Global education gaining momentum?

Increasing the impact of Global Citizenship Education in Europe is the foundation of the DEAR Multi Stakeholder Group (MSG), a consultation forum promoted by the European Commission (DG INTPA).

After its renewed composition was completed in the spring, its members met for the first time in a hybrid meeting on 20 June 2022. They discussed with representatives of DG INTPA and brought the viewpoints of civil society organisations, youth groups, local authorities, scholars, international networks, agencies and ministries of EU member states. 

In the last 20 years, DEAR/GCE approaches have gained increased attention with a greater recognition in policy documents as well as among practitioners, educators, campaigners. This trend was also reflected in the various policy-relevant matters presented or discussed during the meeting. 

Among them: the planning documents of the CSO Thematic Programme, funding European civil society committed to DEAR/GCE; the Global Challenges Programme, funding European local authorities promoting DEAR/GCE; the Global Gateway, a new European strategy launched by the European Commission and the EU High Representative; the drafting process of a new Declaration on Global Education in Europe  launched by GENE.

MSG members devoted significant time to discussing (and expressing appreciation for) the main policy orientations and key elements of the DEAR Programme as they emerge from relevant EU policy and programming documents.

Also, the presentation dedicated to the state of progress of the GENE Declaration highlighted a number of core values and premises that are emerging and help define DEAR/GCE: 

• Core values of human rights, sustainability, justice, equality, peace, international understanding
• A focus on the interconnection between local and global dimensions of issues affecting people and planet; between generations; between cultures and between past, present and future
• Commitment to pedagogical practices that are inclusive, participatory, inspire hope, enable critical thinking; are learner-centred; and build competencies  for meaningful action.

In the second part of the meeting, MSG members discussed in groups how to strengthen the impact of GCE beyond DG INTPA, trying to identify entry points to strengthen cooperation with other interlocutors. Among them: 

• Building institutional links with other areas, sectors, DGs - at European, national, and local level
• Involving, and rebalancing cooperation with, partnership countries (outside the EU)
• Opening up the field to smaller and specialist actors
• Ensuring a more active engagement of research and academia.

Read the summary of the discussions and key takeaways. They will be the basis for the MSG activity in the months to come.