Networking Global Education in Europe

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"Education necessarily involves a reflection on the future," stated GENE Chairperson Prof. Annette Scheunpflug during GENE’s 51^st multilateral Roundtable in autumn 2024. This insight reflects a landmark year that saw Global Education Network Europe (GENE) achieve several breakthrough moments in its mission to make Global Education (GE) accessible to all Europeans, guided by the Dublin Declaration. The Dublin Declaration marked its second anniversary in 2024, celebrating concrete progress in advancing Global Education; while GENE celebrated its 50^th Roundtable in Madrid in the spring.

GENE’s work programme in 2024, co-funded by the European Commission, involved convening over 50 ministries and agencies from across 25 European countries. The GENE Secretariat supported many Member States in their Global Education work. It worked with Belgium on its strategic note on GCE, and with Portugal on whole-of agency GE capacity-building. With the Ministry of Education of Latvia, it used the European Peer Review process. It also supported the Greek ministry and agency colleagues with large-scale online teacher training in Global Education. GENE partnered with the OECD in joint research on global education, public knowledge and support for the fight against poverty and inequality. Last but not least, GENE works with several CSOs to promote multi-stakeholder dialogue. 

GENE published a range of new books and reports in 2024, including: Global Education and Youth: Policy and Practice; Global Education in Europe: National Histories (vol.1); a chapter in the OECD Development Report; and a practical guide to the Dublin Declaration. GENE also worked closely with colleagues in the European Commission on various inputs to European and international fora.

GENE focused on GE and youth in 2024 - following up on its cooperation with youth organisations during the process to create the Dublin Declaration. The 2024 GENE Awards focused on youth-led initiatives in Global Education. Youth perspectives enriched discussions at GENE’s 51^st Roundtable, where Ireland's UN Youth Delegate Natasha Maimba brought urgent attention to digital divides and educational access gaps.

The youth focus also involved finalising the publication "Global Education and Youth in Europe: Practice and Policy." The publication offers a comprehensive overview of how GCE and youth policy can reinforce each other. "Youth participation is a fundamental part of building fairer, more inclusive societies," the publication emphasises. "But meaningful involvement requires more than just goodwill or empty gestures - it demands structural support for young people and youth organisations alike." It makes clear that true youth empowerment requires resources, and partnership in decision-making processes.

Through these interconnected initiatives, GENE coordinated networking among policymakers in favour of Global Education; guided by the detailed commitments contained within the Dublin Declaration.

More info:

●  Access the new Guide to the Dublin Declaration

●  Read “Global Education in Europe: National Histories,” "Global Education and Youth in Europe: Practice and Policy" and other publications under www.gene.eu/publications

●  Read Tackling Poverty and Inequalities through the Green Transition - GENE’s chapter, published in the OECD Development Co-operation Report 2024

●  Watch testimonials from Dublin Declaration contributors

●  Learn about GENE's roundtables and policy networking

●  Use the DEAR Map to discover the Global Education initiatives in your country.