Global Education Network Europe (GENE) is the European network that brings together ministries and government agencies that have expertise in the field of Global Citizenship Education.
The 50th GENE Round Table was held in Madrid on 18 and 19 April, which also saw among the participants the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), a co-financing member of the Network since 2023. Representing AICS, Dr. Grazia Sgarra – director of Office VII “Subjects of cooperation, partnerships and finance for development” – presented the activities and fundamental goals achieved so far in the field of Global Citizenship Education (ECG). During the National Statements of each Member State, AICS underlined the importance of institutional coordination, not only at central but also regional and local level, highlighting how essential it is to work in synergy on the themes and challenges of the ECG using a multi-stakeholder approach.
“More and more often, in our daily lives, we realize how much Global Citizenship Education is necessary in Europe and throughout the world. Today more than ever. As the New European Declaration on Global Citizenship Education states, only by working together will we be able to guarantee quality global education to all people,” declared Dr. Sgarra. “To follow up on the commitments undertaken, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation has strengthened institutional collaboration on the issues of global citizenship and sustainable development also in line with the objectives and commitments set out in the Italian Strategy for Citizenship Education global and the related National Action Plan. In particular, last December we signed a three-year collaboration agreement with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, which commits us to joint action in promoting global citizenship education and sustainable development through actions aimed at female students and to university students, also through the implementation of new models of collaboration between central institutions, territories and universities, and through an information and awareness campaign.”
