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“Importantly, global competence is not about the world ‘out there.’ It is rooted in understanding ourselves and our place in the world as a foundation for understanding those around us.”
Tichnor-Wagnor et al., 2019

Global competence is the set of skills required for a person to thrive in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. By developing certain knowledge, skills, and mindsets, students can better achieve their career aspirations and can become effective global citizens.

Global education, then, is the decision to teach in a way that prepares students to engage with a global community. By equipping students with a global competency toolbox, educators can help students understand and interact with their “glocal” environment: their local community and the global landscape.

There are many different frameworks for understanding global competency, but they all suggest that globally competent individuals have:

Knowledge of global issues
Critical and analytical thinking skills
Empathy and appreciation of different perspectives
A sense of shared responsibility

An appreciation of diversity
Strong communication skills
The ability to collaborate with others
The willingness to take action

Specific frameworks for understanding global competency include:

The Center for Global Education at Asia Society identifies 4 domains of Global Competence:

Investigate the World
Recognize Perspectives
Communicate Ideas
Take Action

To learn more about Asia Society’s global competency framework, visit:

The PISA framework, developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) suggests that individuals combine knowledge, values, skills, and attitudes to:

Examine local, global, and intercultural issues
Understand and appreciate the perspectives and world views of others
Engage in open, appropriate and effective interactions across cultures
Take action for collective well-being and sustainable development

To learn more about OECD’s framework, visit:

Additional frameworks worth exploring:

If global competency is about gaining the skills needed to thrive in a globally-connected world, then the components of global education must be wide and varied. Elements connected with teaching for global competency include (click to expand):

Communication, Diplomacy, and Dialogue Skills

Though there are many different frameworks for understanding global competency, they all emphasize the need for skill development related to “effective intercultural communication and collaboration” (Tichnor-Wagnor et al., 2019). To build globally competent students, educators must teach communication skills explicitly and deliberately.

To explore resources related to communication, diplomacy, and dialogue, see the resources below:

Place-Based Education (PBE)

In order for students to understand their place in the world, they must first understand themselves and their communities. Place-based education uses the local environment as a resource to promote learning, teaching content and skills through local issues, civic engagement, and student-driven inquiry.

To learn more about PBE, check out the following resources:

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

Globally competent students are able to empathize with others and value multiple perspectives. To promote these ideas, educators should foster social-emotional skills.

To learn more, explore the resources below:

“Teachers’ Essential Guide to Social and Emotional Learning in Digital Life”
SEL in Digital Life Resource Center
Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum
Empatico library of activities and games
Learning Tool: Exploring Multiple Perspectives

Digital, Media, and Information Literacy

In a perpetually online world, it is more important than ever for students to be digitally literate. They must be able to find and consume digital content, create digital content, and communicate or share digital content effectively. Students must acquire specific cognitive and technical skills to be successful in a globally connected world.

To learn more, consider the following resources:

AI and Technology Skills

Students today are more tech-savvy than ever before. At the same time, they often lack important technology skills. In order to produce globally competent students, educators must practice technology integration and help students understand the latest tech innovations, like AI.

To learn more, visit the following resources:

“6 Things We’re Getting Wrong About Tech Integration”
ISTE Standards – designed to provide “competencies for learning, teaching and leading with technology”
“Ideas for teaching the Global Collaborator ISTE standard”
“Tips for Using AI–and for Talking to Students About It”

“The World is As Big or as Small As You Make It” by Loki Films (2015)

In addition to the organizations and resources above, there are numerous others dedicated to helping teachers implement global competency in their classrooms. Check out their offerings below!