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The International Forum on Global Citizenship Education brought together over 100 thought leaders, policymakers, experts, and students from across the world to Schloss Leopoldskron
Photo Credit: BKMC / Christian Streili
On November 14, 2023, Salzburg Global Seminar co-hosted the first International Forum on Global Citizenship Education in partnership with the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The joint commitment of these organizations to fostering global citizenship underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing global issues.
Over 100 thought leaders, policymakers, experts, and students from Austria, Korea, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, China, Sierra Leone, Canada, UK, US, France, Ghana, and other countries came together for this forum. These participants explored and discussed the critical role of Global Citizenship Education in shaping a more interconnected and inclusive world in the age of artificial intelligence and climate change.
The forum featured several high-level speakers, such as the 11th Federal President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, Austrian State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm, UNESCO representative Lydia Ruprecht, Korean Permanent Representative Sang-wook Ham, and Director of the Salzburg Global Center for Education Transformation Dominic Regester. Throughout the forum, speakers and participants were able to engage in robust conversations, network, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations.
“At its core, Global Citizenship Education seeks to empower individuals with the knowledge, the skills, and the values to navigate a complex and interdependent world. It encourages values such as critical thinking, empathy, and shared responsibility for the well-being of our global community,” said Ban Ki-moon Centre Co-chair Dr. Heinz Fischer.
In a video message, Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary General and Ban Ki-moon Centre Co-chair, underscored that "education is a powerful tool for shaping global citizens who are not only knowledgeable but also compassionate and engaged.” Global citizens can help us “collectively work towards a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable world, leaving no one behind.”
A highlight from the event was the keynote address from Professor Willem Joner, Chair of the Dutch AI program AiNed, on “Global Citizenship Education in the Age of AI”. He explained that "we have to connect our education systems to global societal challenges and transitions" like the digital transition, as it is important for everyone to learn how to ethically apply new technologies like AI in a "thoughtful and careful way so that they benefit society as a whole".
There were three panel discussions featuring diverse perspectives from policymakers, higher education experts, and young changemakers which illustrated important developments in Global Citizenship Education. Their topics were “Developments in policy-making for GCED in the age of AI and climate change”, “Universities and higher education – GCED challenges and success stories from universities around the world”, and “Young changemakers action – Best practice examples from young global citizens”.
Dominic Regester, director of the Salzburg Global Center for Education Transformation, concluded the event by reiterating how Global Citizenship Education can empower young people to make the changes they wish to see in the world. He quoted Hannah Arendt, who said that “education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it".
The International Forum on Global Citizenship Education will lead to the release of a “Call to Action - Outcome Paper” which encapsulates key discussions, insights, and recommendations from the forum.
This forum preceded the Salzburg Global Center for Education Transformation program titled “Civic and Civil Education: Identity, Belonging and Education in the 21st Century”.
Watch a full recording of the International Forum on Global Citizenship Education below: