Overview
In an era defined by polarization and growing global interdependence, higher education faces an essential mandate: prepare students to understand, engage, and lead across differences. The International Education Week webinar, produced in partnership with CFR Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), answers this call by exploring how global affairs literacy can strengthen civic education on campuses.
The Case for Global Learning in Civic Education
Global learning goes beyond studying world regions or current events. It involves foundational skills—critical thinking, empathy, collaborative problem solving, and cross-cultural communication—that enable students to analyze global issues from multiple perspectives. When woven into curricula and co-curricular programming, these skills empower students to participate more effectively in civic life, contribute to inclusive classrooms, and lead with informed judgment in a complex, interconnected world.
What Attendees Will Gain
Participants will hear how global affairs literacy can be a concrete pathway to civic education. The session will provide actionable strategies drawn from successful practices at AASCU member institutions. Attendees can expect tools to:
– Integrate global learning into required and elective courses across disciplines
– Design co-curricular experiences that promote civic engagement and global awareness
– Build assessment methods to track growth in global literacy and civic competencies
– Create inclusive learning environments that bridge cultural and ideological differences
Session Details and Key Voices
The webinar is hosted in partnership with CFR Education, the educational arm of the Council on Foreign Relations, highlighting a practical link between global affairs scholarship and undergraduate student outcomes. The panel features respected voices in political science and international education:
– Moderator: Dr. Timothy Eatman, Dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community at Rutgers University – Newark, who specializes in civic engagement, student development, and inclusive learning environments.
– Panelists:
– Charles Hopkins, Managing Director of Teaching & Learning at CFR, who brings insights on integrating global perspectives into classroom practice.
– Dr. Steve Elliot-Gower, Associate Professor of Political Science at Georgia College and State University, who will discuss strategies for embedding global issues within political science and related fields.
Impact on Campuses
For campuses aiming to strengthen democratic classrooms, the webinar offers a practical blueprint for turning global learning into everyday civic action. By embedding global issues into lesson plans, simulations, community partnerships, and service-learning opportunities, institutions can cultivate graduates who are not only informed about world affairs but also committed to collaborative problem solving at home and abroad.
Why It Matters Now
As higher education confronts political fragmentation and misinformation, a robust framework for global learning becomes a civic imperative. Equipping students with the ability to analyze global contexts, articulate diverse viewpoints, and collaborate across differences helps sustain inclusive, democratic campuses and prepares students to contribute responsibly to a complex world.
How to Participate
Institutions and individuals interested in enhancing civic education through global learning can look to this webinar for practical strategies, resource recommendations, and opportunities to connect with peers at CFR Education and AASCU. Attendees will leave with ready-to-implement tools to strengthen global literacy and civic engagement across departments and student programs.
