4: Values-Based Education for Global Citizenship

This chapter looks beyond Values-based Education (VbE) practices in the United Kingdom to explore successful values-based approaches from around the world that help build strong, compassionate communities. It also considers the promotion of Global Citizenship Education (GCE), since VbE helps young people understand their place in the world. Through VbE, learners are encouraged not only to understand the global challenges embedded in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also to develop the emotional intelligence and ethical reasoning needed to address them responsibly. For example, exploring responsibility can help students understand their role in achieving SDG 13 on climate action by adopting sustainable habits such as reducing waste and conserving energy. Likewise, empathy connects closely with SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), encouraging learners to care about the well-being of others locally and globally. There are many examples of how schools achieve this.

A deeper approach to VbE also includes exploring oppositional values (for example, can we have too much courage or be too honest?). Teachers can guide students through ethical dilemmas linked to the SDGs, such as balancing economic growth with environmental conservation, encouraging critical and compassionate thinking. Ultimately, VbE does more than teach about the SDGs; it equips learners with an inner compass and sense of shared humanity.

Research supports these claims. Australian studies found that values education improves school relationships, ambience, well-being, academic diligence and parental engagement.