The first International Forum on Global Citizenship Education sparks meaningful dialogue at Schloss Leopoldskron.
The International Forum on Global Citizenship Education, a collaborative initiative between the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens in partnership with the Salzburg Global Seminar and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took place on 14 November 2023 at the historic Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, Austria. This timely event under the patronage of BKMC co-chair and 11th President of Austria Dr. Heinz Fischer, brought together over 100 thought leaders, policymakers, experts, and young people from Austria, Korea, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, China, Sierra Leone, Canada, UK, US, France, Ghana, and many more. The critical role of Global Citizenship Education took center stage to shape a more interconnected and inclusive world in the age of Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change.
The forum provided a unique setting for high-level speakers, such as former Austrian President Heinz Fischer, 8th Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-moon, Austrian State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm, UNESCO representative Lydia Ruprecht and Korean Permanent Representative Sang-wook Ham and many participants to engage in robust conversations, network, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations.
Key highlights of the event included a keynote address from Prof. Willem Jonker, Chair of the Dutch AI program AiNed, three-panel discussions featuring diverse perspectives from policy, higher education, and young changemakers’ angles, and a “call to action” session, designed to delve into the practical aspects of implementing Global Citizenship Education.
The collaboration between the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, the Salzburg Global Seminar, and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored the power of international cooperation in addressing global issues. Their joint commitment to fostering global citizenship resonated throughout the event.
“I strongly believe that education is a powerful tool for shaping global citizens who are not only knowledgeable but also compassionate and engaged,” said Ban Ki-moon, Ban Ki-moon Centre Co-chair in a video message, expressing the underlying theme of the forum. “The International Forum on Global Citizenship Education allowed us to explore innovative approaches and strategies to instill a sense of global responsibility in our future generations”, said a participant afterward.
Following the Forum, Program Officer Philipp Harnik represented the BKMC as a Salzburg Global Fellow at the “Civic and Civil Education: Identity, Belonging, and Education in the 21st Century” from November 14-19, 2023. Fellows from educational spaces worldwide came together to discuss how education can empower us to become active citizens and tackle global issues like declining democracy, misinformation, and polarization.
Discussions revolved around ways to connect, communicate, and solve problems together across different cultures, countries, and ideas – an example that they hope to set for students everywhere. Fellows were inspired to co-create comprehensive solutions that strengthen citizenship and democracy education for learners as well as better training for educators. Read more about the five key takeaways of the Civic and Civil Education program: https://www.salzburgglobal.org/news/latest-news/article/5-ways-education-can-create-the-conditions-for-active-citizens
Watch our main highlights of the Forum here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZsh7GuXfjo
Find the recording for the GCED Forum here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB8bHA4l44g
