Global Citizenship

Global citizenship is at the center of everything we do at CIS. Its key elements emerged in 2009 via a series of consultations with CIS stakeholders worldwide as we envisioned tangible outcomes for international education. To deepen our understanding of global citizenship in today’s world, new research was completed in 2021 exploring current practices across the CIS global community of schools.

Our new research-based model of global citizenship and intercultural learning unpacks their hidden complexities, addressing difference more specifically. This relevant new model and its underlying developmental continua (rubrics) of thinking and practice are now being shared across the CIS membership community, focusing on four aspects of school life: Teaching & learning; Assessment; Leadership and staff development; and Community engagement.

Through our work with hundreds of schools and universities around the world, CIS has developed the following understanding of global citizenship.

CIS members have committed to actively develop global citizenship in education through...

Ethics...

research about, discussion of, and action related to issues of principle of personal, local, and global importance,

Diversity...

the understanding of and respect for the similarities and differences of a range of individuals and peoples,

Global Issues...

the understanding of multiple perspectives of local and global events and issues,

Communication... 

the development of fluency in multiple languages, including mother tongues, used to communicate within and across cultures,

Service...

the development of the understandings, skills and dispositions to serve the local and global community through engagement in meaningful service learning,

Leadership...

the acquisition and refinement of the skills of leading and following within different cultural contexts, and

Sustainable Lifestyle...

a personal commitment to a lifestyle which supports local and global sustainability displayed through example and advocacy.


Learn about how we can support your school through our CIS Global Citizenship Services.