Innovating Curriculum: Integrating Global Citizenship and Equity Education for Student Success

Abstract

Higher education (HE) institutions continue to diversify learning spaces due to rapidly shifting student demographics and increased efforts to internationalise curriculum to ready graduates for increasingly diverse work environments and the evolving global economy. This chapter presents a strategy on internationalising college curriculum via the Global Citizenship and Equity (GCE) Education model, which has been integrated in 92% of Centennial College’s programmes across six distinct disciplines; also known as GCE integration. In 2015, the College initiated mixed-methods research to examine the impact of GCE integration. Employing a theoretical framework of transformative learning, the study invited participation from students in surveys and focus groups to elicit their perceptions of GCE integration in respect to their personal, social and professional development. Overall, the research indicates positive outcomes for students engaging with GCE integration with the majority of students reporting increased knowledge and capacity to address issues related to GCE education. Centennial College’s GCE integration model, presented in this chapter, provides an effective strategy for HE faculty to engage students with GCE through teaching innovation, reflective practice and curricular modification in the classroom.

Citation

Lumb, P., Razack, Y., Arman, S. and Wugalter, T. (2019), "Innovating Curriculum: Integrating Global Citizenship and Equity Education for Student Success", Hoffman, J., Blessinger, P. and Makhanya, M. (Ed.) Strategies for Fostering Inclusive Classrooms in Higher Education: International Perspectives on Equity and Inclusion (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Vol. 16), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 111-127. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120190000016011