The School of Education recently held 2 days of workshops delivered by 10 domain experts in Global Citizenship Education (GCE). The purpose of this annual event is to introduce our student teachers to the concept of GCE, and the critical issues related to it.

The Global Citizenship Education event is organised by Drs Brenda Gallagher, PME Year 1 Programme Director, and Manuella Heinz, Head of the Discipline of Education.

The aim of the Global Citizenship Education component of the initial teacher education (ITE) programmes within the School of Education (SoE), University of Galway, is to enable our student teachers to develop their critical consciousness on sustainable development and related issues. As a result, GCE is integrated, in a variety of ways, into all of our programmes.

Activities in Year 1 focus on equipping our student teachers with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to be effective in terms of bringing GCE into their classrooms. Follow on activities in Year 2 focus on the importance and impact of GCE and on the evidencing the practice of bringing GCE into the classroom in a manner that has value and meaning in terms of teaching, learning and assessment.

The promotion of our student teachers’ professional identity and agency, and personal development in a manner that is consistent with the role of Global Teacher is also a core aim. This is of key important because it equips our student teachers with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be instrumental in educating their pupils for their future role as global citizens; citizens with the capacity for critical thinking and thoughtful action.