On 18 July 2024, more than 30 UK educational centres united to call for the UK government to take swift and meaningful action to promote and support the use of Global Learning approaches in UK schools and universities. Professor Doug Bourn, a lead member of the coalition from the IOE, Faculty of Education and Society, said: “With the increased interest and demand from many young people for learning about global and sustainability issues, there is an urgent need for a new approach that embeds Global Learning within the lives of all schools across the UK.” Liam Wegimont, GENE Director, added: “There is a strong community of global educators across the UK, working in the different jurisdictions, ready to act in favour of this agenda. But the sector needs resourcing, and the government needs a strategy, developed in consultation with stakeholders.” Read more.

GENE Roundtable 51 gathered virtually over 50 policymakers from Ministries and Agencies of Foreign Affairs and Education across 21 European countries, fostering collaboration on the evolving landscape of Global Education. The Roundtable began with an opening by GENE Chairperson Prof. Annette Scheunpflug, who emphasised, "Education can never be thought without a reflection on the future." This thought guided discussions as participants shared national reports and engaged in policy networking. Throughout the Roundtable, participants engaged in working groups that explored critical topics such as the UN Summit of the Future and its implications for Global Education, the evolving EU context for policymakers, and the importance of making a case for Global Education in both Foreign and Development Policy. Discussions also focused on national strategy development, the role of the private sector in Global Education, and the vital connection between Global Education and youth, as well as teacher education and coordination. Read more.

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.