Overview: Global Learning as a Civic Imperative
In a time of increasing polarization and global interdependence, higher education carries a critical responsibility: prepare students to understand global affairs, engage across differences, and lead with informed judgment. This International Education Week webinar, produced in partnership with CFR Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), examines how global learning acts as a pathway to robust civic education on campuses. Through a practical lens, the session reveals how global affairs literacy can strengthen democratic classrooms and foster inclusive, democratic practices across institutions.
Why Global Affairs Literacy Matters for Civic Life
Global affairs literacy equips students with frameworks to analyze international issues, assess sources, and consider the impact of policies on diverse communities. As campuses become more diverse and globally interconnected, students benefit from explicit instruction that links global knowledge to everyday civic participation. The webinar highlights strategies for translating global awareness into civic action—encouraging students to contribute to local governance, community service, and campus leadership roles with a nuanced understanding of world events.
Key Concepts Explored
- Interdependence and global citizenship: recognizing how local choices resonate beyond borders.
- Critical media literacy: discerning credible information in a complex information landscape.
- Cross-cultural communication: building dialogue skills that bridge differences rather than deepen divides.
- Inclusive curricula: embedding global perspectives into coursework and co-curricular programs.
- Campus ecosystems: aligning policies, partnerships, and practices to sustain civic learning.
What Attendees Will Learn
Drawing on best practices from CFR Education and AASCU, the session offers attendees actionable strategies to embed global perspectives across the curriculum and campus life. Participants will leave with practical tools to:
- Design learning experiences that connect global events to local impact.
- Integrate global learning into core courses, service-learning, study-abroad opportunities, and community engagement projects.
- Assess and expand co-curricular programs that cultivate civic leadership and cross-cultural competence.
- Foster inclusive classrooms where students from diverse backgrounds contribute to meaningful dialogue.
Meet the Facilitators and Panelists
The webinar is moderated by Dr. Timothy Eatman, Dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community at Rutgers University – Newark. Panelists include Charles Hopkins, Managing Director of Teaching & Learning at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Dr. Steve Elliot-Gower, Associate Professor of Political Science at Georgia College & State University. Together, they will share insights, case studies, and practical steps institutions can take to advance global learning as a cornerstone of civic education.
Practical Outcomes for Institutions
Higher education institutions aiming to strengthen civic education through global learning can expect to:
- Adopt a framework for global affairs literacy that aligns with civic education goals.
- Develop interdisciplinary modules that connect international developments to domestic policy debates.
- Create partnerships with local communities to translate global insights into local action.
- Measure impact through student learning outcomes, engagement metrics, and campus climate indicators related to inclusivity.
How to Engage
Institutions, educators, and students interested in integrating global learning with civic education are encouraged to participate, exchange ideas, and adapt the session’s tools to their contexts. The webinar underscores that informed, participatory citizenship begins in classrooms and campuses that embrace the complexities of a connected world.
