Why is global citizenship important?

“Global citizenship is a mindset. It’s what you do and how you act, the kinds of decisions you make every day”, says Dr Caroline Baylon, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Reading.

Dr Caroline Baylon, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International)

Listen to Caroline explain why education and training in intercultural competence are vital steps towards creating a global community that works together to solve the big problems facing our world.

• How we live, how we work, how we learn is changing, and as a result, education is changing. New competencies are required to equip you to live in an interconnected world.
• At the same time, there are some complex global challenges that will require us to work in partnership to tackle them.
• Competencies such as empathy, self-awareness and reflection as well as skills in communication, conflict resolution, cooperation and the ability to manage complexity and uncertainty are more in demand than ever.
• The world needs global citizens who see things from different perspectives, question the status quo, critically analyse different views and understand the richness and benefits of diversity.

Armed with this knowledge, these competencies and skills, you’ll make personal and systemic changes that enable a more just and sustainable world.

Before moving on to look more deeply at culture and intercultural competencies, take a moment to think about how your level of global awareness might affect the role you take in an interconnected world. Start to think about the competencies of a global citizen, what skills do you think you already use in your daily life?