On Tuesday the 18th February 2025, the University of Galway welcomed first-year pre-service teachers for its annual Global Citizenship Education (GCE) Days. This two-day event was all about sparking conversations, sharing ideas, and exploring ways to bring global perspectives into classrooms. With students from a variety of subject areas, the event provided a great opportunity to engage with Global Citizenship Education in an open and interactive environment.
One of the workshops this year featured GET – It’s Global Education Time, a key initiative that helps educators bring global themes into their teaching. Participants got a chance to dive into the programme’s Teaching and Learning Units (TLUs), which are currently being piloted by teachers in classrooms. It was a great opportunity to hear real experiences and practical insights on how these resources can be used effectively.
The event wrapped up with an informal and insightful Q&A session, ‘Bringing GCE into the Classroom’, where three teachers currently piloting the TLUs shared their thoughts. They spoke about their successes, the challenges they’ve faced, and the small but meaningful steps they’re taking to integrate global themes into their lessons.
GCE Days are just one part of the wider GET project, which aims to make Global Citizenship Education a practical and engaging part of everyday teaching. By introducing pre-service teachers to these ideas early on, GET hopes to build a supportive community of educators who feel confident in addressing key global challenges, including the 4 Big Ideas – International Inequalities, Climate Change, Migrations, and Gender Equality.
By providing useful tools, real-world examples, and a space for discussion, GET is helping teachers take small but important steps towards making Global Citizenship Education a natural part of learning. Events like GCE Days offer a chance to connect, reflect, and explore new ways to bring these ideas to life in the classroom.
