Global Citizenship Through a Global Lens

For many colleges and universities in the United States and throughout the world, a centerpiece of their overall mission calls for developing “global citizens” prepared for engagement in an increasingly interconnected world. The concept of global citizenship is a vague one, and people have a wide range of ideas about what it encompasses: cross-cultural understanding and dialogue, inclusion, appreciation for diversity, and adaptability, to name a few goals. 

Before the pandemic, many definitions would have included an element of mobility—that traveling to and spending time in different places are essential to becoming a global citizen. But as the spread of COVID-19 compelled higher education’s transition to online learning in March 2020, institutions got creative in developing ways to continue intercultural education. 

“The pandemic has starkly illustrated the interconnectedness of our world and has made the notion of citizenship even more crucial,” says Emilienne Baneth-Nouailhetas, PhD, vice president for international relations and professor of literature at Université PSL in Paris.

In the wake of a pandemic that has fundamentally and forever changed the landscape of international education and global mobility, what does it mean to be a global citizen? International educators from around the world weighed in with their perspectives, including their thoughts on the limitations of the term “global citizen.” 

What Does Global Citizenship Really Mean?

Over the past decade or so, a growing number of people worldwide consider themselves to be global citizens more so than citizens of their own countries. A 2016 poll conducted by GlobeScan found that