Global Issues Network
Over the past decade, awareness AbOUT Global Issues has become much more widespread in our schools. The Global Issues Network aims to take this awareness to the next level as implied by its founding mission (2003–10): to help students realise they can make a difference by empowering them to work internationally with their peers to develop solutions for global issues.” It is an international network of students that aims to promote globalization and to raise awareness of the social responsibility of "global citizens", and develop solutions for modern global issues. The network is powered by schools and universities around the world. The network is mostly based on Jean-François Rischard's book, High Noon: Twenty Global Problems, Twenty Years to Solve Them.
Mission of GIN
To empower young people to collaborate locally, regionally and globally in order to create sustainable solutions for global issues.
GIN’s student-focused objectives
INFORM:''provide resources for students to learn about global issues
INSPIRE:''coordinate events that motivate students to act on global issues
EQUIP:'' train students with the necessary skills and tools to tackle global issues
ACT:''encourage and facilitate collaborative and sustainable action on global issues
GIN’s educator-focused objectives
INFORM: provide resources for educators to learn about global issues education
INSPIRE:''coordinate events that motivate educators to act on global issues education
EQUIP:''train educators with the necessary skills and tools to tackle global issues education
ACT:''encourage and facilitate collaborative and sustainable action on global issues education
Why was GIN established
• International schools are a powerful force that comprise a natural network of change-makers
• The international school network’s ability to affect change is enhanced by direct and indirect connections to corporations, international experts, non-government organizations and government organizations.
• Understanding that individual organizations and nations will have difficulty dealing with the exponential population growth and associated global issues (Rischard)
• Central urgency to act on world’s problems
• The importance of initiating a youth-centered approach to dealing with global issues
Founding purpose
• To utilise an already existing network of international schools to address global issues
• To provide a student-driven opportunity for collaboration and change
• To recognise the power of numbers in a network
• To promote leadership development
• To provide a platform for the sharing of expertise and ideas
• To develop partnerships with NGOs
• To inspire local, regional and global action
• To influence curriculum development
• To influence universities to change admissions requirements to include elements of global awareness & global citizenship
What has GIN achieved so far?
• Regional and global growth
• Coordinated regional Global Issues Network conferences and events in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America • Taken a complex model for global change and implemented it in a tangible way
• Influenced international school curricula and personal development of students involved
What does GIN still want to achieve?
• Create collaborative post-conference action
• Provide opportunities for on-going inter-school projects
• Involve more local/state schools into the network
• Become less dependent on individual teachers
• Challenge and support schools lo live the mission of GIN and authentically integrate global issues into curriculum • Become a truly student-led organisation
GIN Vision
GIN NETWORK GOALS:
As a global network, GIN will:
1. Hold 6 regional conferences (Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Middle East, Europe)
2. Hold 3 local gatherings/forums per region
3. Identify 3 common GIN sponsored activities:
a. One sustainable development project for a minimum of three years b. One collaborative fundraising campaign for a minimum of three years c. One collaborative awareness-raising campaign for a minimum of one year
4. Establish ONE online portal that supports the objectives of the Global Issues Network
GIN SCHOOL GOALS:
Each GIN school will:
1. Organise whole-school global issues events
2. Work to integrate global issues more authentically into their curriculum
3. Provide a range of global issues-focused co-curricular opportunities
4. Engage fully with the GIN Network goals
GIN Organization
At the school level GIN Schools will have one educator representative & one student representative
At a regional level Each region will have one GIN Conference Coordinator to coordinate all logistics for the annual regional conference & one GIN Connector to coordinate all the communication and collaboration for all non- conference GIN activities
At a global level The GIN International Council will facilitate communication and collaboration between regions to ensure the vision of the Global Issues Network is achieved in each region
GIN-International Council
Composition of the GIN International Council:
One Regional Connector, one Conference Coordinator and one alumnus/student from each region make up the GIN-International Council. Positions on the GIN International Council last for one academic year (July – June) and can be renewed. Members are asked to contribute in the following ways to the council:
Six Alumni/students: to be the youth voice and provide advice and direction for how GIN should develop
Six Conference Coordinators: to coordinate all logistics for the annual regional conference
Six Regional Connectors: to coordinate all regional communication and collaboration for non-conference GIN activities Two Acting Co-Chairpersons: to coordinate the activities of the GIN International Council
Founder
Conference History
The first school to have come up with the concept of GIN was the International School of Luxembourg. The network was founded in 2003, and started off as a small cooperation project between six international schools in Europe. In March 2006 and 2007, the first major GIN conferences took place in Luxembourg.
In 2008, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Germany.
In 2009, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Switzerland.
In 2010, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Luxembourg.
In 2011, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Switzerland.
In 2012, the GIN Asian Annual conference was hosted in the Philippines at International School Manila. The theme was "Compassionate Action"
In 2012, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Luxembourg. The theme was "Acting Responsibly in a World of 7 Billion"
In 2012, the GIN North-American Annual conference will be hosted in Canada. The theme will be "Poverty and inequality".
In 2012, the GIN South-American Conference will be hosted in Brazil.
There have also been numerous smaller-scale 'forums'.
Member schools
This is a partial list of schools that are officially enrolled into the Global Issues Network.
The International School of Luxembourg
The International School of Düsseldorf
The American School of Paris
The American School in Israel
The American Overseas School of Rome
The International School of Bremen
The International School of the Hague
Oeiras International School
Sinarmas World Academy
Maastricht United World College
Washington International School
School Without Walls
See also
- Global Inheritance