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New AFS Framework for Active Global Citizens launches. Find out more at afs.org/education or watch the recording here.

Focused on fostering the abilities needed for navigating a globally interconnected society and contributing purposefully to the relevant issues of our time, the AFS Framework provides applicable principles, concepts and definitions for advancing global citizenship education. Through a combination of expert-led presentations and interactive discussions, this webinar showcases how to leverage the AFS Framework to develop active global citizens in local contexts.

Panelists include:

• Daniel Obst, President & CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs
• Veronica Boix-Mansilla, Principal Investigator at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Eloise Dolan, Strategic Advisor to Southeast Asia for the Victorian Government
• Carla Rey Vasquez, Director of Scholarships at Education New Zealand
• Priya Joshi, Senior Researcher for the Global Education Monitoring Report at UNESCO
• Sarah-Louise Jones, Reader in Global Education at the University of Hull Find out more at afs.org/education.

The Youth Assembly Advisory Council’s dynamic leaders discuss youth priorities and the concept of the 30th AFS Youth Assembly, which will be held on August 8-10, 2025 in New York City. Results from the Global Survey are presented where hundreds of youth voices were heard on setting the agenda for the AFS Youth Assembly. Join us as we come together to unite for global action. Find out more.

AFS Intercultural Programs partnered with the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy, in collaboration with the UN Department of Global Communications, for a side event during the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum. This virtual youth-led discussion focused on how young people as global citizens and innovators can create social impact and tackle the SDGs. Watch the recording here.

Watch a recording of this fundraising training for registered and aspiring Youth Assembly Delegates.

• Fundraising expert Daniela Kaisth shared 3 Principles of Great Fundraising Communications and External
• Affairs Expert Milena Miladinovic described How To Create Your Own Narrative and Youth Assembly
• Ambassador Dana Al Anzy shared her successful Fundraising Experiences.

Watch the recording here.

The Youth Assembly Advisory Council’s eight appointed outstanding youth will help shape the agenda for the 28th Youth Assembly on August 11-13, 2023 in NYC. In this webinar convened on November 14, 2022 hear from youth around the world about their global and local priorities as we discuss the theme for next year. Results from the Global Survey were presented where hundreds of youths’ voices were heard on setting the agenda for the Youth Assembly.

Find out more and watch the recording.

Future practicing engineers need to be supported through educational systems that teach them not only technical skills, but professional skills such as awareness of social and cultural implications of their designs, understanding and appreciation of diversity, and additional skills in project management, collaboration, and effective communication. These cross-cultural programs are an example of an innovation in engineering abroad education. Watch the recording here.

The use of technology and online learning for education at all levels has accelerated beyond what many institutions had prepared or planned for. Watch this session presented at the APAIE 2022 Conference about how we met this pandemic challenge and how we’re continuing to global up for the uncertain, emerging future. The session is delivered by AFS Intercultural Programs, Education New Zealand (EZN) and Massey University. Find out more here, and watch the recording here. 

Two dynamic experts make the case for global competence as an essential component of education. They showcase how they’ve taken the lead to prepare their students to be effective lawyers and business professionals in their fields, while making a meaningful difference in the world. Watch the recording now, and find out more about Global Up programs.

Presenting the newly upgraded version of the Global Up Abroad, for students to reflect on themselves as cultural beings before departing, see themselves in new contexts during, and reflect on their growth and new lifelong skills upon returning home. We also showcased Global Up Educator, a new version applicable for both in-service and preservice teachers. Find out why global competence is so important for those who are working with K-12 students around the world and how we’re building that into our outreach efforts.

Watch the recording.

“Global citizenship is not about stamps in passports, it’s about understanding our interdependence and our shared responsibility for our local communities and the world,” said Daniel Obst, President & CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs, at the opening of a virtual event hosted together with Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) during the 2021 International Education Week. The November 17, 2021 event titled, Making Global Citizenship Education a National Priority, followed on The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit hosted by New Zealand.

Find out more or watch the recording.

Virtual exchanges have a meaningful immediate impact on the development of global competence among high-school aged youth around the world, according to the latest study by AFS Intercultural Programs. The “AFS Global You Virtual Exchange Impact Study” conducted by independent researchers, and funded by a grant from the Stevens Initiative implies that it is crucial for students to have meaningful intercultural exchanges, which can be virtual, to develop global competence. The results of the study were presented in a recent webinar organized in partnership between The Stevens Initiative and AFS.

Find out more or watch the recording.

What should the next Youth Assembly focus on to mobilize young people to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make a difference in their communities? On September 23, 2021 AFS convened a virtual dialogue titled, Reimagining the Future: Megatrends and the 2022 Youth Assembly with global youth leaders, UN and NGO experts.

Find out more or watch the recording.

The inaugural AFS Chat launched the new book, “World as Family: A Journey of Multi-Rooted Belongings”, by Vishakha Desai, the Chair of the AFS Board of Trustees and a prominent global studies scholar. This AFS Chat brought together Dr. Desai with three young global citizens from different corners of the world who are making strides in peacebuilding, youth rights, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Find out more or watch the recording.

This virtual event marked the closing of the 2020-21 Effect+ program gathering educators and students from Brazil, Colombia and New Zealand) to celebrate the award-winning social impact projects and to join an engaging panel discussion with young changemakers. Find out more or watch the recording.

Leaders from higher education, government and mobility organizations share their experiences using the AFS Global Up, a research based interactive blended-learning program that equips learners with tangible global skills through versions developed for different age-groups and audiences. Find out more or watch the recording.

Activating Global Competence to Respond to Global Challenges

As we prepared for the worldwide launch of the PISA 2018 Global Competence Assessment results at the AFS Global Conference in October 2020, we explored the role of global competence education during the COVID-19 crisis and shared insights on how we can best move forward collaboratively to ensure that global competence is a key priority for education systems worldwide. Watch the recording.

When Global Events Expose Global Needs

How education systems are—or are not—helping learners develop global competencies in the era of COVID-19? Our new ‘at home together’ reality exemplifies the urgency of preparing our students for an interconnected world. Are today’s education systems helping learners develop competencies? What does the current crisis suggest? Find out more or watch the recording.