Global skills for a global society?

There is increased recognition amongst policy-makers and academic debates within education of the need to take greater account of the skills learners require to live and work in a global society. Themes such as global competencies, global citizenship and 21st Century skills can be seen in initiatives for schools, colleges and universities. But what do they all mean, and to what extent do they encourage learning that enables learners to question the rise of ‘fake news’, uncritical approaches to assessing data, and information about the wider world?

The term ‘global skills’ is being used by bodies such as the British Council, leading multinational companies and some elite universities in their recruitment strategies. This Development Education Research Centre (DERC) seminar will review some of these debates and look at examples from a number of professions, notably education, health and engineering, to identify a potential framework for global skills that can equip learners to not only secure meaningful employment in the global economy, but be active global citizens in the fragile and unequal world we live in today.

NOTE: Due to strike action, this seminar was rescheduled from the 6th or March to the 20th. Apologies for the inconvenience. Note also the venue change to Room 903, 20 Bedford Way.

Intended audience

Academics and researchers, Masters students, Teachers and college lecturers, NGO workers

Speaker biography

Professor Douglas Bourn is founding Director of the Development Education Research Centre (DERC) and was recently appointed Professor of Development Education at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE). He edited the International Journal of Development Education and Global Learning for seven years and produced a leading academic book on development education, The Theory and Practice of Development Education.