The 21st century world is an interconnected world and the importance of an international education for nurturing global-minded citizens cannot be understated. The world may be divided by geography, ethnicity and national boundaries, but the global economy depends upon international trade and cooperation among nations. In order to ensure that it is important that children and young people across the world have a fair understanding of what it means to be a global-minded citizen.
Who is a Global Citizen?
Defining a global citizen is a little tricky as there are several facets that comprise that idea. While on the one hand, it concerns itself with developing an understanding of global issues and learning to understand and appreciate cultural diversity, on the other hand, it is also about finding one’s own place in the global community of nations.
It implies a sense of belonging to one planet and caring about the well being of all its inhabitants. For global citizens, the world is interconnected in a manner that can overcome cultural, geographical and political boundaries.
What are the characteristics of a Global Citizen?
A global citizen is typically known to be culturally broad-minded and empathetic, with an inherent sense of social responsibility that encompasses people from around the world. Such a person would seek to positively engage with the world and be willing to learn and grow as a person on account of that. They are quite aware of the fact that in an interconnected world, local actions can have a bearing on the larger world. Such people tend to be lifelong learners who are forever seeking to expand the ambit of their knowledge with regard to global issues and are always open to understanding the perspectives of diverse groups of people.
International Education- A Pathway to a Global Mindset
Receiving world class contemporary education in an international school is the best way for a child to develop a global mindset from an early age. Such schools offer the right kind of cultural ethos, pedagogy, faculty and curricula to help their students be on the same page as the best and brightest students of their age from countries around the world. Let us look at exactly how and why the best international schools in Kuala Lumpur help one develop a global mindset.
Helps Develop a Global Perspective
Nothing helps an individual develop a global perspective better than having received one’s education in an international school. This is because such schools help students to develop the faculty of critical thinking when it comes to global issues like climate change, and the inequitable distribution of wealth. They encourage their students to develop a deep understanding of the fact that all nations of the world share only one planet and need to work together on a sustainable basis to solve the problems of the world.
Provides Exposure to Diverse Cultures
Going to a world class international school exposes a child of impressionable age to diverse cultures leading to an early development of the concept of global citizenship. Furthermore, study abroad programs, cultural exchanges or interaction with international students helps such children to an appreciation of the diverse cultures of the world, and makes them culturally open and tolerant of differences. They get to understand the beauty of human diversity and are encouraged to celebrate it.
Helps Develop Empathy and Understanding
Studying in a multicultural, multi ethnic and diverse setting helps students develop empathy and an ability to be understanding towards people who may be different from you from an early age. Developing an ability to understand the perspective of someone else trains their mind to the fact that all humans are essentially similar and grapple with more or less the same issues, despite their outwardly differing appearances and attitudes. Doing that prepares them to understand that the world is one big family that requires everybody to pull together for a better common future.
What different educational systems teach us
Exposure to diverse education systems helps broaden one’s vision and perspective adding heft to one’s character. Let us see how-
Cross Cultural Learning
Every culture has something of value that one can imbibe. From benefiting from Western pedagogy to picking up the traits of discipline and hard work from Asian schools, there is much that one can imbibe from cross cultural learning available in an international school.
Diverse Education Systems
International education allows students to imbibe the best traits of diverse education systems. These pertain to teaching methods, curricula and assessment systems. This allows them to incorporate the best facets of the different education systems allowing them to develop a well rounded personality that can easily adapt to diverse situations.
Learning Multiple Languages
An international education often entails learning multiple languages which helps broaden a person’s mind and develop a finer and more nuanced way of looking at things. Language skills help one remove barriers to communication and be on the same page with people from other countries, thereby leading to better collaboration.
Conclusion
The world we live in is both deeply interconnected and divided at the same time. At a time when an impending environmental catastrophe requires the world to sink its differences and work together to save the planet, imparting an international education to our children can go a long way in setting the stage for enhanced global cooperation on an unprecedented scale.
The world can doubtless usher in a wonderful future for the people of the planet if they learn each other’s way of doing things and arrive at a way of doing things that incorporates the best from around the world. International education for the young of the world is the first important step in that direction.
