Program Overview:
The Global Schools Advocates Program is a flagship initiative of Global Schools (GS) aimed at addressing these challenges. It is a 6-month long training and advocacy program designed for educators and school leaders in primary and secondary schools globally. The program equips educators with the tools and knowledge to integrate sustainable development concepts into their classrooms.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is essential in preparing today’s young people to face the challenges of the 21st century. By fostering global citizenship and the skills needed to navigate these challenges, ESD empowers students to become knowledgeable, effective, and compassionate leaders. By fostering global citizenship and the skills needed to navigate these challenges, ESD empowers students to become knowledgeable, effective, and compassionate leaders. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 4.7 emphasizes the importance of integrating education for sustainable development into curricula to ensure that the next generation is equipped to promote sustainability.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 4.7 emphasizes the importance of integrating education for sustainable development into curricula to ensure that the next generation is equipped to promote sustainability
Despite the clear evidence linking sustainable development education with improved student academic performance and 21st-century skills, transformative education is not yet integrated into all classrooms worldwide. A UNESCO survey revealed that while over 80% of teachers expressed interest in ESD, many faced challenges in teaching it due to a lack of appropriate pedagogies and training opportunities. Only 8% of countries have incorporated sustainable development into teacher education, creating a need for targeted initiatives to support educators in delivering ESD.
Key Features of the Program:
- Duration: 6 months
- Target Participants: Educators and school leaders in primary and secondary schools worldwide.
- Program Content:
- Over 30 lectures and original readings.
- Comprehensive assessments to measure progress.
- A toolkit containing 17 supporting documents with an action-research methodology designed to help teachers implement ESD in schools.
- Training Impact:
- Teachers and school leaders who have completed the program have collectively engaged over 108,000 students in more than 7,300 lessons on sustainable development.
- Trained over 12,300 teachers through the program’s trainers-of-trainers model.
The program was developed based on extensive consultations with 220 local sustainable development champions and over 40 educators to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.
Impact and Results:
The GS Advocates Program has demonstrated significant success in its first year, with participants reaching tens of thousands of students and expanding the reach of ESD through a network of trained educators.
The training is designed to overcome barriers to ESD implementation, such as lack of resources and training, and aims to equip educators with the tools to create lasting, sustainable educational changes within their communities.
Why it Matters:
This program plays a crucial role in promoting transformative change in classrooms by ensuring that sustainable development concepts are integrated into teacher training and ultimately improving student learning outcomes. With the global need to accelerate action on the SDGs, the program provides the tools necessary for educators to foster a generation of young leaders committed to a more sustainable and equitable world. It is crucial that students develop the knowledge and skills to navigate the challenges of the 21st century, and there is compelling evidence linking sustainable development education with increased student academic performance and 21st-century skills
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Application Deadline: 09 June 2025
The Global Schools Advocates Program is a critical step in ensuring that the next generation is equipped with the skills and knowledge to take on global challenges related to sustainability. By offering educators the training they need to integrate education for sustainable development into their classrooms, the program creates a ripple effect that extends to students and other educators, ultimately contributing to the broader goal of achieving the SDGs.
