What is Global Competence?

The idea of global competence articulates the knowledge and skills students need in the 21st century.

Globally competent students have the knowledge and skills to:

Investigate the World

Globally competent students are aware, curious, and interested in learning about the world and how it works.

Recognize Perspectives

Globally competent students recognize that they have a particular perspective, and that others may or may not share it.

Communicate Ideas

Globally competent students can effectively communicate, verbally and non-verbally, with diverse audiences.

Take Action

Globally competent students have the skills and knowledge to not just learn about the world, but also to make a difference in the world.

The Four Domains of Global Competence

The Four Domains of Global Competence [image and description]

Learn More About Teaching for Global Competence

Students sitting around a table

Teaching for Global Competence

Learn about online global competence courses and certificate programs offered by the Center for Global Education in collaboration with Arizona State University designed for educators in schools and in out-of-school time.
Global competence graphic.
resource

Global Competence Outcomes and Rubrics

Download globally focused performance outcomes and rubrics in a variety of grades and all academic subjects, plus a free copy of the book here.
Two students look at a globe

Educating for Global Competence

Read the book that introduced the definition of global competence, Educating for Global Competence: Preparing Our Youth to Engage the World.

Read More About Global Competence

Felix Ruano. (Asia Society)

Felix Ruano on Why Poor Communities Need a Global Understanding

A Harvard student from a poor immigrant family discusses why having an international perspective is critical for succeeding in an increasingly globalized world.
A girl at an immigration rally in Daley Plaza in Chicago (Joseph Mietus/Flickr)
resource

Immigration, Xenophobia, and Racism

Asia Society’s Apoorvaa Joshi digs through the flood of information about the 2016 presidential election and provides ideas and strategies for using the election to build students’ global competence.
Students getting on the school bus (wwworks/Flickr)
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Global Competence as a Matter of Equity

Asia Society Vice President of Education Tony Jackson reflects on his own experiences with global competence and describes how teaching through a global lens can help address the equity issues we face in education.
Students work together.

The Future Speaks Chinese

"Language is a currency for trust, and respect; it provides bricks and mortar for building an ability to explore the beauty of diverse cultures, traditions, and historical perspectives."
An elementary school Japanese language class. (Sarah Lovrien/Asia Society)
China Learning Initiatives

World Language Teachers Find Familiar Ground with the Common Core

Heather Clydesdale on how the pedagogical approaches that world language teachers have been using for years bear striking similarities to the Common Core.
A student during an afterschool program. (97702372@N07/Flickr)
Global Learning Beyond School

Global Competence in Expanded Learning Time

Children and adolescents need a broad range of experiences to build their knowledge of the world and understand their place in it. Learn how to use expanded learning time to build global competence.
Zainab Akanda/Flickr

The Extraordinary Benefits of Multilingualism

Learning a second language is about more than getting ahead — it teaches a whole new way of thinking.
(IAPEN Activities/Flickr)

How 'Global Citizenship' Education Can Fill the Skilled Workers Gap

"Non-cognitive" skills such as critical thinking and creativity are just as vital as traditional skills in helping 21st century students.
gears
report

Preparing a Globally Competent Workforce

U.S. educators face a critical imperative: prepare all students for work and civic roles with the ability to compete, connect, and cooperate on an international scale. One promising way to do this is through Career and Technical Education.

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education@asiasociety.org

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