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

Four Domains of Global Competence

Learn More About Teaching for Global Competence

Global competence graphic.
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Five Reasons Why Global Competence Matters

Talking points to help make the case for global competence education in your school and community.
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

Science graphic. (starry_eyed_girl/istockphoto)

Science and Global Competency

A rationale for why and how to make science education global in nature.
A classroom at Gloucestershire College. (James F Clay/Flickr)

Study: Not Enough American Students Learning '21st Century Skills'

Brandon Busteed, Executive Director of Gallup Education, says schools need to focus on knowledge construction, real-world problem-solving, collaboration, self-regulation, skilled communication, technology, and global awareness.
Third grade students line up for a sentence structure activity in Ms. Chang's class at the Fresh Meadow School in Queens, New York.

Video: Building Sustainable, Long-Lasting Chinese Language Programs for US Schools

A new short video explores Asia Society's growing Chinese language programs and the impact they have on schoolchildren in the United States.
A page from Flight of the Pamplemousse. (Archie Valdez/Whynoceros?)
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Children's Literature Builds Global Competence

Our picks for great global reads for children—and some tips on how to build literacy skills.
Globe in a lightbulb. (photocanal25/istockphoto)

Why We Need Competency-Based Education

An alternative to standardized tests—and why it makes sense for the global innovation age.
Gary Locke with Chinese language learners from secondary schools throughout the city that are a part of Asia Society's International Studies School's Network or the Confucius Classrooms Network, on Dec. 17, 2012. (Anthony Jackson)

Gary Locke's Advice to Students

For a good job in 21st Century, learn Chinese, U.S. Ambassador to China says.
Students study at Sharpstown International School in Houston, TX, one of the hallmark schools in the Asia Society International Studies Schools Network.

Learning 'Language of Globalism'

A Houston school goes from being on a "death march" to "exemplary."
Students explore nature together (dcdebs/iStockPhoto)
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Teaching and Learning 21st Century Skills

How students learn 21st century skills and the pedagogy needed for new learning styles.
Angry Birds mooncakes based on the worldwide hit game by Finnish entertainment media company Rovio are displayed during a preview at a restaurant in Singapore on July 3, 2012. (Roslan Rahman/AFP/GettyImages)

Evolution of a Classic: Ice Cream Mooncakes [Video]

The ice cream mooncake has turned tradition on its head. Does it still carry symoblic meaning for the mid-autumn festival? Like so many objects before it, the mooncake is writing its own biography.

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