GENE continues to collect a list of educational resources that might be useful in enabling the difficult conversations to happen around the war in Ukraine, to assist teachers, educators and young people to be able to discuss, process, analyse and critically engage with what is happening in Europe today and specifically in Ukraine. The list includes resources that help build knowledge about the context in Ukraine and critically reflect on the multiple and global dimensions of war. If you have relevant resources to be included in this list, please get in touch.

On 7 April, colleagues at UNESCO carried out regional technical consultation meetings on the revision of the 1974 Recommendation. GENE was honoured to participate in the discussions for Europe and North America and to speak about the priorities emerging from the development of the new Declaration. We hope that the recommendation revision will lead to the further strengthening of this valued and ambitious international instrument. Read more.

On 30 March, GENE continued the process of drafting the new declaration with a meeting gathering 50 policymakers from Ministries and Agencies of GENE Member States from across Europe. Member States representatives worked together to build consensus towards a common vision for global education to 2050 and identified initial elements for the content of the new declaration. Drafting оf the declaration will take place over the coming months, while continuing consultations with European governments policymakers, stakeholders and international organisations.

GENE started consulting stakeholders regarding elements of the new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050. On 11 March, GENE hosted a meeting with stakeholders, including youth organisations, civil society and local and regional government bodies, to collect their insights regarding visions for Global Education in Europe to 2050. This is an exciting moment in the Declaration process and we look forward to making further progress at the Policymakers Forum which will take place virtually on 30 March for GENE member countries and roundtable participants. Read more.

GENE is delighted to present the results of the 14 projects funded by the GENE Global Educational Research Award 2021. The online event "Showcasing Global Educational Research" took place on 22 March from 10 am (CET) and featured presentations and discussions with the project leaders of the various projects. You can view details of the projects here. Also present were GENE Director Liam Wegimont and EERA President Joe O'Hara, as well as the presenters, who were joined by other colleagues to discuss current themes in Global Education and related research and to learn about the results of the projects funded by the Award.

As an organisation that works with ministries and agencies across Europe, for international solidarity, human rights and global social justice through education, we watch the developments in Ukraine with horror and ask ourselves – how can we offer support? So we have started to collect a shortlist of educational resources that might be useful in enabling the difficult conversations to happen, to assist teachers, educators and young people to be able to discuss, process, analyse and critically engage with what is happening in Europe today, and specifically in Ukraine. Read more.

Are you between 15 and 29 years old? Want to share what you believe to be the most important issues facing people and the planet? Want to give voice to your hopes about what education should be, now and in the future? Fill in this quick survey, created by GENE and the European Youth Forum. Your insights will contribute to the new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050. If you participate in the survey, you will also stand a chance to win a publication on Global Education, a Global Education training, an inter-rail ticket or participation in the Global Education Congress in November. Don't miss it!

Prof. Doug Bourn, Director of the Development Education Research Centre (DERC), has published a new book on education for social change and global learning. The book was launched on 8 Feb with a discussion, exploring the themes covered in the book, chaired by Liam Wegimont (GENE Director). Participating in the online discussion were: Dr. Namrata Sharma (State University of New York), Susan Kambalu (CAFOD), Prof. Lynette Schultz (University of Alberta) and other special guests. Buy the book here.

UNESCO's IBE works towards a world, where each and everyone is ensured quality education and learning. On 1 February, IBE held its 71st Executive Council and received its Board Members and representatives of Member States who approved its 2022 work plan and budget in line with the Strategy and Programmes of UNESCO’s Education Sector. Prof. Annette Scheunpflug (GENE Chair) participated in the council session, intervening on behalf of Germany. Among the highlights of the event was stressing the importance of putting global learning at the heart of endogenous curriculum development and policy. Read more.

Liam Wegimont, GENE Director, met recently with Emiliano Bosio, editor of the book “Conversations on Global Citizenship Education” (Routledge New York), for an interview and discussed Global Education, why it is now more important than ever and why GENE has launched a process towards a new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050. Watch the full interview here. Or, read more about the new Declaration here.

Why is Global Education relevant to schools and the education system, as a whole? And how to integrate Global Education into teaching and into school subjects? These are some of the questions that were discussed at a teachers' training webinar on 20 December 2021. Co-hosted by GENE and the Greek Institute of Educational Policy, the webinar was held in Greek and presented Global Education concepts, structures and resources. We are very happy that over 1000 teachers attended and enjoyed the learning experience together. The training report is available here.

On 17 November 2021, Ms. Agnieszka Skuratowicz, Head of Unit of INTPA G3 – Directorate-General for International Partnerships - European Commission delivered the opening statement of GENE Roundtable 45, highlighted the importance of the work of GENE and underlined the Commission’s commitment to Global Education as a way to overcome fear and division and increase space for democratic participation across policy areas, with international cooperation, and bringing together the local and global dimensions. Read more.

News of the recent UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) negotiations has tended to focus on the challenges and the limitations, and we have perhaps heard too little of the hard-won gains. The 26th COP ended on 12 November with a memorable international agreement marking greater ambition in the fight to limit global warming, increased speed in the energy transition and greater solidarity with the countries most affected by climate change. One GENE Member State, Luxembourg, took a leadership role in the important field of “loss and damage”. Read more.