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Past Program

Mar 24 - Mar 31, 2013 ISP 56

Global Citizenship: Ethics and Engagement

Abstract

In an age of globalization which increasingly brings people in contact with other cultures as a result of changing social, political, and economic activities and technological advances, the need to understand international affairs, to recognize cultural values other than our own, and to understand world events from a variety of perspectives, has become increasingly critical. So has the need for people to think and act as global citizens in order to address some of the most pressing issues of global concern that are facing humanity in the 21st century.

The purpose of this program is to provide an intensive seven-day international experience that will allow students from participating colleges to develop a better understanding of the processes and effects of globalization and to explore global issues from a variety of perspectives. Participants will leave with a better understanding of what it means to be a global citizen, why it is important, and how the core values of global citizenship can be incorporated into one's present and future actions. At the end of the session it is intended that participants will have the desire, ability and empowerment to envision and affect positive change on their own campuses and in their local and global communities.

Because of the importance of the United States as a global actor, the Seminar's location in the heart of Europe, and the historical circumstances under which it was founded over 65 years ago, the session will pay special attention to the political, economic and cultural history of the trans-Atlantic relationship, its future dimensions, and the impact such changes may have on the rest of the world. At the same time, mindful of increasing global interconnectedness, the session will consider issues of particular concern to regions of the developing world. In this way, the session will address issues related to the relationship between the historical legacy of the latter part of the 20th century, global responsibility, humanitarian intervention, social justice, and sustainable development.

The program aims to engage participating students as global citizens, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, tools, values, and commitment to:

  • Understand the nature of globalization, including its positive and negative impacts around the world, and realize how it is transforming human society
  • Appreciate the diversity of humanity in all of its manifestations, from local to global, and interact with different groups of people to address common concerns
  • Recognize the critical global challenges that are compromising humanity's future and see how their complexity and interconnections make solutions increasingly difficult
  • Collaborate with different sets of stakeholders, by thinking globally and acting locally, to resolve these critical challenges and build a more equitably sustainable world.