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Course Design Blueprint

Glocal citizenship in curriculum design


"Glocal" was a term coined to reflect the simultaneous local and global considerations of experiences, situations, factors and issues. 

Our University Strategy and Vision 2020-2030 positions the University as one which 

is designed to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to transform their lives and those of others, by empowering them to develop as professionals ready for the world of work making a positive impact on society. 

Our student body is diverse, and our students are active members of communities, locally, regionally, nationally and globally; personally and professionally. It is critical that as well as developing the subject knowledge of our students, we ensure that they have the cultural awareness, sense of civic responsibility and skills needed to participate as active citizens in a globalized world. 

Defining global citizenship

"Global citizenship is the umbrella term for social, political, environmental, and economic actions of globally minded individuals and communities on a worldwide scale. The term can refer to the belief that individuals are members of multiple, diverse, local and non-local networks rather than single actors affecting isolated societies. Promoting global citizenship in sustainable development will allow individuals to embrace their social responsibility to act for the benefit of all societies, not just their own."

United Nations Academic Impact

Topics defined by the United Nations as being ones of global citizenship are:

  • corporate responsibility
  • cultural identity
  • economic fairness
  • education
  • environment 
  • gender equality
  • globalization
  • health
  • human rights
  • peace
  • social entrepreneurship
  • social justice and 
  • sustainable development. 

However it is also about understanding how global issues are impacting on our lives, and our local communities. 

A framework

Metli and Jane (2020) present a model or framework for international mindedness; a way of developing the awareness of students, at a cognitive, socio-emotional and behavioural level. In this framework, the students is positioned at the heart of the learning experience with knowledge, agency, disposition and skills building to develop an intercultural competence and the tools and competencies need for global engagement