GLC SCEAQ Joint Statement

After over 36 years providing professional development to Queensland educators, the Global Learning Centre (GLC) Management Committee has made the difficult decision to cease operations following the completion of our final project delivered for the Queensland Government.

Whilst this decision has emanated from ongoing funding uncertainty, we are very delighted to announce that our legacy will live on through the transfer of our programs and resources to the Social and Citizenship Educators’ Association of Queensland (SCEAQ).

SCEAQ is the state professional body for social educators and community members interested in the advancement of social education in Queensland. GLC Management Committee Chair Nena Morgante commented on the committee’s decision.

“We believe that there are strong synergies between our work and that of SCEAQ in developing young people as active and responsible global citizens. We are very happy to see the GLC’s legacy live on through SCEAQ and hope that their members will benefit from accessing a range of resources that we have developed in recent years”.

SCEAQ President, Dr Angelina Ambrosetti stated that “As an association, SCEAQ has long admired the work of the GLC. We always felt a strong synergy to the GLC’s vision and goals. Although we are very sad to see this wonderful organisation fold, the opportunity for SCEAQ to continue building the legacy they have started is exciting. The world needs the future generations to be truly active global citizens who can make a difference.”

The original organisation, the Queensland Development Education Centre (QDEC), established in 1986 as a non-profit community organisation committed to development education in Australia, was part of a national network of development education organisations.QDEC’s aim was to ‘create awareness and interest among the public on global issues including overseas aid, food security, race relations and apartheid, and social justice’. The centre functioned as a resource centre and library and sought to increase awareness and interest among the public on global issues and to provide support and resources to educators.

The original organisation, the Queensland Development Education Centre (QDEC), established in 1986 as a non-profit community organisation committed to development education in Australia, was part of a national network of development education organisations. QDEC’s aim was to ‘create awareness and interest among the public on global issues including overseas aid, food security, race relations and apartheid, and social justice’. The centre functioned as a resource centre and library and sought to increase awareness and interest among the public on global issues and to provide support and resources to educators.

In 1991, QDEC was transformed into the Global Learning Centre (GLC), which continued as a non-profit, community-based organisation providing professional learning in Global Citizenship Education (GCE).

Since its inception, the GLC has provided professional development in GCE to thousands of Queensland educators in universities, schools (primary and secondary) and the early years settings.

For over twenty years, the GLC was the Queensland provider of the Global Education Project (GEP) – a national initiative funded by the Australian Government under its AusAID program. The target audience for this program was Australian primary and secondary school students. The strategy to reach these students was to inform and provide resources and skills training in global education and development issues to school leaders, teachers and academics. The GLC’s professional learning services included keynotes, workshops and deeper engagement through a whole-school approach.

An independent review of the GEP in November 2012 highlighted the success of the GLC in engaging with educators across all regional areas, noting this as an ‘impressive achievement but an important one. Queensland has the most diverse decentralised population of the Australian States.’ The review report further noted the GLC’s success in engaging with schools in whole school planning to promote global perspectives and in seeking partnerships with other educational agencies in Queensland.

Following the cessation of the GEP in December 2014, the GLC focussed its energies and resources to further supporting Queensland schools and the State Government in a range of comprehensive initiatives.

2015-17:

Developed and implemented a pilot program, Educating for a cohesive society, in partnership with Woodridge State School and the Department of Education. This initiative sought to bridge curriculum and a culturally diverse community to engage as active global citizens. The GLC and Woodridge State School were both finalists in the 2016 Multicultural Queensland awards for this initiative.

2017-18:

Approached by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to deliver a comprehensive professional learning program, Global Citizenship Education: a passport to social cohesion, for Queensland educators as part of the Queensland Government’s Cohesive Communities: Action Plan 2016-18. Under this plan, the Government committed to building the capability of front-line educators in the area of social cohesion and understanding of global citizenship. To support the implementation of the Government’s action plan, the GLC designed and developed a comprehensive professional development programme and successfully:

• developed and delivered an online course aimed at raising awareness and enhancing knowledge and understanding about educating for social cohesion and global citizenship education
• produced a suite of online vignettes featuring best practice in global citizenship
• completed a series of face to face seminars in regional Queensland
• supported 3 action research projects to demonstrate how to embed social cohesion principles into teaching practice
• delivered a series of webinars highlighting best practice in global citizenship.

2018:

Led the establishment of the Queensland Global Citizenship Education (GCE) Network in November 2018 and provided secretariat support throughout 2019. The Network continues in 2022 to connect stakeholders from the early years; schooling; tertiary sectors and education providers to:

• SHARE best practices, strategies, initiatives and policies addressing Global Citizenship Education
• PROMOTE Global Citizenship Education in relevant local, national and international contexts
• EXPLORE opportunities for joint activities, innovation and partnerships to further Global Citizenship Education.

2019-21:

Collaborated with the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) and the Queensland Education Leadership Institute (QELi) to deliver the Globally Engaged Middle Leaders professional development program aimed at building leadership capabilities and global competencies that foster a school culture responsive to the compelling realities of a globalised world. Three tranches of this program were delivered during this period.

2020-22:

Awarded a second contract as part of the Government’s Thriving Cohesive Communities Action Plan for Queensland. This project aimed to provide educators of young people aged under 25 years, with the knowledge, resources and engagement strategies to teach social cohesion and global citizenship. The project sought to build social cohesion and promote global citizenship through Queensland schools and other educational institutions. Key elements of this initiative included:

• in partnership with CQUniversity, re-designed the online course developed in 2017 and transformed it into the Leading Education for Global Citizenship and Global Competence micro-credential. This micro-credential is currently the only Australian professional development course delivered online that specifically targets practical understanding and approaches to education for global competence – a growing area of focus for policy-makers and curriculum development both in Australia and internationally. The micro-credential explicitly strengthens teacher knowledge and practice in how to foster ‘community involvement’ and ‘positive civic engagement’. The four modules also support educators to embrace diversity in themselves, their classrooms and the wider community.
• facilitated the Global Leaders Development Program aimed at strengthening each participant’s knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to: articulate a vision for global citizenship, inform a strategy for change and influence a culture of global citizenship in their educational setting. This program was facilitated using a blended model of face to face professional development; online webinars, mentoring and action research.
• supported the delivery of the Local Youth Councils’ Videos for Change program aimed at positively engaging 12-25 year olds in amplifying their voice about social issues they care about. This program afforded young people in Townsville the opportunity to lead conversations in their community, and feel a sense of connection and belonging – necessary ingredients in a socially cohesive society.