brought together representatives of ministries, civil society organisations and platforms, acadeevent reportmia, and international organisations from 17 countries. Together they looked for synergies in working on the declaration implementation on regional, national, and international levels. Read more in the event report.

On 8 June, GENE Director Liam Wegimont spoke at the SOLIDAR Policy Roundtable on the right to Global Education, held in the European Parliament. Mr Wegimont spoke about the European Declaration on Global Education to 2050 – the Dublin Declaration and the tangible signs of hope, in practice, policy, and funding, as we work for the right of all people in Europe – in solidarity with peoples globally – to have access to quality Global Education. Read more.

“How can we make people understand that we are all citizens of the world? That we are all interrelated?” This is how Mr. Jean Van Wetter, CEO of Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency, opened the launch of BeGlobal on 16 May 2023. BeGlobal is Enabel's new laboratory of ideas and practices in global education. GENE Director Liam Wegimont also took part in the launch and provided an overview of the progress made regarding the implementation of the Dublin Declaration. Read more.

On 11 May, Ms. Jo McAuley (GENE Head of Peer Review and Policy Research) had the pleasure of meeting the new Global Schools Team of teacher educators along with coordinator Mathias Demetriades and colleagues from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). We are excited and looking forward to seeing what this group will do in 2023, continuing the brilliant work of the Global Schools programme. Thanks to Sida for hosting and for supporting global learning for a more just and sustainable world.

Liam Wegimont (GENE Director) spoke at a Roundtable event held in the European Parliament to mark the forthcoming European Year of Skills, which started on 9 May 2023. Mr. Wegimont focused on the following points. If the aspiration of the European Year of Skills is to narrow the gap between the skills we have and the skills we need, then those stakeholders leading Global Education across Europe should fully be involved. GENE has seen the power of such inclusion in the process towards the Dublin Declaration. Furthermore, plans for possible Council Recommendations around the European Year of Skills should take account of existing (recent) Council Conclusions, particularly around Education for Sustainable Development, Global Citizenship Education and Youth.

GENE Roundtable 48 took place online on 24 and 25 April and provided opportunities for Ministries and Agencies of Foreign Affairs and Education to share and learn from each other through national updates and working group sessions. The Roundtable kicked off with high-level interventions by Mr. Sean Fleming, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, Ireland, Mr. Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Luxembourg, and Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director, Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace (INTPA.G), European Commission. Another highlight on the agenda was the follow-up to the new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050, taking stock of work going on at national level and connecting at European level to realise the vision of the Declaration. Read more about past GENE Roundtables.

On 10 March 2023, GENE Executive Director, Mr. Liam Wegimont, and GENE Head of Support & Innovation, Ms. Ditta Trindade Dolejsiova met with Director Ambassador Friedrich Stift and colleagues from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) to follow up on conversations initiated during the Dublin Congress. GENE and ADA discussed opportunities for cooperation in the context of follow-up to the Dublin Declaration, including ADA’s new Global Education strategy and how best to take stock of and build on the rich history and achievements in Global Education in Austria. GENE also met with the representatives of the Ministry of Education who shared news about a forthcoming seminar on Global Education with a particular focus on youth participation. We look forward to continuing the excellent cooperation with Austrian colleagues.

On 29-30 November 2022, GENE participated in an event to discuss the new Slovak Strategy on Global Education to 2030, organised by the Slovak Ministry of Education in partnership with the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Ambrela, the Slovak Platform for Development Organisations.

Ms. Ingrid Brocková (State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) highlighted that the new Slovak strategy is the first in Europe to be developed in line with the Dublin Declaration on Global Education to 2050. She stressed the urgency of developing values and attitudes of solidarity, equality, justice, openness and critical thinking and addressing the root causes of today's challenges. Mr. Slavomír Partila (State Secretary, Ministry of Education) congratulated his team on the new strategy and emphasised its vision of connecting global and local issues and bringing together education for sustainable development and global citizenship education.

On 14-15 September, we took one step further on that road. On 14 September, gathering 99 representatives of youth organisations, civil society organisations, local governments, international organisations and global critical friends from Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, we wrapped up the first day of a fruitful Prep Com - one of the milestones in the process towards a new Declaration on Global Education in Europe to 2050. On 15 September, the second day of the Prep Com, we brought together policymakers from Ministries and Agencies, of Foreign Affairs and Education, from across Europe to continue to build consensus toward the final Declaration. The process of drafting the declaration will culminate on 3-4 November with the European Congress on Global Education in Europe to 2050. Read more.

The Council of the European Union Conclusions on the transformative role of education for sustainable development and global citizenship were recently adopted under the French Presidency. In GENE we were delighted to hear of this important document, which is focused on an intersectional approach to Education for Sustainable Development and for Global Citizenship. GENE's approach has always been about bringing together these sometimes competing terms. We also very much appreciate the references to the Declaration on Global Education to 2050 and will work to ensure that the statements contained therein are realised. We look forward to building on these important developments in the field of Global Education during the Czech Presidency of the EU. Read the conclusions here.

The next seminar, organised by the Academic Network for Global Education & Learning (ANGEL), titled “Regional perspectives: Global education and learning in Latin America”, took place online on Wednesday, 1 June 2022. This session was part of a seminar series suited for Global Education professionals, as well as anyone with an interest in research in the fields of Development Education, Global Citizenship Education, Human Rights Education, Education for Sustainable Development, Education for Peace, and Intercultural Education. To learn more about other upcoming ANGEL events, read here.

On 28 April 2022, GENE participated in a meeting hosted by the Austrian Global Learning Strategy Group to present the process of developing the new Declaration on Global Education in Europe to 2050 and to engage in substantive discussions with Austrian stakeholders. The Austrian Global Learning Strategy Group is a multi-stakeholder forum established in 2002 and is a partnership between key ministries and agencies, civil society organisations, universities, the national youth council and school leaders. It consists of the Austrian Development Agency, representatives of school practice and the teacher training sector, civil society organisations, academia, youth and the Austrian Commission for UNESCO.

Through extensive consultations since the launch of the new declaration process in June 2021, we have gathered inputs from Ministries and Agencies participating in GENE, Global Education stakeholders from the youth sector, civil society organisations (CSOs) and local and regional authorities (LRGs). The feedback received so far has shaped the first declaration draft. On 15, 16 and 17 June, GENE hosted virtual consultations with over 70 representatives of Ministries and Agencies (of Foreign Affairs and Education) from across Europe, youth organisations, civil society organisations, local governments, and international organisations, along with global critical friends from Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. All meeting participants worked together to discuss the strengths of the current declaration draft, as well as potential ideas for improvements. With all the received feedback, the Drafting Committee will keep shaping the declaration further, ensuring wide and diverse ownership. Read more.

GENE Director, Liam Wegimont, together with other colleagues from international organisations, governments, parliamentarians, local and regional authorities, and civil society organisations from Europe and beyond, spoke at the Pan European Congress on Global Education, held on 31 May and 1 June. This was a great opportunity to recall those who led the original Maastricht Declaration on Global Education in 2002 and to reflect together on the achievements since then. Global Education is now more important than ever in tackling the major challenges that face the world today, so we are looking forward to developing the new Declaration on Global Education to 2050 (GE2050).

GENE continues to collect a list of educational resources that might be useful in enabling the difficult conversations to happen around the war in Ukraine, to assist teachers, educators and young people to be able to discuss, process, analyse and critically engage with what is happening in Europe today and specifically in Ukraine. The list includes resources that help build knowledge about the context in Ukraine and critically reflect on the multiple and global dimensions of war. If you have relevant resources to be included in this list, please get in touch.

On 28-29 April 2022, in partnership with GENE, Malta's Ministry for Education and Sports organised a National Symposium on Education for Sustainable Development and Global Education together with the Centre for Environmental Education and Research (CEER). In parallel to the symposium, GENE representatives had bilateral meetings with Dr. Clifton Grima (Minister for Education and Sport, Malta) and Dr. Ian Borg (Minister for Foreign Affairs, Malta, pictured above, top left corner). Both ministers expressed their continuous support for Global Education and expressed their interest in cooperation with GENE. Read more.

The Institute of Educational Policy of the Greek Ministry of Education together with GENE has been piloting online Global Education training for teachers since the beginning of 2022. The first online module, which focused on the concepts and approaches to Global Education, has been already completed by more than 700 teachers in Greece. The second module started in May 2022 and focused on teachers' practice. GENE has contributed short videos from Cyprus, Finland, Ireland and Slovenia focusing on teachers' training, work at school, the whole-school approach and the use of modern technologies in Global Education. The online training course was initially kicked off on 20 December 2021, with over 1,300 teachers (the seminar report can be read here).

GENE Roundtable 46 took place on 4 April 2022 with an opening by Professor Dr Annette Scheunpflug (GENE Chair), highlighting why Global Education matters now more than ever. The Roundtable brought together over 50 policymakers from Ministries and Agencies, of Foreign Affairs and Education from across Europe. GENE Member States met virtually to hear national reports on the situation of Global Education at national level, to share strategies, to learn from each other and identify issues of common interest. The Roundtable was also an opportunity to give an update on the next steps regarding the process of drafting the new Declaration on Global Education to 2050. Read more.

On 7 April 2022, colleagues at UNESCO carried out regional technical consultation meetings on the revision of the 1974 Recommendation. GENE was honoured to participate in the discussions for Europe and North America and to speak about the priorities emerging from the development of the new Declaration. We hope that the recommendation revision will lead to the further strengthening of this valued and ambitious international instrument. Read more.

On 30 March 2022, GENE continued the process of drafting the new declaration with a meeting gathering 50 policymakers from Ministries and Agencies of GENE Member States from across Europe. Member States representatives worked together to build consensus towards a common vision for global education to 2050 and identified initial elements for the content of the new declaration. Drafting оf the declaration will take place over the coming months, while continuing consultations with European governments policymakers, stakeholders and international organisations.

GENE started consulting stakeholders regarding elements of the new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050. On 11 March 2022, GENE hosted a meeting with stakeholders, including youth organisations, civil society and local and regional government bodies, to collect their insights regarding visions for Global Education in Europe to 2050. The event marked an exciting moment in the Declaration process before making further progress at the Policymakers Forum which took place virtually on 30 March 2022, gathering GENE member countries and roundtable participants. Read more.

GENE is delighted to present the results of the 14 projects funded by the GENE Global Educational Research Award 2021. The online event "Showcasing Global Educational Research" took place on 22 March 2022 and featured presentations and discussions with the project leaders of the various projects. You can view details of the projects here. Also present were GENE Director Liam Wegimont and EERA President Joe O'Hara, as well as the presenters, who were joined by other colleagues to discuss current themes in Global Education and related research and to learn about the results of the projects funded by the Award.

As an organisation that works with ministries and agencies across Europe, for international solidarity, human rights and global social justice through education, we watch the developments in Ukraine with horror and ask ourselves – how can we offer support? So we have started to collect a shortlist of educational resources that might be useful in enabling the difficult conversations to happen, to assist teachers, educators and young people to be able to discuss, process, analyse and critically engage with what is happening in Europe today, and specifically in Ukraine. Read more.

Are you between 15 and 29 years old? Want to share what you believe to be the most important issues facing people and the planet? Want to give voice to your hopes about what education should be, now and in the future? Fill in this quick survey, created by GENE and the European Youth Forum. Your insights will contribute to the new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050. If you participate in the survey, you will also stand a chance to win a publication on Global Education, a Global Education training, an inter-rail ticket or participation in the Global Education Congress in November. Don't miss it!

Prof. Doug Bourn, Director of the Development Education Research Centre (DERC), has published a new book on education for social change and global learning. The book was launched on 8 February 2022 with a discussion, exploring the themes covered in the book, chaired by Liam Wegimont (GENE Director). Participating in the online discussion were: Dr. Namrata Sharma (State University of New York), Susan Kambalu (CAFOD), Prof. Lynette Schultz (University of Alberta) and other special guests. Buy the book here.

UNESCO's IBE works towards a world, where each and everyone is ensured quality education and learning. On 1 February 2022, IBE held its 71st Executive Council and received its Board Members and representatives of Member States who approved its 2022 work plan and budget in line with the Strategy and Programmes of UNESCO’s Education Sector. Prof. Annette Scheunpflug (GENE Chair) participated in the council session, intervening on behalf of Germany. Among the highlights of the event was stressing the importance of putting global learning at the heart of endogenous curriculum development and policy. Read more.