Many of us have experienced first-hand worldly changes over the past decades: technological advancements, social inequality, economic disparity, political conflicts, and climate change. This continues to greatly impact how people the world over are linked together–technologically, economically, socially, politically, and environmentally.
This rise in global challenges demands online course providers – a new kind of education. One that promotes global citizenship education to help learners understand the world around them and use adapted skillsets to collaboratively find sustainable solutions to problems that affect everyone, no matter where they’re from.
Finding and selecting the right course provider is crucial not only to the success of your worldly learnings but specifically for gaining meaningful and impactful education in global citizenship.
What Exactly is Global Citizenship Studies?
Global citizenship promotes the idea that we are all connected to a broader community. Global citizens don’t hold special passports or official titles; they understand how our intricate world works, value and embrace differences in people, and collaborate with others to find solutions to challenges far greater than any one nation.
Global Citizenship Education (GCED), a term coined in 2011, refers to building peace and solidarity with the education of all peoples, regardless of age, race, culture, religion, and geographic location. It aims to teach people how to become global citizens who can live together peacefully on one planet and make meaningful changes for the betterment of communities.
Key skills and knowledge students gain include critical thinking, cross-cultural communication, understanding of global systems, and advocacy skills, to name a few.
Our Guide: Key Factors to Consider When Selecting an Online Course Provider
1. Accreditation and Certification
When researching course providers, identify and ensure the course meets standardised, credible and recognised qualifications. Do their qualifications convert into recognised credits at universities? Does your employer recognise and approve of their qualifications? Do their accredited online courses offer diplomas, certificates, or other recognitions that are valuable in career and academic settings?
2. Program Quality and Curriculum Depth
Have a look at the provider's programs of study. These should cover essential topics such as critical thinking, ethics, human rights, sustainability, and intercultural relations.
Check whether they keep updated with current global events and include contemporary case studies.
3. Volunteer and Immersive Experiences
Identify providers who partner with global organisations that offer hands-on learning experiences. Volunteer work and immersive experiences play crucial roles in the success of your journey. You will be exposed to and learn to adapt to unfamiliar environments and systems and rely heavily on your theoretical learnings to bring people together.
4. Faculty and Expert Instructors
Look for qualified instructors with backgrounds in your field of interest, whether in international studies, development, or social justice. Providers should also be incorporating some real-world case studies and experiences with guest speakers, NGOs, policymakers, and community leaders.
5. Affordability and Financial Aid Options
Does the provider provide a clear breakdown of fees for study, materials, and certification? Are there options for scholarships, grants, or payment plans to make education accessible? Remember to keep your budget, goals, and motivations in mind when researching these options. Choose providers that are affordable to your budget and who have overlapping or similar goals and motivations as your own.
The Last Step: Getting Started
Make a shortlist of your top providers and identify which aligns with your personal or professional aspirations. Speak to alumni or current students to get an insight into the program from those with real-time experience. After making the final decision, look for career services, alumni networks, or ongoing learning opportunities to further enrich your journey. Remember that thoughtful choices lead to transformative learning journeys.
At CGCS, our approach goes beyond traditional learning. Alongside our transformative experiences, you’ll earn credit-bearing internationally-accredited qualifications that hold the same recognition as those from universities.
Use these credits to enrich your CV, enhance university applications, and impress potential employers. We encourage you to embrace the opportunity to explore the world with us and gain practical skills that will help you to positively impact global communities.
Explore our diverse range of internationally accredited courses that combine academic rigour with real-world application. From global citizenship to environmental conservation, our programs have been crafted to provide theoretical knowledge and skills you’ll need to make tangible differences.
Are you ready to become a global citizen? Contact CGCS today, and let’s start your journey together!
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