Dr. Verónica Boix-Mansilla is an international expert in global and intercultural education. Her research examines conditions that enable individuals to understand and take action on the most pressing issues of our times (migration, sustainability, climate change) through personal transformation and quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary work.

Her research portfolio focuses on quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary education, the development of global and intercultural competence, and the healthy integration of immigrant-origin children and peers, with particular attention to multilingual settings. In each case, she works closely with educators in schools, museums, and policy circles to advance conceptual frameworks and tools that can shift educational mindsets and practices. 

Verónica co-led the development of the OECD PISA Global Competence International Assessment framework,  the AFS framework for Active Global Citizenship, as well as key global and intercultural frameworks at Project Zero, the International Baccalaureate, the Asia Society,  and the US Council of Chief State School Officers. She collaborates with institutions such as the OECD, UNESCO, National Geographic, and the Smithsonian Institution on a national and international level. She serves as the President of the Longview Foundation, dedicated to International Education and Peace.

Originally from Argentina, she brings cultural sensitivity to her collaborations with districts, schools, museums, youth centers, think tanks, and policy circles.

Abstract:

From Love to Action: Educating active Global Citizens for a World on the move

We live and educate our children in extraordinary times.  The digital and global revolutions have brought people together, creating opportunities to learn, connect, and collaborate across cultures near and far.  At the same time, conflict, fear, and environmental degradation are on the rise, affecting children’s lives. How can we, as educators, prepare children to be thoughtful and compassionate explorers of the world and joyful contributors to better futures?

This session introduces a new framework that educators can use to make informed decisions to nurture students’ global citizenship. The framework, “From Love to Action”, was developed at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education, as part of our long-standing research in Global Competence in K-12 education. Through a close analysis of pictures of practice from around the world, we will explore eight global citizenship dispositions, including the inclination to “take perspective” and “communicate across difference,” as well as those of “experiencing awe and belonging” and “envisioning futures.” We will consider how the proposed ideas might connect, extend, and inspire current educational practice, and reflect on the opportunities and challenges of nurturing not only more knowledgeable and skillful--but also the wiser stewards of self, nature, and society needed for our times.