Empowering Global Citizens: Exploring the Global Scholars Diploma Programs

In an increasingly interconnected world, the need for globally competent and culturally aware citizens is more evident than ever before. Communities across the country are becoming more diverse and impacted by the global economy and world affairs. As a society, we need leaders, professionals, and citizens that can work together across borders, languages, ideologies, and cultures to create solutions to global problems with local impact. Global Scholars Diploma programs are designed to address this need by developing globally competent high school students. These programs aim to build the awareness and skills needed to take action on global issues and to become responsible citizens of the world.

The Genesis of Global Scholars Diploma Programs

In 2013, The Columbus Council on World Affairs (CCWA) launched The Global Scholars Diploma (GSD). Since then, similar programs have emerged worldwide, all sharing the common goal of fostering global citizenship among young people. These programs recognize that possessing the knowledge, skills, and mindset to thrive in our global society is no longer an optional component of responsible citizenship or successful employment.

The Three-Year Journey to Global Competence

The Global Scholars Diploma is typically a three-year program that progressively builds students' global competence. The program develops globally competent students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary for leadership, citizenship, and careers in an interconnected, global society. While specific program structures may vary, a common framework involves three key stages: awareness, skill-building, and action.

Year 1: Increase Awareness

Year 1 specifically focuses on building students’ awareness of several global components. At this level, students are exposed to a wide range of global cultures, issues, and careers in order to make them aware of the diverse traditions, experiences, skills, problems, and solutions that exist around the world. Year 1 students have the opportunity to hear informative presentations and to interact with experts in each of these areas, building their overall knowledge of a broad range of topics.

Year 2: Skill Building

In Year 2, the program builds upon the awareness that students gain in Year 1. Students in Year 2 attend similar events that focus on global issues, cultures, and careers, while also taking an eCourse that supports and enhances the topics covered at the face-to-face events. Year 2 is about developing the skills needed to communicate across cultures, to be successful in a global career, and to find solutions to complex issues. The Year 2 events are frequently led by community partners, such as Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS), who guide the students through interactive group simulations and tasks.

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Year 3: Take Action

The program culminates with a Take Action project in the students’ third and final year that is meant to demonstrate the abilities that they have cultivated over the course of the first two years. Students choose a globally-oriented issue about which they are passionate, and they pursue a leadership role in solving it at a local level. Throughout the project, students are in contact with advisors who guide them through the development and execution of their project, and they ultimately present their experiences to their younger peers and the community at the Year End Showcase events.

Core Themes Explored in Global Scholars Diploma Programs

While the specific topics covered may vary depending on the program and the region, several core themes are commonly explored in Global Scholars Diploma Programs:

Global Issues

The Global Scholars Diploma program introduces students to a wide range of global issues, such as climate change, immigration, human trafficking, and food security. With the help of numerous community partners, programs can provide students with the opportunity to delve deeper into issues of global importance. Through collaborative activities paired with the personal experiences shared by expert volunteer speakers, students broaden their perspectives and learn how they too can play a significant role in finding solutions to complex global issues.

Global Cultures

Close partnerships with organizations, such as Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS), delivers hands-on experience that empowers students to broaden their perspectives about other cultures. Through simulation activities, students focus on building cross-cultural communication skills and on gaining a better understanding of cultural barriers. Additionally, throughout the course of the Global Scholars Diploma program, students have the opportunity to hear from and interact with a wealth of volunteers who come from various cultural backgrounds. The personal experiences shared by volunteers allow students to expand their conceptions of cultural differences.

Global Careers

Through global career partners, such as Nestle, and The Ohio State University, students are exposed to careers that involve numerous global components. They are not only made aware of the types of global careers that exist, but they also have the opportunity to learn about and practice the skills needed to succeed in such positions. Furthermore, with the help of global career partners, programs provide students with an essential opportunity to communicate and network with several Columbus area professionals, an experience that prepares them for college and beyond.

The Take Action Project: Applying Global Knowledge Locally

A hallmark of many Global Scholars Diploma programs is the "Take Action" project. In the third and final year of the Global Scholars Diploma program, students develop a Take Action project that is meant to demonstrate the abilities and knowledge that they have cultivated over the course of the first two years. With help from their teachers and advisors, students choose a globally-oriented issue about which they are passionate, and they pursue a leadership role in solving it at a local level. Throughout the project, students are in contact with advisors who guide them through the development and execution of their project, and they ultimately present their experiences to their peers at the Take Action Project fair.

These projects empower students to translate their global awareness and skills into tangible action within their own communities. Examples of Take Action projects include:

Donating books to underserved communities
Creating podcasts to raise awareness about global issues
Writing welcome cards for refugees and immigrants

As one Global Scholar noted, "I have never felt like a Global Scholar is doing the work 'just to do it' and appease a program, but there is a strong sense of wanting to make a difference, and a real difference… Students are always asking what else can I do, how else can I support."

Who Should Get Involved?

While the program caters specifically to high school students, the Global Scholars Diploma could not exist without the support of parents, school districts, teachers, community partners, organization members, and sponsors. Each one plays a unique role in the success of both the program and our students.

Parents

At the CCWA, they believe in the strength of collaborative efforts between educators, students, and parents to nurture well-rounded, internationally-minded individuals. Parent involvement is at the heart of their educational approach, as they recognize that the active participation of families plays a crucial role in shaping the success of their students. As parents play a pivotal role in shaping a child's values and beliefs, their involvement in the Global Scholars Diploma program goes beyond academic support. They believe that a shared commitment to fostering empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking at home greatly complements their efforts in the program. They encourage parents to embrace and celebrate cultural diversity, as this enriches the educational experience of our students and strengthens their appreciation for different global perspectives.

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School Districts and Teachers

The Columbus Council on World Affairs currently works with 20 school districts in the area through the Global Scholars Diploma Program. Through close partnerships with school educators, CCWA integrates GSD curriculum into each school culture, developing the program to best meet individual school needs. CCWA brings school districts from across the region together to further promote cross-cultural experiential learning amongst the student communities. Each quarter, CCWA facilitates Global Scholars Advisory meetings in order to bring staff from each school district together.

Partners

In order to connect students with the experts in each thematic topic and get hands-on learning experience, Global Scholars Diploma partners with community organizations.

Members and Sponsors

The Global Scholars Program is a not-for-profit service that the Columbus Council on World Affairs provides to central Ohio school communities. In today’s world, being globally competent is imperative to becoming a successful citizen and professional, therefore CCWA’s mission is to provide a global education to as many students as possible. In order to do this, Global Scholars needs the support of the community.

Benefits of Participating in a Global Scholars Diploma Program

Students who participate in Global Scholars Diploma programs gain a multitude of benefits, including:

Enhanced Global Awareness: Students develop a deeper understanding of global issues, cultures, and perspectives.
Improved Cross-Cultural Communication Skills: Through interactive activities and simulations, students learn to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Increased Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Abilities: Students are challenged to analyze complex global issues and develop innovative solutions.
Development of Leadership Skills: The Take Action project provides students with the opportunity to take on leadership roles and make a positive impact in their communities.
Preparation for College and Careers: Students gain valuable skills and experiences that prepare them for success in higher education and the global workforce.

Alternative Models for Global Education

While the three-year diploma program is a common model, other approaches to global education exist. Some schools offer "globally focused" courses across various disciplines, allowing students to integrate global perspectives into their regular coursework. Other programs focus on extracurricular activities, such as Model United Nations or international clubs, to provide students with opportunities to engage with global issues outside of the classroom. Still other programs such as Hudson Global Scholars partners with schools and teaches students worldwide, delivering American educational opportunities that transform students into global citizens, teaching that our partner schools want to deliver competitive international programs.

Dual Diploma Programs

Dual diploma programs offer students the opportunity to earn both their local high school diploma and an American high school diploma simultaneously. These programs often involve online coursework and provide students with a comprehensive English language instruction, preparing them for academic coursework in English. Students earn a valuable internationally recognized diploma and are prepared for English-speaking universities and international careers. There are two ways to earn an American High School Diploma: full time or as a dual diploma, which is in addition to local coursework.

Assessing Global Competencies

Various frameworks exist for assessing global competencies. One such framework focuses on four key categories:

Investigating the World: The ability to identify and analyze global issues and trends.
Recognizing Perspectives: The ability to understand and appreciate different points of view.
Communicating Ideas: The ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
Taking Action: The ability to translate knowledge and understanding into meaningful action.

Students may be required to create a portfolio showcasing their competencies through community, school-based, and self-directed activities.

Overcoming Challenges and Ensuring Equity

Global Scholars Diploma programs strive for inclusivity, equity, and access for all students. These programs recognize that all students should have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary for success in an interconnected, global society.

Voices from the Global Scholars Community

The impact of Global Scholars Diploma programs is evident in the words of the students themselves. Here are just a few examples:

"I am extremely grateful for the experience, knowledge, and the valuable connections that I have gathered over these past 3 years of participating in the Global Scholars Diploma program."
"I loved the Global Scholars program. Not only did it give me a good global education and information, but also the resources to help make a difference in my community!"
"This program has been so instrumental to my personal growth these past 3 years. I’ve been so motivated to consider global perspectives, sought discomfort as I explored unfamiliar areas and ideas, and found an incredible community of passionate and ambitious change-makers."

These testimonials highlight the transformative power of Global Scholars Diploma programs in shaping the next generation of global citizens.

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